Customer Reviews

Silence and Lily: 1773 (Hoofbeats)

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The year is 1773. While things should be peachy keen in Boston, all is not well. The British - namely, King George - and the colonists are not happy with one another, and tensions are heating up with each passing moment. Twelve-year-old Silence would love to have the ability to simply discard the growing anger in her friends and neighbors, and spend each and every waking moment with her family's snow white mare, Lily; but, alas, so is not the way the world works.

As a female, and the daughter of an old-fashioned mother from England, Silence is expected to grow up to be nothing more than a proper housewife to a wealthy husband - much like her own mother, Charity. She is expected to cook elaborate meals for her family, or any company that may stop by, at the drop of a hat; she is meant to keep the house spotless and shining, even if that entails spending the day on her hands and knees, scrubbing until her hands are raw; and she must learn to keep accounts and receipts for her husband. Which is why her mother does everything in her power to keep Silence far away from Lily. What she doesn't know, however, is that Silence is the keeper of many secrets and surprises. For one, she convinced her older brother, Samuel, to teach her how to read when she was quite young; and two, she sneaks out at night to visit lovely Lily, and whisper sweet-nothings in her ears to make her feel loved and wanted. But even with Lily close at hand, Silence can't help but find herself overwhelmed with sorrow. Just days before December 16th - the day of the Boston Tea Party - Silence makes a discovery that will flip her world upside down. When darkness falls, someone has been taking Lily out to secret meetings without permission. Secret meetings where wrongdoings towards the King are discussed. Silence is angry to see Lily being put in such a horrible and dangerous position that could leave her injured. But, even worse, when she learns that her entire family is at risk of falling victim to danger, she resolves that it's up to her to do something drastic; otherwise, she may lose Lily forever.

I have read many books by Kathleen Duey over the years; but, perhaps, SILENCE AND LILY is her best effort yet. Silence is a girl who is irresistible from start to finish. She's spirited and fun; fiery and determined; disobedient and kind; and everything in-between. While she is held back due to the era, and the fact that she is a female, Silence does not let the odds work against her. Instead, she shines in the face of adversity, struggling to make her voice heard above the controversies surrounding her. She refuses to take anything lying down, and works to pave her own path in life - even if her mother disapproves of it. Her love for Lily is unbridled, and runs rampant through the pages; while her relationships with Prissy, a slave, and Elijah, an indentured boy with no known background, is reminiscent of siblings, as opposed to employees. Prissy is an enchanting character, whose kindness towards Silence is overwhelming. Her constant singing makes her appear carefree and happy, even as she is scrubbing pots and pans, or doing the wash for hours at a time. Samuel, Silence's brother, is wonderful in every respect. However, the secret hidden between him and Elijah adds an air of mystery to the tale, that works to leave the reader baffled. Duey's passion for horses and history shines through in each and every word that she writes; working to bring not only the era, but the lively characters to life. A mix of equestrianism and history that takes you on one wild ride after another!

Erika Sorocco
Freelance Reviewer

My daughter and I both thoroughly enjoyed this book which gives insight into the life of a ship owner, and his family, at the edge of the Boston Tea Party. It also doesn't hurt that there is an exciting line in the story involving the daughter and her horse. A great read for your elementary-aged girls!!

I read the Katie and the mustang series it was awasome! So I got stuck on hoofbeats and will try to read every single one.You should by it for kids.They will love it.If they like horses.