Review: Dear America, A Journey to the New World

Dear America:

A Journey to the New World

The Diary of Remember Patience Whipple

Mayflower, 1620

by

 Kathryn Lasky

Quote: "  I begin now this second part of our diary, even though it is the same day. I consider the voyage finished and this be the New World part." ~Mem   pg. 43

Started: Jan. 14, 2013

Finished: Jan. 16, 2013

hardcover/ 174 pages

From the cover:

"Land ahoy!"

 The call from the crow's nest cracked the dawn. Hummy's and my eyes flew open...we all hurried out. Unable to believe the words, our eyes wide in the half-light of dawn. Several of us crowded along the rail. The sailors saw it first, the faint, dark line against the horizon... But within minutes of searching the horizon with our eyes, Hummy and I begun to see the same.

 We held each other's hands so tightly and dared not breathe, but minute by minute, the line became firmer and began to thicken. 'Twas not a wisp of a dream but real. It has taken us all of sixty-five days, but finally we are here. This be the New World and it doth fill my eyes for the first time.

My Review:

I have to admit that I love the Dear America series. They are such good little reads and have actually taught me things I had not learned before. This book in particular was about the Mayflower voyage of 1620. I learned new names that I hadn't known, such as the "Saints" and "Separatists" which are the names given to those from the Saints of the Holy Discipline who separated from the Church of England. Rather than just being what we call, Pilgrims. I also didn't know that the Mayflower was originally a wine ship from Portugal. This book actually includes many names of real passengers who were among those on board. The names can be matched to ledgers located on internet searches. I like the way this book shows us what the voyage most likely was like from the eyes of a child. How she dealt with sickness, hunger, heartache and even boredom. So often in history we see children have dealt with things we cannot imagine ourselves overcoming as adults, let alone a child. We take for granted our own children's advantages and innocence. My daughters actually own a short(28minute) movie by the same name and I have to say there were too many missing parts to the movie after finishing the book. There were complete characters left out and other things added to the movie that were no where in the story.

For the book, I give it 4 Stars*

Review: Dear America

Dear America: 

The Diary of Lydia Amelia Pierce

Like The Willow Tree

Portland, Maine, 1918

By 

Lois Lowry

Quote:

 " They'll seem strange to you at first. They have some strange customs. It's their religion." ~ Uncle Henry

started reading: 10/4/11

ended 10/6/11

From the cover:

In 1918, as the Great War rages in Europe, the Spanish influenza tears a brutal path across the United Stats, leaving devastation in its wake. Suddenly, eleven-year-old Lydia Pierce and her brother, Daniel, find themselves orphans of the flu, and are taken by their grieving uncle to be raised int he shaker community at Sabbathday Lake. Thrust into Shakers' unfamiliar way of life, Lydia, a fiercely independent girl, must grapple with a new world that is nothing like the one she used to know.

  Lydia must work hard, and all the while she worries about her headstrong brother, who has run away. In time, and with her courageous spirit, Lydia learns to find joy in living with the Shakers- yet she cannot stop wondering, will Daniel ever return?

Review: 

I really liked this spunky little girl from the beginning. She seems so typical and reminds me that no matter what century they are from  or where they are born,  little girls pretty much think the same. The story begins on Lydia's 11th birthday and she is learning that you can't always get what you want. even on your own birthday. Due to the spreading of the Spanish influenza all public buildings are being asked to close up and that includes the theatre where Lydia had planned on visiting today.

This will be the first of many unexpected changes young Lydia will have to experience. She learns to not only be more conservative but also more productive. Nothing will be easy and there is much that will change.

When tragedy strikes her own household she finds there is change all around. What is normal anymore? Where does she belong?

The epilogue is nicely written also. I love when a story gives you a little something to see farther done the road how things turn out.

Overall this was a very good JR. It teaches lessons in giving, unselfishness, heartache, loyalty and learning to adapt in unforseen circumstances. 

I would fit this into the ages 9-14 age group. Depending on maturity of course. Some may find it dull.

Tuesday Teaser

Teaser Tuesday: A Night to Surrender

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two "teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! Share the title & author, too, so that others can add the book to their TBR Lists!

I just started this book yesterday, so it really will be a teaser for myself. I'm taking a little break and just doing a quick book. 
My teaser is from:




Dear America: The Diary of Lydia Amelia Pierce(Like the Willow Tree)
Portland, Maine, 1918
 by Lois Lowry
pg. 111
" Snow makes me think about Christmas. At home, before the epidemic that changed everything, we would be busy making gifts and cookies for the holidays."