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Revolutionary
"Myers presents an incredibly complex protagonist in Deborah, whose gender identity is not taken as a given." - Lambda Book Report
“A novel of the American Revolution by a writer who is himself a true American revolutionary.” —Mark Edmundson, author of Why Teach?
In 1782, during the final clashes of the Revolutionary War, one of our young nation’s most valiant and beloved soldiers was, secretly, a woman.
When Deborah Samson disguised herself as a man and joined the Continental Army, she wasn’t just fighting for America’s independence--she was fighting for her own. Revolutionary, Alex Myers’s richly imagined and meticulously researched debut novel, brings the true story of Deborah’s struggle against a rigid colonial society back to life--and with it the courage, hope, fear, and heartbreak that shaped her journey through a country’s violent birth.
After years as an indentured servant in a sleepy Massachusetts town, chafing under the oppressive norms of colonial America, Deborah can’t contain her discontent any longer. When a sudden crisis forces her hand, she decides to finally make her escape. Embracing the peril and promise of the unknown, she cuts her hair, binds her chest, and, stealing clothes from a neighbor, rechristens herself Robert Shurtliff. It’s a desperate, dangerous, and complicated deception, and becomes only more so when, as Robert, she enlists in the Continental Army.
What follows is an inspiring, one-of-a-kind journey through an America torn apart by war: brutal winters and lethal battlefields, the trauma of combat and the cruelty of betrayal, the joy of true love and the tragedy of heartbreak. In his brilliant Revolutionary, Myers, who is a descendant of the historical Deborah, takes full advantage of this real-life heroine’s unique voice to celebrate the struggles for freedom, large and small, like never before.
“A novel of the American Revolution by a writer who is himself a true American revolutionary.” —Mark Edmundson, author of Why Teach?
In 1782, during the final clashes of the Revolutionary War, one of our young nation’s most valiant and beloved soldiers was, secretly, a woman.
When Deborah Samson disguised herself as a man and joined the Continental Army, she wasn’t just fighting for America’s independence--she was fighting for her own. Revolutionary, Alex Myers’s richly imagined and meticulously researched debut novel, brings the true story of Deborah’s struggle against a rigid colonial society back to life--and with it the courage, hope, fear, and heartbreak that shaped her journey through a country’s violent birth.
After years as an indentured servant in a sleepy Massachusetts town, chafing under the oppressive norms of colonial America, Deborah can’t contain her discontent any longer. When a sudden crisis forces her hand, she decides to finally make her escape. Embracing the peril and promise of the unknown, she cuts her hair, binds her chest, and, stealing clothes from a neighbor, rechristens herself Robert Shurtliff. It’s a desperate, dangerous, and complicated deception, and becomes only more so when, as Robert, she enlists in the Continental Army.
What follows is an inspiring, one-of-a-kind journey through an America torn apart by war: brutal winters and lethal battlefields, the trauma of combat and the cruelty of betrayal, the joy of true love and the tragedy of heartbreak. In his brilliant Revolutionary, Myers, who is a descendant of the historical Deborah, takes full advantage of this real-life heroine’s unique voice to celebrate the struggles for freedom, large and small, like never before.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2014
34 people are currently reading
3052 people want to read
About the author
Alex Myers
7 books144 followersBorn and raised in western Maine, Alex left his home state to attend Phillips Exeter Academy and went on from there to earn degrees from Harvard and Brown, where he studied Ancient Judaism.
Alex has taught high school English for over a decade and during this time earned an MFA in writing at Vermont College of Fine Arts. It was in this program that he started work on his debut novel, Revolutionary, which was published by Simon & Schuster in January 2014.
Currently, Alex teaches in New Hampshire.
Alex has taught high school English for over a decade and during this time earned an MFA in writing at Vermont College of Fine Arts. It was in this program that he started work on his debut novel, Revolutionary, which was published by Simon & Schuster in January 2014.
Currently, Alex teaches in New Hampshire.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 147 reviews
November 26, 2015
I picked this up after reading an article about the author in the Boston Globe. Alex Myers, a transgender man, explores the American Revolution through the eyes of one of his distant ancestors, Deborah Sampson, who disguised herself as a man to fight in the war. That premise grabbed me right away, and I was happy to find that the execution of the novel was just as interesting. Deborah's story is told with empathy and clarity. She escapes the horrors of one life, hoping for the sort of freedom only a man could have in Colonial times, yet the price she pays is a hard military existence where she is always on guard against being discovered. There is honest talk about rape and violence, but I would certainly say the novel is appropriate for high school readers and older. If you are interested in history told from an alternate, disenfranchised point of view, this is a compelling read.
