Search - Five Smooth Stones: Hope's Revolutionary War Diary, Book One (My America)

This book, entitled Five Smooth Stones: Hope's Revolutionary War Diary, is the first book in a short series of historical diaries following the life of 9 year-old Hope in 1776 Philadelphia. It is an interesting look at the hard-working lifestyle of a young baker's daughter who is humanized by her bouts of jealousy, short-lived spats with friends, and fear of her harsh schoolteacher. While the book's heroine is influenced by events around her, the book doesn't chronicle the war so well as it chronicles everyday life and chores. As the first installment in a series, many of the mysteries and anxieties brought about are left unresolved at the end of the book. Filled with interesting historical detail and very human interactions, this series makes history both real and interesting for young readers.