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89th out of 260 books
—
76 voters
The Letter Writer
by
Ann Rinaldi
Eleven-year-old Harriet Whitehead is an outsider in her own family. She feels accepted and important only when she is entrusted to write letters for her blind stepmother. Then Nat Turner, a slave preacher, arrives on her family’s plantation and Harriet befriends him, entranced by his gentle manner and eloquent sermons about an all-forgiving God. When Nat asks Harriet for a...more
Hardcover, 224 pages
Published
November 1st 2008
by Harcourt Children's Books
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This was one of those books that blew me away. I knew it was about the Nat Turner slave uprising, but somehow that did not compute—did not translate into reality. Until midway through this story of an eleven-year-old girl. Yes, Harriet is only eleven. But this is a shocking tale of violence, deprivation, and human fallibility.
Stunning.
The girl in the cover photo is standing in front of a wall of flame, and yet I didn’t even realize it until the end of the book. A tribute to the author’s ability...more
Stunning.
The girl in the cover photo is standing in front of a wall of flame, and yet I didn’t even realize it until the end of the book. A tribute to the author’s ability...more
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This novel was a little edgier than the others I have read by Rinaldi, but it was also more intense than the others. Harriet Whitehead lives in a home run by her stepbrother Richard who is a minister who preaches about a stern and punishing God. When her blinding stepmother can no longer see to write her letters Richard decides that she should become Mother Whitehead's letter writer. After many requests Nat Turner comes to their plantation to repair furniture. He is a kind preacher who preaches...more
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This is Ann Rinaldi so this is Historical Fiction and I love me some historical fiction! The scene is Virginia in 1831. Living with her stepmother, Harriet Whitehead is eleven and because Mrs. Whitehead is going blind, Harriet is given the job of writing all of her correspondence. She feels a bit unwelcome in this family because she is the child of Mrs. Whitehead's husband and another woman. Her half-brother Richard, the Methodist minister has made it clear to her that she is less-than-welcome....more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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The Letter Writer
by Ann Rinaldi
What if someone shared something with you that not only made you feel special, but that made you see the whole world in a new way--a bit of information that suddenly made you feel accepted and loved in a place that seems to hate you no matter how hard you try to fit in? How far would you be willing to go to thank that person? That's the dilemma for Harriet, the “illegitimate” girl who lives on Whitehead plantation and is graciously being raised by Mother Whitehead,...more
by Ann Rinaldi
What if someone shared something with you that not only made you feel special, but that made you see the whole world in a new way--a bit of information that suddenly made you feel accepted and loved in a place that seems to hate you no matter how hard you try to fit in? How far would you be willing to go to thank that person? That's the dilemma for Harriet, the “illegitimate” girl who lives on Whitehead plantation and is graciously being raised by Mother Whitehead,...more
If I said that I wasn't moved by both the historical and the innocent side of this story I'd be lying. Harriet becomes an unwilling party to one of the bloodiest slave uprising in US History, simply because she wants to feel valued and accepted.
Richard, her half-brother and a fire and brimstone preacher gives her the task of letter writing for his blind mother. Willing to please and learn she finds herself getting to know Nat Turner, a slave preacher who she is so engrossed by his teaching of an...more
Richard, her half-brother and a fire and brimstone preacher gives her the task of letter writing for his blind mother. Willing to please and learn she finds herself getting to know Nat Turner, a slave preacher who she is so engrossed by his teaching of an...more
Maybe 3.5 stars, Historical Fiction, under juvenile fiction in our public library - I may reserve it for at least 12 years of age or older
Written from an 11 year old girl's point of view, this is set in 1830, telling the story of Nat Turner and the slave uprisings.
It is a bit different from many of the other Ann Rinaldi books I've read in that it is graphic and gruesome in the descriptions of the killings of some of the people who died. The story also has a fictitious man who has fathered not on...more
Written from an 11 year old girl's point of view, this is set in 1830, telling the story of Nat Turner and the slave uprisings.
It is a bit different from many of the other Ann Rinaldi books I've read in that it is graphic and gruesome in the descriptions of the killings of some of the people who died. The story also has a fictitious man who has fathered not on...more
Reviewed by Jennifer Rummel for TeensReadToo.com
Harriet knows her place in society.
