Midnight Rider [Library Binding]

Joan Hiatt Harlow (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 9 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up

It's 1775 and the American colonies are on the brink of revolution. Boston is swarming with soldiers, spies, and secrets. Tempers are flaring between the Whigs and the Tories. Fourteen-year-old Hannah Andrews is thrown into the middle of it all when she is driven out of her home by her guardian aunt to work as an indentured servant in the Boston household of Thomas Gage, governor of the colonies and general of the British armies.

Soon after Hannah's arrival, the stable boy, Caleb, befriends her and alerts her to the issues faced by Americans under British rule. Hannah dreams of freedom and begins to sympathize with Americans who desire independence from Britain. On the other hand, Hannah has deep respect for the Gage family and affection for her rebellious young mistress, Meg. Hannah soon realizes that Meg is as trapped in her aristocratic life as Hannah is in her own bondage as a servant.

Hannah relies on her beloved horse, Promise, to help her through the difficult times. Disguised as a boy on her midnight rides with Promise, Hannah learns on which side her heart belongs. Then, when Hannah overhears a British plot to march on her hometown, she and Promise risk their lives to carry the warning to the town of Salem.

Packed with fascinating historical details, real events, and memorable characters, Midnight Rider is historical fiction at its best--guaranteed to thrill Joan Hiatt Harlow's loyal fans as well as those lucky readers who are discovering her for the first time.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-8–Hannah, a 14-year-old orphan, becomes embroiled in the major events leading up to the American Revolution. Her heartless Aunt Phoebe contracts her out as an indentured servant at the home of General Thomas Gage, who is also royal governor of Massachusetts. At first her loyalties are divided, but she soon realizes that she favors freedom from England, even though she has affection for members of Gage's household. She also has a special way with horses and is devastated when her aunt sells her beloved horse, Promise, to a neighbor. She finds a way through a secret tunnel to get outside Gage's compound so that, disguised as a boy, she can ride Promise at night. This leads to her harassing British soldiers and earns her the name of the Midnight Rider, though her identity remains a secret. As Hannah becomes more and more dedicated to the rebel cause, she rides on a dangerous mission to Salem to warn the villagers that the British are coming to confiscate munitions there. Besides the Gages, there are other actual historical figures, including Paul Revere and Dr. Benjamin Church, a spy for the British. While this story covers some of the same territory as Johnny Tremain, it is easier to read and will have more appeal to girls. The historical information is dished out in didactic spurts, with a lecturing kind of style, but the basic plot has enough adventure and suspense to hold the interest of readers.–Bruce Anne Shook, Mendenhall Middle School, Greensboro, NC
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

On the eve of the first battles of the American Revolution (1774-75), orphaned Hannah Andrews's cruel aunt, Phoebe, indentures the 14-year-old to General Thomas Gage, the British colonial governor in Boston. A spunky young woman, she has the talent of calming and riding horses thanks to a gift from her father of a steed that's the only breathing creature she loves. Aunt Phoebe sells Promise, but to a neighbor who will play a large part in Hannah's life. Because she's a servant in Gage's house, she overhears British plans and conveys them to the patriots in Boston, including Paul Revere. At the end of the story, she braves weather and rides the many miles to Salem to warn the town of a campaign to take the patriots' munitions. What should be exciting history in this overlong narrative is harmed by weak characterization, expository information pedantically inserted into conversations, an improbable plot and an overall feeling of superficiality. (Historical fiction. 10-12) (Kirkus Reviews) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Library Binding: 372 pages
• Publisher: San Val (November 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1417783052
• ISBN-13: 978-1417783052
• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 5.3 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #11,060,247 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A spunky young patriot in colonial Boston, July 2, 2005

By 

E. S. Wall "media specialist" (Sarasota, FL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Midnight Rider (Hardcover)

Joan Harlow knows how to catch the excitement of an historical event and weave a believable story and characters into it. MIDNIGHT RIDER, is the account of fourteen-year-old Hannah Andrews who rides her horse from Boston to Salem in 1775 to warn the colonists of a British raid. Hannah, originally from Salem, has been indentured by her scheming aunt into the Boston household of General Gage, governor of the colonies. As a servant she finds herself in the midst of not only family secrets, but angry clashes between colonists and British troops. She sneaks out to secret meetings of Patriots and one day overhears General Gage's plan to seize colonial munitions stored in Salem. Hannah, siding with freedom-loving colonists knows what she has to do. She risks her life and that of her horse Promise to ride through a snowstorm to warn the people of Salem about the raid. Joan Harlow captures the character of this spunky girl who reflects the grit and determination of colonial America to gain independence.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exciting historical fiction, December 8, 2005

By 

Maryanne, the Librarian - See all my reviews

This review is from: Midnight Rider (Hardcover)

I have read this story with students average age 14. Their response was total involvement in the plot and the character, Hannah and her horse, Promise. They did not believe at first that the book would be interesting, since they thought it would be "ho hum" history. The cover illustration suggests it might be another Paul Revere Midnight Ride to Lexington and Concord. Wrong! The main historical event is the lesser known "Salem Alarm." The author weaves fascinating historical events into a plot that today's kids love. Not a bit boring! In fact, one student said, "It was like watching a movie in my head." Kids LOVED this story and rated it a 10/10. Did I forget to mention that I loved it, too?

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic book!!!!!, January 14, 2007

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Midnight Rider (Hardcover)

This book is Fantatstic! A great young adult book and also anyone who loves horses and history.