New Releases by Ann Rinaldi

This novel of a girl and her family in Gettysburg as the infamous Civil War battle begins “brings a piece of history to life” (School Library Journal). As Confederate and Union soldiers take over their town, the residents of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, can do little more than hunker down in their homes while cannon and gunfire explode around them. But the battles are not only fought between soldiers. At home, fourteen-year-old Tacy worries about the safety of her African-American friend and locks horns with her disabled brother, David, as he yearns to go to war, frustrated and angry about sitting by while others do the fighting. But circumstances will soon bring both David and Tacy into the aftermath of this great and terrible battle—whose soldiers will not be the last to make the ultimate sacrifice… “A beautiful blend of hope and tragedy…this novel once again shows the author’s skill at giving historical events flesh and heart.”—Booklist

“An 11-year-old girl’s inadvertent role in the infamous Nat Turner slave uprising of 1831 dramatically alters her life” in this heartrending novel (Kirkus Reviews). Harriet Whitehead is an outsider in her own family. She feels accepted and important only when she is entrusted to write letters for her blind stepmother. Then Nat Turner, a slave preacher, arrives on her family’s plantation and Harriet befriends him, entranced by his gentle manner and eloquent sermons about an all-forgiving God. When Nat asks Harriet for a map of the county to help him spread the word, she draws it for him, wanting to be part of something important. But the map turns out to be the missing piece that sets Nat’s secret plan in motion—and makes Harriet an unwitting accomplice to the bloodiest slave uprising in U.S. history. In The Letter Writer, award-winning historical novelist Ann Rinaldi has created a bold portrait of antebellum Virginia and of an ordinary young girl thrust into a situation beyond her control, and must make peace with herself in the wake of tragedy.

Cornelia Greene is fed up with gossip about her mother. Caty Littlefield Greene was once a beautiful young bride who lifted the troops’ spirits at Valley Forge, but Cornelia knows that rumors of Caty’s past indiscretions hurt Nathanael Greene, Cornelia’s adored father. Yet Caty claims that she’s just a flirt, and that flirting is a female necessity—a woman’s only means of power. Cornelia’s concern with her mother’s reputation abruptly fades to the background when she learns that Nathanael Greene may not be her father. As she searches for the truth, she makes unexpected discoveries that lead her to a new understanding of love and family.

Based on an extraordinary true story, this young adult novel follows of one young enslaved woman’s struggle to take what is rightfully hers. When I was four and my daddy left, I cried, but I understood. He had become part of the Gone. Oney Judge is a slave. But on the plantation of Mount Vernon, the beautiful home of George and Martha Washington, she is not called a slave. She is referred to as a servant, and a house servant at that—a position of influence and respect. When she rises to the position of personal servant to Martha Washington, her status among the household staff—black or white—is second to none. She is Lady Washington’s closest confidante and for all intents and purposes, a member of the family…or so she thinks. Slowly, Oney’s perception of her life with the Washingtons begins to crack as she realizes the truth: No matter what it’s called, it’s still slavery and she’s still enslaved. Oney must make a choice. Does she stay where she is, comfortable, with this family that has loved her and nourished her and owned her since the day she was born? Or does she take her liberty—her life—into her own hands, and like her father, become one of the Gone?

All my life I have done what my family wanted. I have performed and made them happy. Until now. Now I have broken out on my own Sarah Tracy has spent her entire life under constant supervision, always under the thumb of one older sibling or another. Now, at eighteen it''s time for her to get married, so she is sent to dinner parties, plays, teas, soirees, talks, and chaperoned walks -- always accompanied, always watched. Sarah''s tired of it -- tired of being shipped around, tired of being reminded that it''s time to find a suitable husband. She knows that a husband is definitely not what she wants. But the year is 1861 and it''s not proper for girls of Sarah''s age to be single or independent. Then Sarah sees an advertisement looking for a young woman to oversee Mount Vernon, the beloved, though now dilapidated, family home of George Washington. Intent on securing the position, she lies to her family and her potential employer, and she becomes mistress of this decaying symbol of American freedom. And then comes the American Civil War. As battles rage around her, Sarah is determined to create a haven of peace at Mount Vernon. With consummate skills, feminine wiles, and a true sense of diplomacy, Sarah single-handedly manages to keep Mount Vernon out of the war. But while she is able to influence generals, soldiers, and even the president, she learns she doesn''t hold such sway over her own heart -- as she also discovers true love. Based on a true story, this is the amazing tale of one girl''s path to womanhood.

