Sixteen-year old Matty Trescott arrives in Simsbury, Connecticut, to live with her cousin Neely's family in December 1863. Her farm in Kansas has been burned by Confederate raiders, her father and brother have joined the Union Army, and she has been sent to Connecticut for her safety. She and Neely are slated to attend school at the Hartford Female Seminary, but Matty has other ideas. When they get to Hartford, Neely stays but Matty heads for New Haven hoping to enlist in the army.
Carroll Thomas is the pen name of two writers, Carole Shmurak and Thomas Ratliff.
Carole Shmurak has taught biology and chemistry in middle and high schools, and is currently Professor Emerita of education at Central Connecticut State University. She also writes mysteries for adults under her own name (see Amazon's page for Carole Shmurak for more information about the mysteries.) Tom Ratliff has taught social studies and English in middle and high schools and is currently an instructor of history at CCSU. He also writes serialized historical fiction for the Hartford Courant NIE program and other newspapers. Together, they write as Carroll Thomas and are authors of the young adult series which includes Matty's War, Blue Creek Farm, the Agatha-nominated Ring Out Wild Bells, Riding By Starlight. Town on Rambling Creek and Under the Open Sky. Find out more at their website www.MattyTrescott.com.
