A Line in the Sand: The Alamo Diary of Lucinda Lawrence, Gonzales, Texas, 1836

Living in the tiny, remote settlement of Gonzales, Texas, in 1835, pioneer farm girl Lucinda Lawrence has just celebrated her thirteenth birthday. Her father is against war with Mexico - he learned the horrors of war firsthand during the War of 1812. Lucinda's brothers find the idea of war glorious - her oldest brother, Willis, is eager to fight against the oppresive Mexicans. Lucinda's mother just doesn't want to lose anymore children - her youngest, a baby girl, died during the journey from Missouri to Texas years earlier. Lucinda's friend, Mittie Roe, wants her father to come home safely from his trading expedition. And Lucinda herself isn't sure what she wants - the Mexicans are treating the American settlers badly, but she fears show more the war will go poorly for the outnumbered, ragtag settler army. But like it or not, over the next few months, Lucinda and all her family and friends will be swept up in the war for Texas independence. Some of them will survive, and some of them will not. But through it all, Lucinda matures from a girl to a young woman who knows where she stands and what is worth fighting for. I highly reccomend this excellant book, particuarly to fans of the Dear America series. It brings to life this period of history. show less

I don't remember much of these books as individual books, but I remember reading them all as a young, avid reader. I think that ultimately these books are the reason why I love historical fiction novels so much. They all did such a great job of taking me to a different time and place and making it come alive, seeing the world through an older, historical lens. I highly recommend any of the Dear America books to younger readers who love history and need to get hooked on reading!

This entire series is a wonderful way to learn history or teach it to adolescents. I find today's generations seem to recall more when they learn through other people (pop songs, celebrity gossip, etc.), so what better way to teach history than through someone else's perspective? Yes, "authentic" diaries would be "better", but would the language really hold the modern student's attention? Did the diary writer know what WOULD be important in the context of history? Probably not.

In the journal she receives for her twelfth birthday in 1835, Lucinda Lawrence describes the hardships her family and other residents of the Texas colonies endure when they decide to face the Mexicans in a fight for their freedom.

This book is about a 13 year old girl who just recieved a pack of pencils and a diary from her grandmother. The girls name is Lucinda Lawrence and she writes in her diary about the time she lived in and the battle she lost family in, which is the battle of the Alamo. The author did a good job of portrayhing the Texas Revolution and the battle of the Alamo.

I can relate to this book in a small way because i do have friends who have fought in Iraq and although it is a different time it is still a war and the brave men and women need our support. I have had some friends who have been wounded and I have also known some of the men who lost their life in the Iraq war.

For a classroom extension idea i would have the children write letters to show more some of the men and women serving in Iraq and Afgahanstan.
I would also have the students reenact the battle of the Alamo and the times that Lucinda lived in. show less

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