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4.27 AVERAGE
4.27 AVERAGE
Is it just me and my faulty memory, or does this book jump ahead a bit in the timeline? I'm not going back to re-read the first two. Let their magic stand in my memory and not be tainting by my aging brain.
I am somewhat disappointed in this one. I don't know what I was expecting...maybe the magically writing that gripped me in the first one or the interesting historical perspective of the second book? I don't know, but what I do know is this one didn't capture me the way the others did. I found this one lagged in places, making it a bit of a struggle to read. I guess I was just expecting the same experience as I had with the last two books.
6 years may have contributed to a change in my reading tastes, which may not have worked in this book's favour.
Oh, you'll either love or dislike how this book ends. Me? Not a fan.
I am somewhat disappointed in this one. I don't know what I was expecting...maybe the magically writing that gripped me in the first one or the interesting historical perspective of the second book? I don't know, but what I do know is this one didn't capture me the way the others did. I found this one lagged in places, making it a bit of a struggle to read. I guess I was just expecting the same experience as I had with the last two books.
6 years may have contributed to a change in my reading tastes, which may not have worked in this book's favour.
Oh, you'll either love or dislike how this book ends. Me? Not a fan.
I so rarely actually read all the books in a series, but this one is worth it. Though this last entry fast forwards through a bit of Curzon and Isabel's journey, it hits on important bits of the war and their relationship to it and each other. I would love to go back and read all three books in a row, because the first entry in this series is one of the most compelling pieces of historical fiction out there.
I've been waiting a long time for this book and, man oh man, it was worth the wait. The conclusion to the trilogy that began with Chains, Ashes takes the reader back to Isabelle and Curzon's story. I cried more than once while reading and could not put it down. I even snuck in a few pages while standing in line at the deli counter today!
I'm thrilled that this story has grown with it's readers (Isabelle and Curzon are in their late teens now) while still maintaining it's appeal to middle school and high school readers. And as a #hamilfan, I think I have an even deeper appreciation for the historical accuracy in the trilogy.
I'm thrilled that this story has grown with it's readers (Isabelle and Curzon are in their late teens now) while still maintaining it's appeal to middle school and high school readers. And as a #hamilfan, I think I have an even deeper appreciation for the historical accuracy in the trilogy.
It has been several years since I read book 2 of this series so I only remembered the skeletal details of the story. But I was glad to be immersed in this time of history again. This story has Isabel and Curzon continuing their search for Isabel's sister Ruth. They find her and set off towards the North, towards Rhode Island and freedom.
The war for freedom is a dangerous time for those with dark skin traveling on their own. They stop in Williamsburg where they find work in the town supporting the troops. But then Curzon re-enlists and once again her and Ruth are on the run.
This story, like the first two in the trilogy, portrays the beauty of the human spirit in trying times. It gives real feelings to history and made me want to explore more about the American Revolution. I loved reading the author's research notes at the back of the book. So glad I got around to finishing this series.
The war for freedom is a dangerous time for those with dark skin traveling on their own. They stop in Williamsburg where they find work in the town supporting the troops. But then Curzon re-enlists and once again her and Ruth are on the run.
This story, like the first two in the trilogy, portrays the beauty of the human spirit in trying times. It gives real feelings to history and made me want to explore more about the American Revolution. I loved reading the author's research notes at the back of the book. So glad I got around to finishing this series.
I really liked about a third of this book but the other two thirds had me fuming!
Everyone was horrible to Isabelle! All of them! And she believed all the horrible things that they said to her and decided that she was mean and selfish and self absorbed. Which was a complete lie. She searched for Ruth for months, saved her more than once, looked after her when she was deathly ill, found her somewhere to live and eat, and worried herself half sick thinking about caring for Ruth. And what does Ruth do? have a tantrum, gives Isabelle the silent treatment, slaps Isabelle, and never ever ever says thank you or sorry. Nup. Not happy. Isabelle deserved 10 million times better.
"Ashes" by Laurie Halse Anderson is the final installment in the Seeds of America trilogy, which follows Isabel, her sister Ruth, and their friend and fellow former slave Curzon in the midst of the American Revolution. The previous book ended with the reunion of Curzon and Isabel and their continuing quest to find Isabel's sister Ruth, who was kidnapped and presumably sold to an island in the first book of the series. "Ashes" begins with Curzon and Isabel finally tracking down and finding Ruth in North Carolina, and it finally seems that the two sisters have been reunited for good. But there's a catch: Ruth refuses to acknowledge Isabel as her sister as she has a new friend Aberdeen, Curzon and Isabel continue to fight, and their freedom is still in danger of being stolen from them. It's up to the four friends to put their differences aside and work together to survive a revolution that has little thought for the liberty of the people they've enslaved for the past few decades.
This is probably my favorite book of the series because we really get to see everyone grow older, wiser, more mature. Laurie Halse Anderson has a great gift for character development and it shines in "Ashes." I also love the relationship between Isabel and her sister Ruth. As strained and frustrating as it begins, it soon blossoms into sisterly love that is written so captivatingly. And of course, the romantic love between Isabel and Curzon is unparalleled. So often the protagonist and love interest fall in love over the course of one book, but in this series Isabel and Curzon begin as friends who don't trust or even like each other. It's only in the last moments of the last chapter of their story that they finally overcome their pride and know that their paths were always meant to cross. Nothing comes easy in this series, and as frustrating as it is, it's so rewarding to watch two very stubborn and passionate people overcome their differences, which could be said for a lot of relationships in this book.