February 5, 2014
Although the US Military accepts women in its ranks; many view it as a man’s world. Imagine how much of a man’s world it was in 1782 during the last leg of the Revolutionary War. Deborah Samson, a 22-year old female, wanted a life of adventure versus that of an indentured servant. Wearing men’s clothing and calling herself Robert Shurtliff; she enlisted in the Continental Army. Alex Myers, a descendant of Samson and a Transgender who understands female-to-male roles; opens up Deborah/Robert’s story in, “Revolutionary”.
The onset of “Revolutionary” instantly grips the reader with a strong, creative, and well-written writing style which is echelons higher than most during their first historical-fiction novel. Although there is too much instant drama which feels like an effort at shock value; Myers still executes the concept well and maintains the pace, encouraging page-turning. Not only is reader attention maintained but Myers packs a lot of story into few pages which will surprise the reader with how much has occurred while few numerical pages have progressed. This is not a negative thing, however, and merely emphasizes the complexity of “Revolutionary”.
Although Deborah/Robert isn’t introduced in the traditional way with a usual character arc; one does feel like her personality is understood. On the other hand, it would be expected that “Revolutionary” would have a strong focal point on the physical and mental conflicts which Deborah encounters posing as a man. Although discussed, Myers doesn’t stress this emotional aspect and loses a strong thread in the novel.
In a related sense, “Revolutionary” is predominately a war novel. The reader will not truly gain a look into Deborah/Robert’s inner psyche as much as preferred and will instead learn more about life in the army during the Revolutionary War. In fact, the characterization is weak at some points and the story could have been told by anyone versus this fascinating figure. On the other hand, the army/war depictions are so lively and real that it is almost unbelievable that Myers hasn’t stepped out of a time machine and experienced it firsthand.
One of the biggest frustrations with “Revolutionary” is the ease with which “tricky” events are solved for Deborah/Robert. Every time her secret is about to be exposed, she barely worries about it and the tension is over immediately with her mystery secure. This is unbelievable as life is not that easy and one can pretty much bet that it wasn’t that easy for the real-life Deborah/Robert, either. Another issue begins approximately 90 pages in when Myers flip flops between the Deborah and Robert names so much (within the same sentences) that it begins to feel like two separate people versus solidifying the essence that Deborah was becoming Robert more and more. Basically, the opposite effect occurred than what seemed to be Myers’s intent.
Some readers may find the plot slow in the respect that it oftentimes feels like “Revolutionary” isn’t leading to a climax or “point”. Each page is merely filled with descriptions of military training and thus, the meaning is lost. This would be remedied by a strong character study on Deborah/Robert’s emotional sanity/feelings but again: that angle is not the main idea in the novel.
At the three-quarters mark, “Revolutionary” does a 180-degree turn and highlights the previously lesser-discussed emotional gender identity struggles in Deborah/Robert’s mind. Myers also shocks with not one but two very large and unexpected events; and adds romance. The fact that these are out of “left field” but mesh smoothly into the story demonstrates Myers’s composition skills.
The conclusion of “Revolutionary” felt somewhat weak and a bit too “cheesy” but not so much that it is was a detriment to the overall novel. Sadly, Myers did not include an ‘Author’s Note’ explaining the historical liberties taken within the story which is disappointing.
Despite some aches and pains with execution, “Revolutionary” is a strong, vibrant, and heavy historical novel which demonstrates Myers’s passion on the subject and his historical research. Being both well-written and compelling, I would certainly read another HF work from the author and recommend “Revolutionary” to historical fiction lovers.
The onset of “Revolutionary” instantly grips the reader with a strong, creative, and well-written writing style which is echelons higher than most during their first historical-fiction novel. Although there is too much instant drama which feels like an effort at shock value; Myers still executes the concept well and maintains the pace, encouraging page-turning. Not only is reader attention maintained but Myers packs a lot of story into few pages which will surprise the reader with how much has occurred while few numerical pages have progressed. This is not a negative thing, however, and merely emphasizes the complexity of “Revolutionary”.
Although Deborah/Robert isn’t introduced in the traditional way with a usual character arc; one does feel like her personality is understood. On the other hand, it would be expected that “Revolutionary” would have a strong focal point on the physical and mental conflicts which Deborah encounters posing as a man. Although discussed, Myers doesn’t stress this emotional aspect and loses a strong thread in the novel.
In a related sense, “Revolutionary” is predominately a war novel. The reader will not truly gain a look into Deborah/Robert’s inner psyche as much as preferred and will instead learn more about life in the army during the Revolutionary War. In fact, the characterization is weak at some points and the story could have been told by anyone versus this fascinating figure. On the other hand, the army/war depictions are so lively and real that it is almost unbelievable that Myers hasn’t stepped out of a time machine and experienced it firsthand.
