Dear America

Gr 4–8—Kristiana Gregory's sequel (2011) to The Winter of Red Snow (2010, both Scholastic) continues the adventures of Abigail Jane Stewart during the Revolutionary War. After losing their home to fire, Abigail, her mother, and her younger siblings follow Abigail's father and the Continental Army from one battleground to another, often facing harsh conditions, dangerous situations, and great loss. Spanning the years from 1779 to 1781, Abby makes several new friends, falls in love with one of the Continental soldiers, gets married, and is expecting her first child by the end of the story. Listeners learn about the daily events such as finding and preparing food and the terrifying moments of battle. Illyana Kadushin does a nice job of capturing the maturing voice of Abigail over the course of the diary. This title can stand on its own, and fans of the first title will not want to miss this sequel.—Deanna Romriell, Salt Lake City Public Library, UT