As her family hides in a cave during a Civil War battle, a girl faces a difficult choice in this “thoroughly researched and enjoyable historical novel” (Booklist). Claire Louise Corbett and her Confederate family flee their home as Union soldiers shell their town of Vicksburg, Mississippi. They venture out from the safety of a cave only three times a day—when the Union army takes their meals at eight in the morning, noon, and eight at night. But while many of the townspeople suffer from a lack of food, the Corbetts receive extra rations from Claire Louise’s brother, Landon, a doctor with the Union army. When Claire Louise discovers her brother tending to a Confederate soldier who was responsible for the South’s defeat at the Battle of Antietam, she is forced to make a difficult choice—in this story of family, courage, and secrets during the forty-seven-day siege of Vicksburg, which also includes an epilogue, author’s note, and bibliography. “A good choice for fans of historical fiction, particularly the Civil War era.”—School Library Journal “The family members are vividly portrayed individuals and their relationships are particularly well drawn.”—Booklist

When the Yankees arrive in Roswell, Georgia, Leigh Ann Conners places a French flag upon the family''s mill. She hopes the Yankees will then spare the mill from destruction, but her actions have disastrous results.

Now that her father is dead, CeCe McGill is left to wonder why he risked his life for the ragged slaves who came to their door in the dead of night. When her uncle, an ornithologist, insists she accompany him to Georgia on an expedition in search of the rare scarlet ibis, CeCe is surprised to learn there''s a second reason for their journey: Along the way, Uncle Alex secretly points slaves north in the direction of the Underground Railroad. Set against the backdrop of the tumultuous pre-Civil War South, The Ever-After Bird is the story of a young woman''s education about the horrors of slavery and the realization about the kind of person she wants to become.

Rinaldi delves into the childhood friendship between Mary Todd Lincoln and black seamstress Elizabeth Keckley--two fascinating women who became devoted friends and confidantes amid the turbulent times of the Lincoln administration.

Fourteen-year-old Luli and her family face tragedy after failing to tell their slaves that President Lincoln''s Emancipation Proclamation made them free.

I had freckles. I had sandy hair. I was too short. Would my feet even touch the ground if I sat on the throne? These are the words of lady Jane Grey, as imagined by celebrated author Ann Rinaldi. Jane would become Queen of England for only nine days before being beheaded at the age of sixteen. Here is a breathtaking story of English royalty with its pageantry, privilege, and surprising cruelty. As she did in her previous novel Mutiny''s Daughter, Ms. Rinaldi uses powerful, evocative writing to bring to life a teenage girl caught in the grip of stirring times. Ages 12+

The Civil War is at an end, but for thirteen-year-old Eulinda, it is no time to rejoice. Her younger brother Zeke was sold away, her older brother Neddy joined the Northern war effort, and her master will not acknowledge that Eulinda is his daughter. Her mettle is additionally tested when she realizes her brother Neddy might be buried in the now-closed Andersonville Prison where soldiers were kept in torturous conditions. With the help of Clara Barton, the eventual founder of the Red Cross, Eulinda must find a way to let go of the skeletons from her past.

A "what if?" story about Mary Christian, half-Tahitian daughter of Fletcher Christian, second in command and leader of the mutiny on the British ship Bounty.