One of the biggest frustrations with “Revolutionary” is the ease with which “tricky” events are solved for Deborah/Robert. Every time her secret is about to be exposed, she barely worries about it and the tension is over immediately with her mystery secure. This is unbelievable as life is not that easy and one can pretty much bet that it wasn’t that easy for the real-life Deborah/Robert, either. Another issue begins approximately 90 pages in when Myers flip flops between the Deborah and Robert names so much (within the same sentences) that it begins to feel like two separate people versus solidifying the essence that Deborah was becoming Robert more and more. Basically, the opposite effect occurred than what seemed to be Myers’s intent.
Some readers may find the plot slow in the respect that it oftentimes feels like “Revolutionary” isn’t leading to a climax or “point”. Each page is merely filled with descriptions of military training and thus, the meaning is lost. This would be remedied by a strong character study on Deborah/Robert’s emotional sanity/feelings but again: that angle is not the main idea in the novel.
At the three-quarters mark, “Revolutionary” does a 180-degree turn and highlights the previously lesser-discussed emotional gender identity struggles in Deborah/Robert’s mind. Myers also shocks with not one but two very large and unexpected events; and adds romance. The fact that these are out of “left field” but mesh smoothly into the story demonstrates Myers’s composition skills.
The conclusion of “Revolutionary” felt somewhat weak and a bit too “cheesy” but not so much that it is was a detriment to the overall novel. Sadly, Myers did not include an ‘Author’s Note’ explaining the historical liberties taken within the story which is disappointing.
Despite some aches and pains with execution, “Revolutionary” is a strong, vibrant, and heavy historical novel which demonstrates Myers’s passion on the subject and his historical research. Being both well-written and compelling, I would certainly read another HF work from the author and recommend “Revolutionary” to historical fiction lovers.
January 9, 2025
This is an entertaining, well-written, historical fiction novel based on actual events, and the true story of an inspiring and courageous woman. I truly enjoyed being immersed in the life of this amazing woman and her tragedies and triumphs. Many thanks to the Museum of the American Revolution, who recommended this outstanding novel. I listened to the audio book, and the narrator, Ms. Tavia Gilbert, does an excellent job voicing the characters
October 22, 2017
3.5 stars. Moving and detailed historical fiction about a real life woman who served as a man in the Revolutionary War. A book I never would have read had it not been my book group's pick.
October 13, 2015
When I learned that this debut novel was being released just a week before my own (which also features a woman disguising as a man to fight in the army-- though in the Civil War, not the Revolutionary war), I was both intrigued (how would Myers treat the subject? what experiences would his character have? how would Myers' life inform his writing?) and worried (what if my book wasn't as good? What if people read this one and decided not to read mine?). That said, I'm so glad to have read this book. It was very interesting to see the many ways in which a woman's experience disguised as a man might play out, regardless of time period: how a woman might disguise herself, how she might enlist, how she might feel finally free despite being bound to serve the army, how she might struggle with feeling like she is living a lie even as she feels more her true self. I loved the way, especially, Myers handles Robert/Deborah's conflict over identity and whether s/he can live the s/he wants as a woman. I never felt that Deborah didn't want to be a woman-- just that she didn't want to live the kind of life women were forced to live, and that, before the army, she had never been treated as an equal. The story is told in a straightforward manner, but I especially appreciated the relationship between Deborah/Robert and her childhood friend Jennie, and the character James. This is a wonderful book for those who are like historical fiction or are interested in women's history and gender, or anyone who likes stories of courageous characters who are fighting for their own freedom in the midst of a larger societal context.
December 6, 2013
“Revolutionary” by Alex Myers, published by Simon & Schuster.
Category – Historical Fiction Publication Date – January 14, 2014
Deborah Samson, in 1782, may have been the first woman to take the cause of women’s rights. She abhorred the manner in which women were treated, basically slaves with no rights. She wanted more out of life and was determined to find a way to improve her situation, a heady proposition for a woman at this time.
Deborah felt that her only chance was to disguise herself as a man and join the Continental Army. Although her first attempt failed, she was finally accepted into the service. She cut her hair, wrapped her chest, and took on the mannerisms of men. Some things were more difficult than others, remembering to keep her voice at a low key, learning how to spit like a man, hiding her period, and going to the bathroom. She had to make sure that she did not break any rules as this would lead to flogging and she would have been stripped to her waist. She had to do man’s work, learn how to march and drill.
She was so proficient at her disguise that she was readily accepted as a fellow soldier and, in fact, excelled in the performance of her duties. She distinguished herself in several battles and suffered several wounds that finally led to her declaring herself a woman.
