Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.1 AVERAGE
4.1 AVERAGE
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
This is one of my all time favorite children/young adult books. I've always loved the Colonial/Revolutionary time period, and this one brings one small part of it to vivid life. The reminiscences of the characters show just the kinds of things people in that time period went through during the war, without getting into things that alot of young people would find boring or disturbing. I've always liked the way the ghosts of her ancestors appear just when she needs them.
I recommend this book to anyone who has an enjoyment of the time period, or wants to expose a youngster to it without beating them over the head with a dry history text.
I recommend this book to anyone who has an enjoyment of the time period, or wants to expose a youngster to it without beating them over the head with a dry history text.
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I adore this book and wish Ms. Pope had written more... it's a ghost story that is funny instead of creepy, set both in the 1960s and during the American Revolution. I love the characters and the dialogue. Peaceable Sherwood forever!
I love the way Elizabeth Marie Pope writes, with witty turns of phrases and sharp twists of humor. Masterfully conveying personality through vivid dialogue, quickly sketched story vignettes, visuals, and.. and..
And I find the main story terribly flat.
So ghosts are able to pop out and help an unloved nor cared-for young female descendant in her time of need, until she finds satisfaction. Thus, 17-year-old Peggy Grahame meets some caring ancestral ghosts and is told story after story of their dashing deeds and romance during the American revolution in the 1760s. Meanwhile, in 1950s present, Peggy goes insta-gaga over some rando young manwho decides he wants to marry her on sight.
The problem is, these ghosts don't sound any differently than the people in modern times do, so I have trouble grasping a sense of history as they tell their tales, charming and engaging as these tales are. I'm also not a fan of Pat speaking to Peggy like she's a lovable idiot, however gently or humorously flirtatious the tone is meant to be. And finally, it bothers the HECK out of me how a young woman is just supposed to be swept off to be the wife of an impoverished earl slash historian, the happy end. Blah.
And I find the main story terribly flat.
So ghosts are able to pop out and help an unloved nor cared-for young female descendant in her time of need, until she finds satisfaction. Thus, 17-year-old Peggy Grahame meets some caring ancestral ghosts and is told story after story of their dashing deeds and romance during the American revolution in the 1760s. Meanwhile, in 1950s present, Peggy goes insta-gaga over some rando young man
Spoiler
who happens to be the great-great-great-something of Peaceable Sherwood, one of the 1700s young men who had been an English pseudo-guerilla enemy but ended up befriending Dick Grahame and marrying Barbara Grahame, thus becoming a Grahame ancestor himself, andThe problem is, these ghosts don't sound any differently than the people in modern times do, so I have trouble grasping a sense of history as they tell their tales, charming and engaging as these tales are. I'm also not a fan of Pat speaking to Peggy like she's a lovable idiot, however gently or humorously flirtatious the tone is meant to be. And finally, it bothers the HECK out of me how a young woman is just supposed to be swept off to be the wife of an impoverished earl slash historian, the happy end. Blah.
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
It is so strange to read a young adult book written in the '50s. It's so different from how it's written now.
This book is out of my usual wheelhouse, so I have to say that the three stars is a little bit biased. However, if you like historical fiction (I don't) and you like American/British romance (I also don't), I think you will love this book. The funny thing is, when I first started typing my review, I began it by explaining how much I loved the writing style and how much it reminded me of [b:The Perilous Gard|195381|The Perilous Gard|Elizabeth Marie Pope|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1441373154l/195381._SY75_.jpg|2210482] by... and oh, would you look at that, same author. At least she's consistent!