Set in 1741 New York City, this hypnotic tale, drawn from an obscure slice of American history, delves into topical issues, where a culture of fear creates a hunger for a scapegoat, and a mob mentality results in the tragic deaths of innocents.

A teenage orphan is caught up in President Lincoln’s assassination—and another macabre plot—in this “fast-paced and dramatic” historical novel (Publishers Weekly). Emily’s mother always told her that she should avoid Uncle Valentine, a doctor, that he was involved in things she shouldn’t know about. But after Emily is orphaned—as Washington, DC, is in chaos due to the end of the Civil War—she has nowhere else to go. Now, in addition to coping with the loss of her mother, the fourteen-year-old finds herself involved in two mysteries. First, she wonders about her best friend, Annie Surratt, and the Surratt family. Annie has a signed picture of the handsome actor John Wilkes Booth in her room—but there seems to be more of a connection between Booth and the Surratt family than Emily thought…possibly including the plot to kill Lincoln. At the same time, Uncle Valentine’s odd behavior leads Emily to suspect that he is involved with body-snatching. As dark secrets swirl around her, Emily must figure out who she can trust, in this suspenseful tale “with a wealth of interesting background information” (Publishers Weekly). “Rinaldi has woven two interesting plots here into a fine coming-of-age historical novel....Makes readers feel as if they are living in history.”—Booklist “A vivid account of the moral ambiguities surrounding body snatching—for medical research—at the close of the Civil War.”—Publishers Weekly

Kidnapped from her home in Senegal and sold as a slave in 1761, a young girl is purchased by the wealthy Wheatley family in Boston. Phillis Wheatley—as she comes to be known—has an eager mind and it leads her on an unusual path for a slave—she becomes America’s first published black poet. “Strong characterization and perceptive realism mark this thoughtful portrayal.”—Booklist

On St. Helena Island, South Carolina, fifteen year-old Rose meets and marries Rene, a Yankee from Brooklyn, New York, who takes her north to his home where she encounters many differences in attitudes and lifestyles.

A surprising Revolutionary War tale of a family beset by a mother’s mental illness: “Often gripping…the portrayal of Patrick Henry is unusually complex.”—Publishers Weekly Patrick Henry, the famous statesman of the American Revolution, has a secret: He keeps his wife in the cellar. It’s the only alternative to an asylum, for, slowly losing her mind, Sarah Henry has become a serious danger to herself and her children. Narrated by the Henrys’ two daughters, Patsy and Anne, who must take on new responsibilities, this compassionate novel explores the possibility that Patrick Henry’s immortal cry of “Give me liberty or give me death” may have first been spoken by his wife as she pled for her freedom—and “delivers another intriguing spin on history” from the popular author of young adult fiction (Kirkus Reviews). Includes a reader''s guide

The final handcrafted installment by award-winning author Ann Rinaldi. "Whether they''ve covered the previous books or not, readers will enjoy this rip-roaring tale of adventure and suspense."-Kirkus Amanda Videau had no idea what adventures she''d find on the journey North. But she never expected this… After witnessing a crime, she goes into hiding, disguising herself as a worker in her great-grandfather''s textile mill. For the first time in her life, Amanda must work to survive. And that means experiencing the horrible working conditions of the mill firsthand. Now, as Amanda fights for her newfound rights, she must also try to heal generations of deep Chelmsford family wounds. And that means facing the man behind the blue door--the man who tore apart the family quilt so many years ago.

A riveting middle-grade Civil War drama by acclaimed author, Ann Rinaldi. Based on a true incident. As the Civil War rages, Amelia''s Maryland town is beset by divisions. Even she and her best friend Josh disagree. Amelia vows not to take sides, until the Confederate troops march into town...led by Josh''s uncle.

