Maggie's Choice (American Adventure (Hardcover Chelsea House)) [Library Binding]

Norma Jean Lutz (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 11 and up | Series: American Adventure (Hardcover Chelsea House)

The death of a young slave girl in Boston as well as a religious revival led by Jonathan Edwards during the Great Awakening prompt Maggie to make an important decision.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-8-In Queen Anne's War (1710), 11-year-old Will Smith's family becomes involved in attempts to drive the French from New England and eastern Canada. Against the background of soldiers, provisions, and faraway battles are more immediate concerns, primarily Will's struggles with a jealous classmate. The series' Christian focus is more blatant in Maggie's Choice (1743-44). Maggie, 13, is captivated by the wealthy, fashionable Clarke family. Will she be drawn into their "hoity-toity" circle or remain true to her humbler, more practical upbringing? The Clarkes mock Jonathan Edwards and other revivalists who preach of God's grace, but Maggie is converted by book's end. These novels provide numerous details about their times and include lists for further reading and even indexes. However, both suffer from pedestrian, occasionally awkward, and ungrammatical writing. Characterization is superficial, and the stories have little depth. These offerings fail to reach the interest level and appeal of the "Dear America" series (Scholastic) and such classics as Elizabeth Speare's The Witch of Blackbird Pond (Houghton, 1958).
Ann W. Moore, Schenectady County Public Library, NY
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Book Description

History comes alive for eight-to-twelve year olds in this close-up, fun-to-read, multi-generational story of a fictional family spanning three centuries of actual historical events. God's hand is seen at work in people's lives and in the events that shaped our nation. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 11 and up
  
• Library Binding: 144 pages
• Publisher: Chelsea House Publications (August 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0791050483
• ISBN-13: 978-0791050484
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,071,272 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Norma Jean Lutz, is an author, speaker, writing instructor, and novel critique consultant. She has been in the writing/publishing industry all her adult life. Her first bylines appeared on hundreds of magazine articles and short stories. Today her list of published books stands at more than fifty. Norma Jean -- still a teacher at heart -- loves to reach out and encourage budding novelists through her program "Be A Novelist."

"I have to write like I have to breathe," says Norma Jean. "I cannot say I love just 'having written.' I thoroughly enjoy the entire process of creating a story. I literally get drunk on story/plot creation." Then she adds, "It's like a natural, creative high."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars VERY INTERESTING, April 15, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Maggie's Choice: Jonathan Edwards and the Great Awakening (The American Adventure Series #8) (Paperback)

"Maggie's choice" takes place in a time when people held church services in barns, and the pators didn't even plan the sermon. Maggie Allerson is different from her friendsl Dancy and Susannah. Dancy has a lot of money and Susanah has a huge house and a lot of servants. Maggie has to do chores and have Latin lessons, and she's embarrassed about that. Maggie is always worried what Susanah will think of a girl like her and she always tries to please Susanah. On Christmas, Susanah gets her own slave girl and mistreats her. Melee (the servant girl) is so used to the warm climate of her old home in the West Indies that she becomes very sick. When Melee gets sick, Maggie realizes that Susanah is not nice and starts to stand up for her own beliefs. I liked this book because Maggie was so real it seeemed like I was sitting in the stagecoach on my way to Massachusetts. If you like books about history, this book is for you!