Set in Massachusetts, this is the story of a boy surrounded by the politics and violence of war, who becomes a spy for the rebel colonists.
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Editorial Reviews
From School Library Journal
Grade 4-8-This first-person account of a 12-year-old boy makes the world of Boston in 1774 come alive. William Thomas Emerson, an orphan, has found work with the kind proprietor of a tavern. In his journal, the boy describes the practical and moral difficulties that citizens of that city encountered on the eve of the Revolution. He writes of food shortages, patriots, traitors, and deserters, and describes daily life, public punishment, and medical treatments. Denenberg engages readers with a bit of intrigue, but it is the integrity and humanity of ordinary people that make this book inspirational. An epilogue summarizes the lives of the characters introduced and includes historical reproductions and a brief account of the actual events that followed the year covered in the journal. Quality historical fiction that should attract a wide audience.
Ann M. Burlingame, North Regional Library, Raleigh, NC
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Ann M. Burlingame, North Regional Library, Raleigh, NC
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
In 1774, 12-year-old orphan Will is befriended by Mr. Wilson, who secretly works with a group of rebels against the British. Written as a series of journal entries, this book paints a vivid picture of the period from the point of view of a boy on the fringe of an important movement. Unlike some books of historical fiction, here the focus isn't on landmark events or fictional meetings with famous people but rather on everyday life in a troubling time. Will makes an appealing narrator, brave and independent enough to take a small part in dangerous intrigues, but young and frank enough to relate his reactions to events with freshness and disarming candor. An appended note, "Life in America in 1774," fills in the historical events and background of the time and provides reproductions of engravings, maps, and documents. A solid addition to the My Name Is America series. Carolyn Phelan
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
About this journal,
By Anna (Las Cruces, New Mexico United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: My Name Is America: The Journal Of William Thomas Emerson, A Revolutionary War Patriot (Hardcover)
This book was a good book.Even though I hate reading I still read it.This book is mainly about a boy named William Thomas Emerson.His parents die and he runs away to Boston.He gets a family at a motel and becomes a messager to find things out about the war.The only problem I thought with this book was they didn't tell about the war.This book told about what happened in the beginning,but at the end when everyone chose to leave Boston from the war Will stayed and that was it.This book had good titles for things,Interesting hook,and had a nice change of seasons and time.Overall I'd give this book an 8/10.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great book for a young history buff,
By Kay Raisy (Alaska) - See all my reviews
This review is from: My Name Is America: The Journal Of William Thomas Emerson, A Revolutionary War Patriot (Hardcover)
I read this book to my 6 year old who is interested in the Revolutionary war. It was hard to find a book to tell about this period of time that was fitting for a 6 year old child. He was on the edge of his seat though most of the story and begged me to read "just one more page" It is written in journal form so you learn about the people he meets and everything that happens first hand. At the end it tells you what happened to each person from the story...the part my son found most interesting.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
The Journal of William Thomas Emerson, A Revolutionary War Patriot,
By Epsmom105@aol.com "Epsmom105" (San Diego, CA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: My Name Is America: The Journal Of William Thomas Emerson, A Revolutionary War Patriot (Hardcover)
I used this book for a literature circle group. Before reading you need to do a lot of background building about the conflicts between the British and the colonist that lead up to the revolutionary war. Lots of unfamiliar vocabulary. Good for very experienced readers. Less experienced readers will need more support. Very enjoyable reading and the students are learning a lot about the revolutionary war and colonial era
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