She's the half-sister of the plantation owner. She does little jobs and writes letters for his mother.
She notices the differences in treatment of all people and has a hard time dealing with the injustice. When Nat Turner comes to work at her plantation, she finds herself drawn to him. His God seems quite different from her brother's.
When he asks for her help, she doesn't refuse him. What she doesn't realize is...more
Harriet knows her place in society.
She's the half-sister of the plantation owner. She does little jobs and writes letters for his mother.
She notices the differences in treatment of all people and has a hard time dealing with the injustice. When Nat Turner comes to work at her plantation, she finds herself drawn to him. His God seems quite different from her brother's.
When he asks for her help, she doesn't refuse him. What she doesn't realize is...more
In a time when slavery is common, Harriet has her own ideas about how the slaves should be treated. Harriet's brother, a preacher, talks about the need for slaves to obey their master, just as God demands obedience to His will. Then Nat Turner enters her life - a self-proclaimed preacher who preaches of a forgiving God, one who accepts all. So when Nat asks her for a small thing, just a map of the county, Harriet wants to help. Why does Nat Turner want the map? What are the consequences for Harr...more
I enjoyed how Ann Rinaldi had that touch of Christianity in the book, of course ensuring that it maintained completely neutral. The structure of the entire story was breathtaking. I was incredibly inspired by Harriet's ability to rise up to the occasion and take lead of the house despite the guilt she had for handing over the map to Nat Turner. The character of Harriet was very realistic and relevant.
The book had a very evergreen feel to it and it somehow reminded me of Little Women, a book I v...more
The book had a very evergreen feel to it and it somehow reminded me of Little Women, a book I v...more
This book was an enjoyable historical fiction book about the Nat Turner revolt. I like the characters though some were a bit flat and the plot was fine. How the story was written however was a bit too simple at times (geared towards a younger audience) and could have been done a little better. Rinaldi however did an excellent job showing the conflict between Harriet, her family, and her feelings about the map for Nat Turner. It was definately a quick and good book which was what I was looking fo...more
I've not read any historical fiction on Nat Turner, so I was interested. However, I'm not thrilled with the style. There's a lot of telling not showing.
*Spoilers* There's several references to adultery, and Harriet's overbearing half-brother, a Methodist minister, is shown as "cruel and unfair" for removing a woman from his congregation when she was living with a man. He is seen as cruel, sadistic, and cold, so the assumption is that the reader will think he is wrong for doing this. Twice peopl...more
*Spoilers* There's several references to adultery, and Harriet's overbearing half-brother, a Methodist minister, is shown as "cruel and unfair" for removing a woman from his congregation when she was living with a man. He is seen as cruel, sadistic, and cold, so the assumption is that the reader will think he is wrong for doing this. Twice peopl...more
The story of Harriet, an 11 year old girl on a plantation in Virginia in 1830. The illegitamate child who as been raised as one of the family, even though her father was lost at sea. She becomes the letter writer for her father's wife as she becomes blind, and begins to learn about the world around her through those letters she writes. It is when she meets the slave, Nat Turner, that things start to go wrong, because Nat, who always seemed to her as a humble and loving preacher, is plotting some...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
This book, while by one of my favorite authors, was different. My mom found it in the children's section for me, which was surprising because they are usually for more of a teenage audience. The books beginning and middle, was like others she has written. But the end was very, very, graphic. Which is why I would not recommend it for kids. While I do think it was necessary, because of the particular history she is writing about, it still was a unexpected surprise.
I've always been a fan of Rinaldi's work, not because it's exceptionally good writing or anything, but because she always has a young, strong female protagonist and an interesting spin on history. The story of The Letter Writer has to do with the slave uprising in the south led by Nat Turner, slave and preacher. Harriet both ruins and saves the day, which she is conflicted about. Yet, in the end, things turn out well for Harriet.
For historical fiction, this was a pretty good book. I think teens will like Harriet, the main character, and will be interested to see how she gets involved with a bloody slave uprising. I didn't get as invested in this book as I do with some, but it was a pretty quick read. There is a twist at the end, but it was pretty easy to see it coming.
I would recommend this book for 6th or 7th grade readers.
I would recommend this book for 6th or 7th grade readers.
