Sign in with Facebook
Loading...
4th out of 196 books
—
291 voters
The Messenger
A Riveting Tale of Faith and Romance by an Acclaimed Novelist
Hannah Sunderland felt content in her embrace of the Quaker faith
...until her twin brother ran off and joined the army and ended up captured and in jail. Suddenly Hannah's world turns on end. She longs to bring her brother some measure of comfort in the squalid, frigid prison where he remains. But the Quakers b...more
Hannah Sunderland felt content in her embrace of the Quaker faith
...until her twin brother ran off and joined the army and ended up captured and in jail. Suddenly Hannah's world turns on end. She longs to bring her brother some measure of comfort in the squalid, frigid prison where he remains. But the Quakers b...more
Paperback, 384 pages
Published
March 1st 2012
by Bethany House
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
1,949)
First posted on my blog, Legacy of a Writer.
I am rather new to Siri Mitchell's historicals, but after reading this new release I declare myself a very avid fan! The Messenger mixes the perfect blend of intrigue and history--complete with a lovely writing voice that brought the characters to life. I don't know what they is not to like in this book!
The complexity of the two main characters--Jeremiah and Hannah--amazed me. Mitchell did an outstanding job as I watched them grow, change, and struggle...more
I am rather new to Siri Mitchell's historicals, but after reading this new release I declare myself a very avid fan! The Messenger mixes the perfect blend of intrigue and history--complete with a lovely writing voice that brought the characters to life. I don't know what they is not to like in this book!
The complexity of the two main characters--Jeremiah and Hannah--amazed me. Mitchell did an outstanding job as I watched them grow, change, and struggle...more
Hannah's life is about to change. Her life and faith as a Quacker is to be turned upside down. She is challenged to become...a Spy!!!
Ok, no more drama. The Messenger by Siri Mitchell is staged during the Revolutionary War. Hannah's family has to move out of their home due to the Brits moving into hers. Her heart is torn because her twin brother is in jail, freezing, starving and sick. But, she has been forbidden to visit him by the Meeting Leaders. Whether she likes to admit it or not, she has...more
Ok, no more drama. The Messenger by Siri Mitchell is staged during the Revolutionary War. Hannah's family has to move out of their home due to the Brits moving into hers. Her heart is torn because her twin brother is in jail, freezing, starving and sick. But, she has been forbidden to visit him by the Meeting Leaders. Whether she likes to admit it or not, she has...more
The Messenger by Siri Mitchell
Thanks, Ms. Mitchell, for all the meticulous historical research you did to make The Messenger shine. Reading a story set in Revolutionary War time was a refreshing change, and I appreciated the chance to learn more about the occupation of Philadelphia. No history teacher ever explained so well why the colonists went to war over such practices as the British quartering soldiers in their homes. The author highlighted out the political complexities of that volatile ti...more
Thanks, Ms. Mitchell, for all the meticulous historical research you did to make The Messenger shine. Reading a story set in Revolutionary War time was a refreshing change, and I appreciated the chance to learn more about the occupation of Philadelphia. No history teacher ever explained so well why the colonists went to war over such practices as the British quartering soldiers in their homes. The author highlighted out the political complexities of that volatile ti...more
Hannah Sunderland is a brave but contrary Quaker woman who comes of age in this tale of Faith and Romance.
Hannah is content with her faith until her twin brother takes a stand against the Quaker faith and joins the Patriots in/near Philadelphia during the Revolutionary War. Her brother ends up in the squalor of the Walnut Street prison and Hannah agrees to help those opposing the British army as a spy, in trade for the opportunity to see her brother in prison. By visiting her brother, she takes...more
Hannah is content with her faith until her twin brother takes a stand against the Quaker faith and joins the Patriots in/near Philadelphia during the Revolutionary War. Her brother ends up in the squalor of the Walnut Street prison and Hannah agrees to help those opposing the British army as a spy, in trade for the opportunity to see her brother in prison. By visiting her brother, she takes...more
I enjoy reading about the revolution time period and especially enjoyed this book since I had studied the Quaker religion for a history class. Hannah is interesting to follow as she discovers her own convictions and reconciles them with her chosen religion. Jeremiah is someone who wins you over as I am sure the author intended as he goes from a callous sort of man to a gentler one. Hannah brings out the good in him and he does the same for her. While I was surprised by what I felt was an abrupt...more
These are my top five reasons why I loved this book, and hope you will too!
I love Siri Mitchell’s writing. I’ve read several of her other books and really enjoy her style. I feel like she does a great job developing her characters, and I like how the perspective of the story changes chapter by chapter. Siri Mitchell is thorough, detail oriented, yet so elegant in regard to style and tone.
