Bibliography:Elliott, L.M. (2004) Annie, Between the States. New York, NY: Harper Collins.
Genre:Historical fiction
Reading Level/Interest Age:14+yrs
Reader's Annotation:As Civil War battles rage near her Northern Virginia home, Annie Sinclair considers whether she could give up her home for the love a Yankee officer.
Author:L.M. Elliott
Plot Summary:When the Civil War begins, Annie Sinclair is fifteen years old. She and her family live near the border to the Union, in Northern Virginia. Annie's beloved older brother, Laurence rides with General Stuart's Cavalry. When Annie meets General Stuart, she is charmed by the dashing leader, and he even composes some lines of poetry just for her. As battles rage near their home, Annie and her mother nurse fallen soldiers, including a Union officer named Thomas Walker. Despite their differences, Annie charmed by Walker. The years of the Civil War pass, and Annie becomes more and more involved. She takes greater risks to protect her family and her home. These bring her back in contact with Thomas Walker, whose affection for Annie has not faded with time. After Annie's mother dies, her younger brother Jamie joins the notorious Mosby's Rangers, despite her warnings and Laurence's threats. After and especially dangerous attempt to rescue some kidnapped servants, Annie is arrested and jailed in Washington, DC. Thomas struggles against loyalty to the Union as he fights for Annie's freedom and her heart.
Critical Evaluation:Annie, Between the States is an excellent story—woven with considerable attention to historical accuracy. Elliott's descriptions of Civil War battles serve as miniature history lessons, and they quickly and effectively provide the details necessary to understand the setting. The character of Annie matures during the course of the novel. The author does a good job at showing Annie's emotional growth. Early in the story, Annie is afraid and unsure of how to behave; she relies on her mother greatly. After several years of war, however, Annie has learned how to make her own decisions, and to make them with her heart. Annie's sacrifice of her beloved horse, Angel, shows us this.
This is not a fast-paced novel, and it does contain a lot of detail about life in the 1860s. Readers unfamiliar with the Civil War will learn a lot about it—from Annie's Confederate/Pro-Abolition perspective. Annie, Between the States reminds one of Gone With the Wind, but this story is more appropriate to a younger audience, especially young women Annie's age.
Curriculum Ties:American History, the Civil War, Abolition
Book Talk Ideas: first person narrative by Annie from early on in the story after she has seen first-hand real battle and met Thomas Walker; Short background on the Civil War.
Challenge Issues:violence, racism, slavery, secession
Why was this text included in this project?This novel was added to include some historical fiction to this project.
Showing posts with label historical fiction. Show all posts
Showing posts with label historical fiction. Show all posts
Monday, December 7, 2009
My Antonia
Bibliography:Cather, W. (2004 ) My Antonia. New York, NY:Simon & Schuster.
Genre:fiction
Reading Level/Interest Age:15+yrs
Reader's Annotation:In the vast Nebraskan farmland of the early 1900s, Jim and Antonia forge a friendship that lasts for the rest of their lives.
Author:Willa Cather's famous novels include My Antonia (1918) and O, Pioneers! (1913). Cather based many of her stories in Nebraska, her home for many years. Cather won the Pulitzer in 1922.
Plot Summary:Jim Burden moves to his grandparents Nebraskan farm after his parents die. Life is lonely until a Bohemian family moves to a nearby farm. Jim meets and befriends Antonia Shimerda. During that first summer, Jim teaches Antonia to speak English, and the two have many adventures together. Jim and Antonia remain friends for the rest of their lives, amidst tragedies and joys. As an adult, Jim looks back on his memories of Antonia.
Critical Evaluation:This novel fills in an interesting gap in American literature; Cather is one of the only writers to preserve the lives of the early Nebraskan settlers. My Antonia is not a fast-paced adventure story. Readers wanting that sort of tale will be quickly bored with this novel. However, it is worth some attention, especially by readers interested in the immigrant experience in the Mid-West during the early 1900s. Antonia's family, the Shimerdas, have habits and customs very different from Jim and his family. Cather clearly represents the "old world" and the "new world" coexisting. What is interesting is how the two young people (Jim and Antonia)are able to cross the boundaries of their different cultures and embrace friendship. Another element of this novel that I particularly enjoyed was Cather's imagery. She describes the rolling plains of Nebraska beautifully; it is apparent that she loved the landscapes.
Curriculum Ties:Immigration in the American Mid-West (1900s)
Book Talk Ideas:overview of the immigrant experience in the northeast (the more familiar Ellis Island story), compared with the Shimerda experience in Nebraska
Challenge Issues:racism, suicide
Why was this text included in this project?Students will come across Willa Cather's short stories in many literature anthologies, and (if they like them) they might consider one of her novels for a book report.
Genre:fiction
Reading Level/Interest Age:15+yrs
Reader's Annotation:In the vast Nebraskan farmland of the early 1900s, Jim and Antonia forge a friendship that lasts for the rest of their lives.
Author:Willa Cather's famous novels include My Antonia (1918) and O, Pioneers! (1913). Cather based many of her stories in Nebraska, her home for many years. Cather won the Pulitzer in 1922.
Plot Summary:Jim Burden moves to his grandparents Nebraskan farm after his parents die. Life is lonely until a Bohemian family moves to a nearby farm. Jim meets and befriends Antonia Shimerda. During that first summer, Jim teaches Antonia to speak English, and the two have many adventures together. Jim and Antonia remain friends for the rest of their lives, amidst tragedies and joys. As an adult, Jim looks back on his memories of Antonia.
Critical Evaluation:This novel fills in an interesting gap in American literature; Cather is one of the only writers to preserve the lives of the early Nebraskan settlers. My Antonia is not a fast-paced adventure story. Readers wanting that sort of tale will be quickly bored with this novel. However, it is worth some attention, especially by readers interested in the immigrant experience in the Mid-West during the early 1900s. Antonia's family, the Shimerdas, have habits and customs very different from Jim and his family. Cather clearly represents the "old world" and the "new world" coexisting. What is interesting is how the two young people (Jim and Antonia)are able to cross the boundaries of their different cultures and embrace friendship. Another element of this novel that I particularly enjoyed was Cather's imagery. She describes the rolling plains of Nebraska beautifully; it is apparent that she loved the landscapes.
Curriculum Ties:Immigration in the American Mid-West (1900s)
Book Talk Ideas:overview of the immigrant experience in the northeast (the more familiar Ellis Island story), compared with the Shimerda experience in Nebraska
Challenge Issues:racism, suicide
Why was this text included in this project?Students will come across Willa Cather's short stories in many literature anthologies, and (if they like them) they might consider one of her novels for a book report.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)