The character development of Ruth is the most captivating for me. In the first book of the series, she is a small child, who giggles and puts her thumb in her mouth and talks to animals; she's a child who is not always on the same page as everyone else, but is sharp-minded. Seeing her again in this book was startling. Suddenly she was tall, beautiful, and stubborn as a horse, but somehow maintained all the childish characteristics from when we last saw her. Granted, it's a five year time jump between the first and third book, but the growth of Ruth's character was so well written. She plays such a unique role in the story, memorizing the flags of the different American regiments, warning Isabel about ghosts, calming down a donkey that's central to the plot. She's shown to be so capable even though she's what most would call "simple," and that's such wonderful representation.
I've written a lot about the main romance in this book, but I can't help it - throughout the series, it's a constant question of whether Isabel and Curzon will ever say how they feel to each other, if they will choose to overcome their individual pride and love without fear. And Laurie Halse Anderson does a clever job of making the reader doubt. Curzon and Isabel insult each other, bicker, and at first, believe that their lives are just two different to ever intertwine. Because Curzon believes in the promise of the American Revolution, whereas Isabel supports neither side and is only concerned with the safety of her and Ruth. But in the end, they realize that their two goals may not be so different after all, and that is the most beautiful part of this series.
That, and the hypocrisies that the book points out about the attitudes of the American colonists. Even the British mocked the Americans for owning slaves while preaching about freedom and liberty. Isabel's character is great in this context because she sees the war with a neutral, almost pessimistic view; she considers the war from both sides and everything she does is in the interest of her and her sister, while Curzon does everything in the interest of his fellow slaves and considers the American rebels to be the best side to further that cause. This series really challenges the traditional narrative of the Revolution, and further than that, challenges the reader to reconsider the birth of America, and what it cost to get there.
Overall, I highly recommend this book and this series for its writing, its characters, and the way it confronts history, American's history that is, in an interesting and fresh way: through the eyes of a slave who is more than a slave, but a person worthy of love, peace, and freedom.
This is probably my favorite book of the series because we really get to see everyone grow older, wiser, more mature. Laurie Halse Anderson has a great gift for character development and it shines in "Ashes." I also love the relationship between Isabel and her sister Ruth. As strained and frustrating as it begins, it soon blossoms into sisterly love that is written so captivatingly. And of course, the romantic love between Isabel and Curzon is unparalleled. So often the protagonist and love interest fall in love over the course of one book, but in this series Isabel and Curzon begin as friends who don't trust or even like each other. It's only in the last moments of the last chapter of their story that they finally overcome their pride and know that their paths were always meant to cross. Nothing comes easy in this series, and as frustrating as it is, it's so rewarding to watch two very stubborn and passionate people overcome their differences, which could be said for a lot of relationships in this book.
The character development of Ruth is the most captivating for me. In the first book of the series, she is a small child, who giggles and puts her thumb in her mouth and talks to animals; she's a child who is not always on the same page as everyone else, but is sharp-minded. Seeing her again in this book was startling. Suddenly she was tall, beautiful, and stubborn as a horse, but somehow maintained all the childish characteristics from when we last saw her. Granted, it's a five year time jump between the first and third book, but the growth of Ruth's character was so well written. She plays such a unique role in the story, memorizing the flags of the different American regiments, warning Isabel about ghosts, calming down a donkey that's central to the plot. She's shown to be so capable even though she's what most would call "simple," and that's such wonderful representation.
I've written a lot about the main romance in this book, but I can't help it - throughout the series, it's a constant question of whether Isabel and Curzon will ever say how they feel to each other, if they will choose to overcome their individual pride and love without fear. And Laurie Halse Anderson does a clever job of making the reader doubt. Curzon and Isabel insult each other, bicker, and at first, believe that their lives are just two different to ever intertwine. Because Curzon believes in the promise of the American Revolution, whereas Isabel supports neither side and is only concerned with the safety of her and Ruth. But in the end, they realize that their two goals may not be so different after all, and that is the most beautiful part of this series.
That, and the hypocrisies that the book points out about the attitudes of the American colonists. Even the British mocked the Americans for owning slaves while preaching about freedom and liberty. Isabel's character is great in this context because she sees the war with a neutral, almost pessimistic view; she considers the war from both sides and everything she does is in the interest of her and her sister, while Curzon does everything in the interest of his fellow slaves and considers the American rebels to be the best side to further that cause. This series really challenges the traditional narrative of the Revolution, and further than that, challenges the reader to reconsider the birth of America, and what it cost to get there.
Overall, I highly recommend this book and this series for its writing, its characters, and the way it confronts history, American's history that is, in an interesting and fresh way: through the eyes of a slave who is more than a slave, but a person worthy of love, peace, and freedom.
Excellent series. I know they were written for young adults (and my 5th grade class loves them), but this adult-adult really digs them, as well. For all you history nerds/teachers out there, each chapter begins with a quote from a primary historical source.
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Anderson is brilliant as ever here weaving well-rounded characters and their emotions in with the historic events of the Revolution. I especially appreciate her giving voice to slaves, a group often forgotten when discussing the revolution. Her telling of Isabel and Ruth's relationship and how it developed and changed was beautiful. I appreciated the direction that Isabel and Curzon's relationship took. I really hope that this trilogy becomes required reading in schools.
dark
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes