Is Sarah Bold Enough?

All Sarah wants for her 11^th birthday is a pair of rollerblades, so she's greatly disappointed when her parents buy her a Colonial doll. It seems like the worst birthday present ever and she decides she will never love it as much as her other dolls. After naming it Miss Prickle, she throws it against her wall and is transported back in time to 1765. She may be in her hometown of Guilford, Connecticut- but almost nothing is the same. Sarah is shocked when the people she encounters think she's a runaway slave. No one believes her when she tries to explain who she is, and that she needs to get back to her family. Even more surprising is the reaction that the people in town have when she stands up for herself and tries to stop people from treating her unfairly. She’s been learning about the American Revolution in school, but experiencing the racism that existed at that time is very hard for Sarah to comprehend. With the help of a reverend and his family, she's able to sleep in safety and learn some of the customs of the time period. Is it possible that standing up for herself will get Sarah in more trouble than she can handle? Will she ever see her parents again? Travel back in time, and you’ll be turning the pages to find out what happens. 

I loved Sarah the Bold by Eileen Lettick. The research in this great historical fiction book made the story come alive. The details about the town of Guilford inspire me to learn more about its history. Sarah is a character who stands up for what she believes in. Her boldness made me worried at times because people thought she was a runaway slave, and I didn’t want her to get hurt. I liked reading about the people she met in 1765. It was especially fun when Sarah was in disguise and ran into an important figure from history. Her trip back in time opened her eyes to what life was like in the past, and it makes the reader think about how ridiculous it is that people have ever been judged because of the color of their skin. After reading this fascinating story I look forward to visiting the Henry Whitfield House in Guilford, Connecticut. It’s now a museum and the oldest building in the state! I recommend this book to anyone in third grade and up who enjoys historical fiction or time travel. Teachers will definitely want to include this book in a historical fiction unit. My favorite way to learn about history is through reading historical fiction. I look forward to more stories by this author.

* Eileen Lettick is generously giving away a signed paperback copy of Sarah the Bold.  All you have to do is comment on this review or stop back on Saturday and comment on our interview with the author. The winner will be randomly selected. Good luck! 

Has anyone else read Sarah the Bold by Eileen Lettick? We’d love to hear your thoughts!

Happy Reading!
~L

Answer to Fairday's Riddle: Being Brave...

Excellent guessing, Riddlers! This week we're going to be brave. Tune in Friday for Lizzy's middle grade book review and find out how the answer ties into the story. See you all around the book block! ~ F

When the moment is uncertain— anything could be behind the curtain. Your gut flip-flops in wobbly doubt; inner voice wants to shout. Face the scene despite your fears and stand up tall through the tears. You'll know the answer to this rhyme if you've held your own one time.

What am I referring to? Answer: Being brave/ courageous

Fairday's Riddles: Volume I 

Make time to riddle and rhyme!

62 original riddles and illustrations

Available in all e-book formats

Fairday's Riddle: Face Front...

Hello, Riddlers! Can you guess our theme this week? Sometimes hard to draw up this feeling in certain situations, but less scary than hiding from things. ~ F

When the moment is uncertain— anything could be behind the curtain. Your gut flip-flops in wobbly doubt; inner voice wants to shout. Face the scene despite your fears and stand up tall through the tears. You'll know the answer to this rhyme if you've held your own one time.

What am I referring to? Stop by Wednesday for the answer. 

I gave you a clue!

Happy Thanksgiving!

We'll be taking time for family and friends this week for the Thanksgiving break. We are grateful for all our of our readers, and we hope you have a wonderful holiday celebrating with with loved ones. We'll see you around the book block, and we'll be back next week with more stories to share.

In the meantime, if you're looking for a great read to snuggle up with, here's a list of the books we've reviewed over the years, plus author interviews—find out the real story behind the story!

BOOK REVIEW INDEX

Happy Reading & Eating!
~ Jess & Stephanie