Obviously this book is historical fiction. Revolutionary War era, to be exact. I don’t think I’ve read anyt...more
I love Siri Mitchell’s writing. I’ve read several of her other books and really enjoy her style. I feel like she does a great job developing her characters, and I like how the perspective of the story changes chapter by chapter. Siri Mitchell is thorough, detail oriented, yet so elegant in regard to style and tone.
Obviously this book is historical fiction. Revolutionary War era, to be exact. I don’t think I’ve read anyt...more
One thing I really appreciate about The Messenger is all of the research that went into the Loyalist occupation of Philadelphia, as well as life in the 1770s and the religious beliefs of the Quakers. Siri Mitchell hits all the high points of historical fiction with enough descriptions and customs to engage the reader in times past but with enough activity and plot advancement to keep the reader interested. Solely as a historical novel, The Messenger shines.
It also excels as a novel about Quaker...more
It also excels as a novel about Quaker...more
Hannah Sunderland has always been a good, obedient Quaker. Then her brother, who left the Meeting to become a rebel soldier, is captured and imprisoned. Hannah is determined to help him if she can, or at least see him and make sure he's all right. Jeremiah Jones is a tavern keeper who lost his arm while battling Indians with the British army. Now disillusioned and resigned to a life of misery, he joining the colonials' fight against the British in the only way he can: by taking their coins and a...more
In January of 1778, Philadelphia is ravaged by war. When Hannah finds out her brother is in jail because he sided with the Rebels, she can no longer stand by idly like her Quaker beliefs require. Angry after losing an arm fighting for the British, Jeremiah is now a Colonial spy. The two team up to rescue the men before they die in prison. Will they be too late to save Hannah's brother or even their own lives?
I love the Revolutionary War time period and found this book to be an engaging read. Ins...more
I love the Revolutionary War time period and found this book to be an engaging read. Ins...more
Having an interest in Historical Fictions, I received a free copy of The Messenger by Siri Mitchell from Bethany House to review. The story is about two people, from very different backgrounds, coming together for a common good. In a time when war devastates the food supplies, love seem to be the most unlikely thing to develop, but as of all stories, love always finds a way. The story intrigued me, because I know little about George Washington and was interested in reading a story that might lea...more
I received a copy of THE MESSENGER by Siri Mitchell from Bethany House. I greatly enjoy Siri Mitchell’s novels, especially SHE WALKS IN BEAUTY and LOVE’S PURSUIT, so I was excited to read this one.
THE MESSEGER is historical fiction set in one of my favorite time periods ��" the Revolutionary War. Hannah Sunderland is a teenage Quaker living in Philadelphia in 1778. Although the Quaker faith forbids her family from taking sides in the War for Independence, Hannah’s twin brother runs away to join...more
THE MESSEGER is historical fiction set in one of my favorite time periods ��" the Revolutionary War. Hannah Sunderland is a teenage Quaker living in Philadelphia in 1778. Although the Quaker faith forbids her family from taking sides in the War for Independence, Hannah’s twin brother runs away to join...more
Siri Mitchell delivers yet another beautifully written work of historical fiction in her newest release, The Messenger. This novel reminded me why Siri Mitchell is one of my favorite authors: it is rich in historical and authentic detail, the plot maintains a steady pace, and the main characters are equally developed into believable and three-dimensional individuals. I was so engrossed in the plot by the last 100 pages of the novel that I stayed up into the wee hours of the morning to finish the...more
“...You can’t base your faith on a position. You can’t live your life as a protest. Sooner or later positions resolve themselves, and then what’s left? They’re temporary...”
A devout Quaker girl is pulled into the war between Britain and the rebels in 1778 simply because she wants to help her brother, who is in prison. She finds herself involved with a crippled patriot who will help her see her brother if she will spy for him and an unlikely partnership is formed. Set against the backdrop of the...more
A devout Quaker girl is pulled into the war between Britain and the rebels in 1778 simply because she wants to help her brother, who is in prison. She finds herself involved with a crippled patriot who will help her see her brother if she will spy for him and an unlikely partnership is formed. Set against the backdrop of the...more
The Messenger is the second book I have read from Siri Mitchell and I am now a certified fan! She is an eloquent writer and she has the gift to bring life to words.