I liked this Ann Rinaldi, didn't love it.
It's more gruesome than some of her others. It's about a girl, Harriet, who gets caught up in the Nat Turner slave uprising. She unknowingly helps him. I marvel at her ability and strength when it is all over to put it behind her.
Reminded me a bit of Mine Eyes Have Seen in that both are about hopeless rebellions/uprisings with a girl caught in the middle.
It's more gruesome than some of her others. It's about a girl, Harriet, who gets caught up in the Nat Turner slave uprising. She unknowingly helps him. I marvel at her ability and strength when it is all over to put it behind her.
Reminded me a bit of Mine Eyes Have Seen in that both are about hopeless rebellions/uprisings with a girl caught in the middle.
This is another outstanding book by Rinaldo. It is written through the perspective of a young white girl who unwittingly plays a role in the Nat Turner Rebellion, the bloodiest slave uprising in US history. I had not heard of this rebellion and found it quite interesting. Learning about this through the eyes of this young girl gave a great insight into this piece of history. Great reading!
Dec 29, 2010
Posie
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
historical fiction fans
Recommended to Posie by:
Mom and Dad (well, they gave it to me anyway)
Shelves:
10-11-school-year,
favorites
This is yet another amazing Ann Rinaldi book. I read it in one sitting, and it is now one of my favorite books. The way it's written is magical, and you feel so close to all the characters, and their tragedies. Some very bad things happen in The Letter Writer, but they make the story what it is. A fantastic historical fiction novel!
Awesome historical fiction book. I love these types of books that inspire the mind to want to know more about history and this book does that. You can't help but be entranced with the main character and her story. The end even has a little twist at the end for those like me that often don't see things coming.
Harriet becomes the "letter writer" for Mother Whitehead in the pre-civil war south. The story of her complicate story unfolds through letters that she writes for Mother Whitehead and also letters that Harriet writes to her 'Uncle' overseas.
Tensions rise between the slaves and the slave owners.
Tensions rise between the slaves and the slave owners.
Another solid historical fiction novel for young adults by Rinaldi. I know somewhere in my education Nat Turner and his uprising were mentioned, but beyond that, I remember nothing. I'm going to have to do some more research because he strikes me as a very interesting figure in American history.
This book is so tragically sad. I think slavery must be one of the worst evils there is. No human should own another. It's hard to understand why someone as "nice" as Nat Turner would become a killer unless the injustice of slavery sent him over the brink. No two wrongs make one right.
Ann Rinaldi always gives a well researched novel with accurate facts that she weaves into a personal story, in this case a young girl who was only 1/2 sister to a southern family. This family runs a rather large plantation and, like most families of that time they had many slaves. The family was somewhat decent in the care of slaves, but a cruel head of the family, a pastor and the main character's half-brother, is as harsh with the slaves as he is with everyone. The main character meets and the...more
Wow. This was a very interesting book, and quite clean as well. It's a bit violent...in fact, it's centered around "the bloodiest slave revolt" or something along those lines. Nat Turner is a main character. Written from a young girl's standpoint. It was interesting, eye-opening, and I learned from it!
I just oculdn't get interested in this book, an historical fiction about slavery. I don't think Ann Rinaldi is an especially good writer, but sometimes the story can carry the writer. This time, however, I wasn't enjoying it and couldn't make myself keep going.
Another great book by Ann Rinaldi. This book is about The Nat Turner Rebellion. Rinaldi does a wonderful job writing about it. It is a tragic story, many deaths and a lot of suffering.
Really, the first book on the Nat Turner Rebellion I have read that I really liked.
Really, the first book on the Nat Turner Rebellion I have read that I really liked.
Historical young adult fiction. A story about a fictional young girl living on a plantation. The story introduces the real Nat Turner a black slave who starts a bloody uprising against plantation owners, their families, and some of their slaves. A very sad tale in our nations history.
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Ann Rinaldi (b. August 27, 1934, in New York City) is a young adult fiction author. She is best known for her historical fiction, including In My Father's House, The Last Silk Dress, An Acquaintance with Darkness, A Break with Charity, and Hang a Thousand Trees with Ribbons. She has written a total of forty novels, eight of which were listed as notable by the ALA. In 2000, Wolf by the Ears was lis...more
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