The Secret of Sarah Revere

by Ann Rinaldi

Overview

Thirteen-year-old Sarah Revere knows her father is a hero. But she also knows that Paul Revere guards a secret about the start of the Revolutionary War that he'll tell no one—not his new wife, not his best friend, not even his trusted daughter. It seems everyone in her family has secrets. Sarah's even got one of her own—and it's tearing her apart.
Reader's guide included.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780152046842
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	07/01/2003
Series:	Great Episodes
Edition description:	First Edition
Pages:	336
Sales rank:	651,320
Product dimensions:	4.50(w) x 7.00(h) x 0.79(d)
Lexile:	530L (what's this?)
Age Range:	10 - 14 Years

About the Author

ANN RINALDI is an award-winning author best known for bringing history vividly to life. A self-made writer and newspaper columnist for twenty-one years, Ms. Rinaldi attributes her interest in history to her son, who enlisted her to take part in historical reenactments up and down the East Coast. She lives with her husband in central New Jersey. 

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"A lively, exciting picture of Boston going to war . . . Excellent."—VOYA

"Beautifully crafted."—School Library Journal

Reading Group Guide

1. Sarah realizes that her family is "all locked away from each other in our own house." What secrets did they keep from each other? Why? Are there times when it's best to have secrets?

2. Debby tells Sarah that being a grown-up is knowing yourself rather than letting others influence what you think. What do you think makes someone a grown-up?

3. Doctor Warren tells Rachel that the Sons of Liberty are thinking men, not violent men. Yet they end up fighting the British after all. Do you think violence is the inevitable outcome of making a stand?

4. Paul Revere decided to believe in Doctor Church's loyalty. Do you agree that trust is a key to a peaceful heart? Is it worth the risk of betrayal?

5. Why do you think Paul Revere won't reveal who fired the first shot at Lexington? What might have happened if he had told?

6. What matters most to you? The truth-or what people think?

Copyright (c) 2003. Published in the U.S. by Harcourt, Inc.

Editorial Reviews

"A lively, exciting picture of Boston going to war . . . Excellent."—VOYA

"Beautifully crafted."—School Library Journal
—

From the Publisher

Gr 7-10Once again Rinaldi has given readers a young woman's perceptions of what has too often been the all-male story of American history and politics. Paul Revere comes to life through the eyes and voice of Sarah, his 13-year-old daughter. Through the girl's observations, her father emerges as a family man, a caring friend, and a loyal patriot. Dr. Joseph Warren, an often forgotten hero of the Revolution, is warmly portrayed, as is Rachel, Revere's second wife. As Sarah comes of age against the strife of the times, she weaves critical events of American history into the everyday details of her family's life, making the characters convincing as real people. She is interested in clothing, food, and her older sister's romantic liaison, and has her own reverential crush on the handsome Dr. Warren. Because her father's activities take their toll on the family, she is also keenly aware of political and military events and secrets. Her analyses of them are painful but beautifully crafted, giving readers a sense of and a sensitivity to this period of history. The brief bibliography offers evidence of Rinaldi's scholarship, and her note discusses the process whereby she validates available historical facts but goes beyond them to interpret and draw her own conclusions in composing historical fiction.Kay E. Vandergrift, School of Communication, Information and Library Studies, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ

School Library Journal