My America

My America: Our Strange New Land, Elizabeth's Jamestown Colony Diary, Book One (My America)

Life in the summer of 1609 in the New World is strange for young Elizabeth, who has traveled with her family from England to Jamestown, Virginia. After the disastrous sea crossing, during which a hurricane destroyed or rerouted five of their nine ships, Elizabeth is happy to be on dry land. Her initial elation vanishes, however, when mosquitoes, steamy weather, rampant illness, and unrest between the Indians and the new arrivals threaten any hope of a peaceful settlement. To make matters worse, Elizabeth misses her twin brother, Caleb, and feels tremendous guilt because she took his sketchbook with her, and is now using it for a journal. But together with her parents, she begins to build a new life in the Jamestown settlement, befriending such 17th-century luminaries as Captain John Smith and 13-year-old Pocahontas.

The My America series presents historical events in a fictional setting. Award-winning author Patricia Hermes does an excellent job of developing the personality of the intrepid and irrepressible 9-year-old Elizabeth. Through a season of death and disease, confusion, and many thrilling adventures, spunky Elizabeth will hold the attention of every young reader. A historical note following the journal provides real-life Jamestown context for the story. (Ages 8 to 11) --Emilie Coulter

My America: Freedom's Wings: Corey's Underground Railroad Diary, Book One (My America)

My America: My Brother's Keeper: Virginia's Civil War Diary, Book One (My America)

Virginia Dickens is angry. Her father and brother Jed have left her behind while they go off to Uncle Jack's farm to help him hide his horses from Confederate raiders. It's the summer of 1863 and Pa and Jed believe 9-year-old Virginia will be out of harm's way in the sleepy little town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Too soon they all discover how wrong they are, as Union and Confederate soldiers descend on Gettysburg for the bloodiest battle of the Civil War. Virginia has front-row seats to this horrific episode of history, and she records every incident and feeling she experiences in her journal (which is actually Jed's; he entrusted it to her when he went away, asking her to be his "eyes and ears in Gettysburg").

Mary Pope Osborne's gripping story is a welcome addition to the popular My America historical-fiction series. Neither Osborne nor Virginia shy away from telling the truth, brutal and painful though it may be. This lends a certain depth, appeal, and integrity to the book that a history textbook could never match. Real players in the Civil War, including Robert E. Lee and Abe Lincoln, make cameo appearances, while the fictional characters seem just as authentic. Osborne has written a wide variety of other engaging stories, including Adaline Falling Star. (Ages 8 to 11) --Emilie Coulter

My America: The Starving Time: Elizabeth's Jamestown Colony Diary, Two (My America)

My America: We Are Patriots: Hope's Revolutionary War Diary, Book Two (My America)

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

When Freedom Comes: Hope's Revolutionary War Diary, Book 3 (My America)

My America: Hope In My Heart, Sofia's Ellis Island Diary, Book One (My America)

When Sofia and her family arrive in Ellis Island after a long and difficult journey from Italy, a cruel twist of fate separates Sofia from her parents and sends her into "quarantine." There, in a state-run hopsital, she and her new friend, Maureen, must learn to overcome the twin hardships of immigration and alienation, while they maintain the hope that they will be reunited with their families.

My America: Home At Last, Sofia's Ellis Island Diary, Book Two (My America)

After her dramatic release from quarantine and reunion with her family, Sofia moves to the North End of Boston, where the Monaris start their new lives in their new country. While her parents struggle to make ends meet, Sofia must adjust to her American school, friends and job.

Message In The Sky: Corey's Underground Railroad Diary (My America, Book 3)

In "Message in the Sky", Corey begins attending school, and his family, along with his friend, Mingo, are living well in Canada, where they've built their own farm. But, the Birdsongs cannot let go of the memories of their friends left behind in America. Corey and Mingo hatch a plan to help Aunt Queen, Mingo's adopted mother, escape, but Corey's parents forbid it, and start saving money to buy her freedom, instead. However, when Corey accidentally ends up on the American side of the Ohio River, he finds himself a conductor on the Underground Railroad!