This story is a heart felt story of faith, devotion, and love. Hannah is the daughter of a devote Quaker family. When her brother joins the patriot cause during the Revolutionary war, he is thrown in prison. Because of their beliefs, the family refuses to visit him. Hannah is disturbed by this, and tries to find a way to see him. Jere...more
The Messenger breathes with intrigue, fascinates with interesting historical details, and ultimately entertains while stirring your faith. Hannah and Jeremiah are characters who will long stay with me, as by the end of the novel they seemed like fast friends who I wished existed in real life. Hannah's dedication to honesty, despite her role as a spy, left me longing for people today to also be committed to such integrity. Jeremiah's sense of justice is likewise admirable, and I felt deeply his u...more
The Messenger by Siri Mitchell is a suspenseful historical novel with touches of Mitchell's trademark humor and wit. Hannah Sunderland has never questioned her family's Quaker faith until her twin brother, Robert, leaves it to join up with colonial rebels at the beginning of the Revolutionary War. The Quakers refused to take sides with either of the Tories or Patriots, marking them as traitors by both sides. When Robert is captured and placed in prison, Jeremiah Jones quickly seeks to use Hannah...more
Wow! Almost speechless...but not quite. First, I'm amazed at what a literary chameleon Mitchell is. She seems to take on a new voice with every novel that I read. This one resonates with old world charm -- from Hannah's quaint Quaker speech to Jeremiah's cynical view of the world. Throwing them together in one novel in the midst of one of America's most turbulent times was sheer brilliance. Amazing character development, fascinating (and dismaying) historical facts, an impossible romance and int...more
1 like · like · see review
For me what signifies being a part of the story is the attention to detail. From the character develop to the way I can imagine simply being in the scene is what separates Siri Mitchell's novels apart from most. In her latest historical novel, The Messenger the reader is taken back to Philadelphia in 1778 at the height of the Revolutionary War where the British have now occupied the city. Here we find Hannah Sunderland and her family who are Quakers. Based on their religious beliefs, they will n...more
I'm a fan of historical fiction, but often Christian romantic fiction leaves me empty. It just seems very contrived.
The Messenger wasn't like that at all--in fact, it raised several issues that you'll think about long after the book is done. When is it okay to lie? Is it ever okay to lie? And sometimes, is telling the truth the wrong thing to do? How do you wrestle this out as a believer?
And what do we do when there is injustice in our midst? Do we close our eyes to it, or do we do whatever we c...more
The Messenger wasn't like that at all--in fact, it raised several issues that you'll think about long after the book is done. When is it okay to lie? Is it ever okay to lie? And sometimes, is telling the truth the wrong thing to do? How do you wrestle this out as a believer?
And what do we do when there is injustice in our midst? Do we close our eyes to it, or do we do whatever we c...more
When reading one of Siri Mitchell’s books you expect to not only fall in love with the characters but also learn some things along the way. She has such a way of weaving historical facts and believable characters in to a true love story that captures your mind and heart.
That being said, The Messenger is not even close to being my favorite book written by Siri Mitchell. Maybe I wasn’t as invested in the concept of Hannah being a Quaker spy as I should have been but it took my quite a long time t...more
That being said, The Messenger is not even close to being my favorite book written by Siri Mitchell. Maybe I wasn’t as invested in the concept of Hannah being a Quaker spy as I should have been but it took my quite a long time t...more
Hannah Sunderland and her family are Quakers. The Quakers are non-violent people. Hannah and her family have chosen not to take sides in the Revolutionary war. Hannah's brother Robert has gone against their beliefs and joined the Patriots, his family has disowned him.
Jeremiah Jones owns a tavern where he is able to keep tabs of what is going on with the British army. He has already lost an arm in one war so is considered useless by most people. When the job of being a spy for General Washington...more
Jeremiah Jones owns a tavern where he is able to keep tabs of what is going on with the British army. He has already lost an arm in one war so is considered useless by most people. When the job of being a spy for General Washington...more
This story takes place during the Revolutionary War. Hannah Sunderland felt content living with her Quaker faith, until her brother joined the Colonial cause and wound up in jail. She longs to visit him, and provide some measure of comfort, but her faith forbids it.
Jeremiah Jones, a Colonial spy, needs access to the men in jail to help plan an escape. He meets Hannah and begins to form a plan, who would suspect a pious Quaker girl who is visiting her brother, but will Hannah go along with it? Sh...more
Jeremiah Jones, a Colonial spy, needs access to the men in jail to help plan an escape. He meets Hannah and begins to form a plan, who would suspect a pious Quaker girl who is visiting her brother, but will Hannah go along with it? Sh...more
This book was historical fiction set when the English were trying to keep control of the rebelling colonies in America. I enjoyed the book and would recommmend it as an easy fun read. The main character Hannah is a Quaker, though she struggles with some of the beliefs and decisions. Her twin brother, who joined the rebels, is captured and the family refuses to visit or help him as that is the position taken by the Quaker church. She is unable to abide by this decision and with the help of anoth...more
This was a wonderful book. It was the first I've read by this author. It was rich in character details and story line alike. Up until the end, I was wondering if Hannah and Jeremiah were going to survive or if they were going to be sent off to the British prison ships to die for their treason!