How could Lizzy Enders''s father abandon her at a girls school run by nuns? She''s surrounded by Catholics--but she''s Methodist! Shunned by the other boarders, Lizzy befriends a wandering carpenter named José, who with just three tools--and unflagging faith--builds an elaborate spiral staircase in the new chapel in mere weeks. When he disappears without a trace, Lizzy realizes that the way she sees things is not always the way they are. Inspired by the legend of the "miraculous" staircase in the Chapel of Loretto in Santa Fe, Ann Rinaldi skillfully blends the mystery surrounding the staircase''s builder with the daily trials of a spunky thirteen-year-old girl growing up in the 1870s.

Based on the true story of the Hatfield-McCoy feud, “this novel beautifully evokes a time, a place, and one of the more peculiar sagas in American history” (Booklist). Fanny McCoy has lived in fear and anger ever since that day in 1878 when a dispute with the Hatfields over the ownership of a few pigs set her family on a path of hatred and revenge. From that day forward, along the ragged ridges of the West Virginia-Kentucky line, the Hatfields and the McCoys have operated not within the law but within mountain codes of their own making. In 1882, when Fanny’s sister Roseanna runs off with young Johnse Hatfield, the hatred between the two clans explodes. As the killings, abductions, raids, and heartbreak escalate bitterly and senselessly, Fanny, the sole voice of reason, realizes that she is powerless to stop the fighting—and must learn to rise above the petty natures of her family and neighbors to find her own way out of the hatred . . . “Tautly plotted.” —Publishers Weekly “An absorbing story . . . Readers will be drawn to the Romeo and Juliet aspects and also learn a bit of little understood American history.” —VOYA

As a teen, Sarah Wheelock has vowed never to let a man control her. With this conviction, she leaves her life on a Michigan farm, disguises herself as a boy, and fights in the Civil War.

Sixteen-year-old Jem struggles to maintain the status quo at home in Trenton, New Jersey, when the family men join the war for independence. There are signs of rebellion in the Emerson household several years before the actual American Revolution hits in 1776! Brought up in a relatively liberal household, Jemima Emerson is quite a challenge for her tutor, John Reid, who is known as a Tory with strong ties to England. How could Jem''s parents be friends with a man who opposes American freedom? Jem longs for freedom on every level, in the home and her homeland--and John represents the forces that restrict her. Jem and her family soon find themselves fighting for freedom in whatever ways they can in the Revolutionary War. Before long, Jem discovers that there is much more to Mr. Reid than she ever imagined. Her feelings about him change when Jem realizes that John shares her love of freedom--and will risk his life to defend it.

A young girl living in South Carolina during the American Revolution discovers the duplicity within herself and others.

High-spirited, beautiful Susan Chilmark, fourteen, vows to do something meaningful to support the Confederacy during the Civil War. Despite the wishes of her mother, Susan and her best friend, Connie, collect silk dresses from all the ladies of Richmond to make a balloon that will be used to spy on the Yankees. But the issues behind the war aren''t as obvious as Susan thinks. When she meets her dashing, scandalous older brother and discovers why he was banished from the family, Susan unlocks a Pandora''s box of secrets that forces her to rethink and challenge the very system she was born into. Does she have the courage to do what is right even though it may hurt the ones she loves?

For two sisters growing up surrounded by the Civil War, there is conflict both outside and inside their house.

In 1798 Rebecca, a young settler in the Ohio territory, meets the Shawnee called Tecumseh and later develops a deep friendship with him.

History as you have never heard it - cartoons and amusing text and illustrations give readers the lowdown on what life was like in ancient Greece and in England under Roman occupation.

For young Kay, growing up in middle class America during World War II is a confusing and sometimes painful experience. Her stepmother, Amazing Grace, is a selfish woman who takes her unhappiness out on those around her. And for a little girl so concerned with pleasing others and doing the honorable thing, life with Amazing Grace is nearly unbearable. But Kay is also a believer. She’s determined to “keep smiling through,” as the song says, knowing that one day she will do something extraordinary. “A bittersweet historical novel.”—Kirkus Reviews