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In South Carolina in 1780, fourteen-year-old Caroline sees the Revolutionary War take a terrible toll among her family and friends and, along with a startling revelation about her own background, comes to understand the true nature of war.Tags
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An excellent book, enjoyable by an adult even with a 14 yr old main character. Caroline matures rapidly when the British (Revolutionary War) invade her family's home and she copes with the killing of a friend, her interracial heritage, and questioning who can be trusted in a time of shifting alliances. Set in South Carolina, her family were plantation owners but she was much more of a tomboy than her sister.
Well researched, with bibliography for further background.
Well researched, with bibliography for further background.
I started reading this one reluctantly. I didn't want to read a book set during a war. And it is true, this book is a really good comment on man's inhumanity to man. My first impression was that the author leaned toward making one side look worse than the other...then I read her comments at the end of the book. She did acknowledge that there were atrocities all the way around. Even the Bible says that humans cannot rule themselves. Ecclesiastes 8:9 says that man rules himself to his own injury...to me this is what this book was all about.
Caroline Whitaker is fourteen-years-old, and is witnessing the American Revolution first hand. A British officer and army had commandeered her home. Her father (a Patriot) has been imprisoned, her brother Johnny (a Loyalist) is wounded, and the British, before her eyes, hang her best friend. Her sister is becoming the mistress to the cruel British officer who has stolen their house.
Adding to Caroline’s fears and self-doubt, she knows she is the result of her father's dallianace with one of his black slaves. No one acknowledges or talks about this. Her grandmother, Miz Melindy, lives with the slave. When Caroline and Miz Melindy take a long wagon journey together to save Johnny (who has turned to the other side) the young heroine show more learns how to deal with the uncertainty, violence and anger in her life.
This is a great book for young adults to get an idea about how tumultuous and frightening the Revolutionary period was. Caroline tries to be as mature as possible, but is still confused and scared. The plot moves quickly and the characters are well developed and likeable. show less
Adding to Caroline’s fears and self-doubt, she knows she is the result of her father's dallianace with one of his black slaves. No one acknowledges or talks about this. Her grandmother, Miz Melindy, lives with the slave. When Caroline and Miz Melindy take a long wagon journey together to save Johnny (who has turned to the other side) the young heroine show more learns how to deal with the uncertainty, violence and anger in her life.
This is a great book for young adults to get an idea about how tumultuous and frightening the Revolutionary period was. Caroline tries to be as mature as possible, but is still confused and scared. The plot moves quickly and the characters are well developed and likeable. show less
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Author Information
55 Works 17,943 Members
Young adult author Ann Rinaldi was born in New York City on August 27, 1934. After high school, she became a secretary in the business world. She got married in 1960 and stopped working, but after having two children she decided to try writing. In 1969, she wrote a weekly column in the Somerset Messenger Gazette and in 1970 she wrote two columns a show more week for the Trentonian, which eventually led to her writing features and soft new stories. She published her first novel Term Paper in 1979, but was ultimately drawn to writing historical fiction when her son became involved in reenactments while he was in high school. Her first historical fiction novel was Time Enough for Drums. She also writes for the Dear America series. She currently lives in Somerville, New Jersey with her husband. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Awards and Honors
Series
Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- Cast Two Shadows: The American Revolution in the South
- People/Characters
- Caroline Whitaker; Johnny Whitaker; Miz Melindy
- Important places
- South Carolina, USA
- Important events
- American Revolution (1775 | 1783)
- Epigraph
- It is a wonderful seasoning of all enjoyments to think of those we love. Jean-Baptiste Poquelin Moliere.
- Dedication
- to Patrick Ronald, my fifth grandsoon.
- First words
- It was along toward eleven in the morning when they hanged Kit Gales.
- Quotations
- I try not to let my private pain hurt others, too. Because then it never ends. (p.266)
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)I take her and we race on the High Hills of Santee.
Classifications
- Genres
- Fiction and Literature, Tween, Teen, Young Adult
- DDC/MDS
- 811.008 — Literature & rhetoric American literature in English American poetry Specific kinds of poetry {only by more than one author} Modified standard subdivisions Collections of literary texts
- LCC
- PZ7 .R459 .C — Language and Literature Fiction and juvenile belles lettres Fiction and juvenile belles lettres Juvenile belles lettres
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 451
- Popularity
- 67,353
- Reviews
- 3
- Rating
- (3.58)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 10
- ASINs
- 6
