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Reading Lists: American Historical Fiction

The Revolutionary War (1775-1783)
Avi. The Fighting Ground. 1984. 157p.
13 year old Jonathan goes off to fight in the Revolutionary War and discovers that the real war is being fought within himself.
Berleth, Richard. Samuel's Choice . 1990. 40p.
Samuel, a 14 year old slave in 1776 Brooklyn, faces a difficult choice when the fighting between the British and the colonists reaches his doorstep and only he can help the rebels.
Boutwell, Edna. Daughter of Liberty. 1967. 143p.
Great moments of our country's history come dramatically to life as Amy and her doll Polly Sumner survive a bombardment, carry out a dangerous mission, and finally earn the praise of Paul Revere as trues daughters of liberty. Polly Sumner is a real doll, who arrived on the same ship that carried the tea for the Boston Tea Party and is on view today in the Old State House in Boston.
Caudill, Rebecca. The Far-Off Land. 1964. 287p.
Sixteen-year-old Ketty Petrie has a lot of adjusting to do when she leaves the Moravian settlement at Salem, North Carolina to live with her brother in the wilderness beyond the Appalachian Mountains. Best for ages 12 and up.
Collier, James Lincoln. My Brother Sam is Dead . 1974. 216p.
The story, based partially on fact, of a Connecticutt family divided in loyalties during the Revolutionary War.
Collier, James Lincoln. War Comes to Willie Freeman. 1983. 178p.
A free 13 year old black girl in Connecticut is caught up in the horror of the Revolutionary War and the danger of being returned to slavery when her patriot father is killed by the British and her mother disappears.
Duey, Kathleen. Mary Alice Peale: Philadelphia, 1777. 1996. 142p.
When her wounded brother returns from battle, twelve-year-old Mary must get help for him without telling her father, a wealthy Tory, who has disowned his son for joining General Washington's Continental Army. For ages 8 and up.
Fast, Howard. April Morning. 1961. 184p.
On April 19, 1775, Adam Cooper, aged 15, signed the muster roll of the Lexington militia. This book is the story of the next 24 hours in his life-the story of the birth of a man and a nation and a way of life. Best for ages 12 and up.
Faulkner, Nancy. Journey into Danger. 1966. 185p.
Fifteen-year-old Deborah Stone finds out just how dangerous it is to be a Patriot in Tory Philadelphia. Best for 6th grade and up.
Forbes, Esther. Johnny Tremain. 1943. 346p.
This 1944 Newbery Medal Winner is the story of a young silversmith's apprentice, who plays an important part in the American Revolution.
Fritz, Jean. The Cabin Faced West. 1958. 124p.
The western Pennsylvania territory of 1784 is a very lonely place for Ann until General Washington comes to visit.
Gregory, Kristiana. The winter of red snow: the revolutionary war diary of Abigail Jane Stewart. 1996. 173p.
Eleven-year-old Abigail presents a diary account of life in Valley Forge from December 1777 to July 1778 as General Washington prepares his troops to fight the British.
Haley, Gail E. Jack Jouett's ride. 1973. 30p.
Recaptures the incident during the American Revolution when Jack Jouett rode 40 miles by moonlight to warn Thomas Jefferson and others of the coming of Tarleton's Raiders.
Moore, Robin. The Bread sister of Sinking Creek. 1990. 154p.
Fourteen-year-old Maggie Callahan, who has a special talent for making bread, struggles to survive on the Pennsylvania frontier in the late 1700s.
Myers, Anna. The Keeping Room. 1997. 135p.
Left in charge of the family by his father, who joins the Revolutionary War effort, thirteen-year-old Joey undergoes such great changes that he fears he may be betraying his beloved parent.
O'Dell, Scott. Sarah Bishop. 1980. 184p.
Left alone after the deaths of her father and brother who take opposite sides in the War for Independence, and fleeing from the British who seek to arrest her, Sarah Bishop struggles to shape a new life for herself in the wilderness.
Pryor, Bonnie. Thomas. 1998. 150p.
In the early years of the Revolutionary War, Thomas and his family escape a bloody massacre at Wyoming Valley and endure many hardships as they try to make their way to Philadelphia.
Pryor, Bonnie. Thomas in Danger. 1999. 170p.
Having lost their home when the Revolutionary War reached their part of rural Pennsylvania, Thomas and his family start a new life running an inn in Philadelphia, where Thomas finds new danger that takes him into captivity among the Iroquois.
Quackenbush, Robert M. Daughter of Liberty: a true story of the American Revolution. 1999. 55p.
A chance encounter with General George Washington in upstate new York during the Revolutionary War leads a young woman to volunteer for a dangerous mission involving the retrieval of valuable papers. Great for 7-9 years old.
Reit, Seymour. Guns for General Washington: a story of the American Revolution . 1990. 98p.