There is so much going on in this story: Hannah's Quaker faith and whether she will be able to stay as a Friend, be disowned if she's found out, or will she end up walking away from her faith and family? Je...more
There is so much going on in this story: Hannah's Quaker faith and whether she will be able to stay as a Friend, be disowned if she's found out, or will she end up walking away from her faith and family? Je...more
What can I say about The Messenger? It was enthralling, captivating... heartbreaking. It was real. I suffered along with Quaker Hannah and wounded and scarred Jeremiah, and all the Patriot prisoners. I shared the paralyzing fear of a spy about to be caught; the anguish of one searching for God; the doomed, cold feeling of hopelessness; and the breathtaking feeling of relief, and HOPE.
I was caught in by all three of the other books I read by Siri Mitchell (She Walks in Beauty, A Constant Heart, a...more
I was caught in by all three of the other books I read by Siri Mitchell (She Walks in Beauty, A Constant Heart, a...more
With the city of Philadelphia under British occupation, Hannah Sunderland and her family, devout Quakers, struggle to survive in the midst of a conflict that has seen them disavowed and misused by both sides because of their pacifist beliefs. When a British officer commandeers the family home and news arrives that her twin brother, disowned by his Meeting and family for joining the Colonial army, has been imprisoned, Hannah finds the religious and familial dictates to stay uninvolved in the conf...more
It took me a while to pick this book up, but once I started reading it I didn’t want to put it down. Since my mom reads my blog I won’t tell you how late (ok, ok, early) it was when I finished it. ;-)
I love history and the American Revolutionary War is one of my favorite periods to read about. I think this is the first novel I’ve read about life in Philadelphia during the winter of 1777-1778 when the British were quartered there while Washington and his men froze at Valley Forge. It’s a good st...more
I love history and the American Revolutionary War is one of my favorite periods to read about. I think this is the first novel I’ve read about life in Philadelphia during the winter of 1777-1778 when the British were quartered there while Washington and his men froze at Valley Forge. It’s a good st...more
Hannah and Jeremiah, a young Quaker girl who can not lie and a bitter, former British soldier with limited physical abilities, are the least likely of spies; none the less, they reluctantly begin spying for General Washington during the British occupation of Philadelphia.
The British Military was the most powerful in the world in 1777, but it was also the most ruthless and immoral, which eventually led to it's decline. The destruction of Philadelphia, unfair treatment of those suspected as Rebels...more
The British Military was the most powerful in the world in 1777, but it was also the most ruthless and immoral, which eventually led to it's decline. The destruction of Philadelphia, unfair treatment of those suspected as Rebels...more
I really enjoyed this book. It has a lot of intrigue and suspicion. Hannah Sunderland is a Friend - Quaker to be exact, and her faith will not allow her to lie or do anything deceitful. When she finds herself being asked to be a spy by Jeremiah Jones, who is already a spy, she agrees. although it is against everything she believes. Hannah's agreement comes from her desperate want to get her twin brother out of the jail they have thrown him in. Jeremiah however just needs someone to pass messages...more
Siri Mitchell's latest novel, "The Messenger", is set in pre-Revolutionary War Philadelphia. Hannah's twin brother has defied their Quaker faith and joined the Colonial fight for freedom. Consequently, her brother has been jailed by the Loyalists and left to starve and/or die of disease with the other Colonial prisoners. When Jeremiah sees Hannah trying to get into the jail to visit her brother, he realizes that the British would not suspect a Quaker woman of dishonesty and hatches a plan to use...more
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
Siri Mitchell graduated from the University of Washington with a business degree and worked in various levels of government. As a military spouse, she has lived all over the world, including Paris and Tokyo. Siri enjoys observing and learning from different cultures. She is fluent in French and loves sushi.
But she is also a member of a strange breed of people called novelists. When they’re listeni...more
More about Siri Mitchell...
But she is also a member of a strange breed of people called novelists. When they’re listeni...more
Share This Book
No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »
“Why does it always have to be that way? Why do good men always have to sacrifice themselves for others?
Because they believe that the rest of us are worth it.”
—
11 people liked it
Because they believe that the rest of us are worth it.”
“The concept of the Trinity seems very esoteric and irrelevant in today's world, but it seems to me that only a faith embracing each person of the Trinity can save us from imbalance. While love without faith offers no hope, faith without love offers no mercy. We must have both faith and love or run the danger of discovering that, in the end, we have nothing at all.”
—
4 people liked it
More quotes…
Mar 05, 2012 05:10pm
Mar 05, 2012 06:43pm