Frustrated with life under siege in George Washington's army, 19 year old Will Knox and his brother Colonel Henry Knox undertake the task of moving 183 cannons from Fort Ticonderoga to Boston in the dead of winter.
Rinaldi, Ann. Finishing Becca: a story about Peggy Shippen and Benedict Arnold. 1994. 362p.
Fourteen-year-old Becca takes a position as a maid in a wealthy Philadelphia Quaker home and witnesses the events that lead to General Benedict Arnold's betrayal of the American forces during the Revolutionary War.
Rinaldi, Ann. A Ride into Morning. 1995. 353p.
When unrest spreads at the Revolutionary War camp in Morristown, New Jersey, under the command of General Anthony Waynbe, a young woman cleverly hides her horse from the mutinous soldiers who have need of it. Best suited for ages 10 and up.
Rinaldi, Ann. Time Enough For Drums. 1986. 244p.
Sixteen-year-old Jem and her servant struggle to keep things going at home in Trenton, New Jersey, when the family men join the war for independence from the British king. Best for ages 12 and up.
Vining, Elizabeth Gray. Meggy MacIntosh . 1930. 274p.
A novel of a young Scottish girl who runs away to Carolina in search of the famous Flora MacDonald and finds the Highlanders there in a losing fight against the American patriots.
Wechter, Nell Wise. Betsy Dowdy's Ride . 1960. 173p.
During the first dark days of the American Revolution the outer Banks of North Carolina produced a young heroine as courageous as the spirit of the Revolution itself. When the Outer Banks were threatened by British attack, young Betsy Dowdy rode across deep inlets and through fearful swamps to save the patriots from impending disaster.
Wellman, Manly Wade. Clash on the Catawba. 1962. 177p.
A sequel to Battle for King's Mountain with more about Zake Harper and his friends and enemies. A war story from start to finish about Morgan's Raiders, beset by Tarleton and Cornwallis who greatly outnumbered them.
If you enjoyed reading these books at the library, you may enjoy looking for the following books!
Beatty, John Louis. Who came to King's Mountain? 1975. 287p.
Living in the South Carolina hills in 1780, a young Scottish boy, whose own family is divided between Loyalist and rebel, must decide for himself which side he will follow.
Felder, Deborah. Ride of Courage. 1996. 123p.
Set in 1781 Yorktown, Virginia, eleven-year-old Molly has both an uncle and a brother fighting as patriots in the American Revolution. Molly is also struggling to convince her family that she is growing up and is ready for more responsibilities.
Gauch, Patricia Lee. This Time, Tempe Wick? 1974.
Tempe Wick helped the Revolutionary Soldiers who camped on her farm in New Jersey in 1780, until they tried to steal her horse, and then she got mad. The Stanly County Public Library doesn't own this book, but it is well worth reading! It's a great book for 2nd and 3rd graders.
Hays, WIlma Pitchford. Fourth of July Raid. 1959. 64p.
Based on true events, young Tom helps his family and neighbors escape the ravages of the Redcoats as they invade the colony of New Haven, Connecticut.
Hays, Wilma Pitchford. Mary's Star: a tale of orphans in Virginia, 1781. 1968. 108p.
Three orphans in 18th century Virginia attempt to save a fourth orphan--a horse named Star-- and in the process learn a lot about growing up.
Hays, Wilma Pitchford. Trouble at Otter Creek. 1978. 44p.
A widow and her five children struggle to hold onto their land in the Vermont wilderness. Based on a true story.
Keehn, Sally M. Moon of two dark horses. 1995. 18p.
At the beginning of the revolutionary war, hoping to keep bloodshed away from their valley, a twelve-year-old Delaware Indian boy and his white friend search sacred land for the bones of a legendary beast.
Meader, Stephen W. Guns for the Saratoga. 1955. 207p.
Packed with historically accurate details, this is a story about fifteen-year-old Gideon Jones, who in 1777, helped his father make ammunition for Washington's Continental Army. Two years later, Gid signs on the sloop-of-war, the Saratoga as a midshipman to fight in the War for Independence.
Monjo, F.N. The Secret of Sachem's Tree.
The Wadesworth children must abandon their plans for Halloween mischief to help prevent the King's representative from taking away Connecticut Colony's Charter. Interest level geared towards pre-K through 2nd grade.
Wibberley, Leonard. Sea Captain from Salem. 1961. 186p.
Benjamin Franklin asks Captain Manley to harass British warships in the English Channel to further the cause of the Revolutionary War. This adventure has humor, good nautical detail, and many narrow escapes. This book is the third in the Treegate series on the American Revolutionary War. The Stanly County Public Library doesn't own either John Treegate's Musket, or Peter Treegate's War, the first and second entries of the series. These stories are well worth hunting down.

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