If you read the story of Deborah Samson you will find that the author has kept faithfully to her story. He brings out the problems she had adjusting to her duplicity, especially that she liked her role as a man and found in difficult to give that up. He gives a brief account of what happened to her after she left the Army. There is some language and sexual content that might not be suitable to all readers, although these are minor and definitely crucial to the story.
Category – Historical Fiction Publication Date – January 14, 2014
Deborah Samson, in 1782, may have been the first woman to take the cause of women’s rights. She abhorred the manner in which women were treated, basically slaves with no rights. She wanted more out of life and was determined to find a way to improve her situation, a heady proposition for a woman at this time.
Deborah felt that her only chance was to disguise herself as a man and join the Continental Army. Although her first attempt failed, she was finally accepted into the service. She cut her hair, wrapped her chest, and took on the mannerisms of men. Some things were more difficult than others, remembering to keep her voice at a low key, learning how to spit like a man, hiding her period, and going to the bathroom. She had to make sure that she did not break any rules as this would lead to flogging and she would have been stripped to her waist. She had to do man’s work, learn how to march and drill.
She was so proficient at her disguise that she was readily accepted as a fellow soldier and, in fact, excelled in the performance of her duties. She distinguished herself in several battles and suffered several wounds that finally led to her declaring herself a woman.
If you read the story of Deborah Samson you will find that the author has kept faithfully to her story. He brings out the problems she had adjusting to her duplicity, especially that she liked her role as a man and found in difficult to give that up. He gives a brief account of what happened to her after she left the Army. There is some language and sexual content that might not be suitable to all readers, although these are minor and definitely crucial to the story.
July 29, 2016
**3.5**
I love books with strong female protagonists, so this book caught my attention from the start. And the story of Deborah, who disguises herself as a man (Robert Shurtliff) to fight in the Revolutionary War, provided just such a formidable character. What’s maybe even more interesting is that the author is a descendant of the true-life character of Deborah Samson, upon whom this novel is based.
Who better to write this story? And, in another fascinating twist the author, on his website, talks about being transgender. That insight was clearly woven throughout the story of Deborah’s struggles with her own duality: her former female self and her male self as a soldier. Early on, we hear her wondering, “What would her life have brought if she’d been born a boy?” Later, she ruminates: “She had not been wrong to think that she was Robert Shurtliff. But she was also Deborah Samson. To be one, she had to be the other; she could deny neither." In the end, she realizes, "One should never be ashamed of one's true nature."
All of that I found fascinating, intriguing and well done (Even the back-and-forth referrals to the main character -- as “Deborah” in one chapter, then “Robert” in the next; ‘he’ in one chapter, ‘she’ in the next – served its purpose well. I “got” what the author was doing here to display her dual nature and think it was a bit of genius).
As well, the battle scenes got my heart thumping on numerous occasions (Myers is skilled at putting the reader in the midst of battle).
Because I tend to lean, in reading preference, more toward literary tastes vs. commercial – flowery and setting-rich language with layers of symbolism -- I’ve rated this book accordingly. For others who enjoy sparse but effective writing (perhaps Young Adult in flavor), this book is sure to please and garner even higher marks.
I love books with strong female protagonists, so this book caught my attention from the start. And the story of Deborah, who disguises herself as a man (Robert Shurtliff) to fight in the Revolutionary War, provided just such a formidable character. What’s maybe even more interesting is that the author is a descendant of the true-life character of Deborah Samson, upon whom this novel is based.
Who better to write this story? And, in another fascinating twist the author, on his website, talks about being transgender. That insight was clearly woven throughout the story of Deborah’s struggles with her own duality: her former female self and her male self as a soldier. Early on, we hear her wondering, “What would her life have brought if she’d been born a boy?” Later, she ruminates: “She had not been wrong to think that she was Robert Shurtliff. But she was also Deborah Samson. To be one, she had to be the other; she could deny neither." In the end, she realizes, "One should never be ashamed of one's true nature."
All of that I found fascinating, intriguing and well done (Even the back-and-forth referrals to the main character -- as “Deborah” in one chapter, then “Robert” in the next; ‘he’ in one chapter, ‘she’ in the next – served its purpose well. I “got” what the author was doing here to display her dual nature and think it was a bit of genius).
As well, the battle scenes got my heart thumping on numerous occasions (Myers is skilled at putting the reader in the midst of battle).
Because I tend to lean, in reading preference, more toward literary tastes vs. commercial – flowery and setting-rich language with layers of symbolism -- I’ve rated this book accordingly. For others who enjoy sparse but effective writing (perhaps Young Adult in flavor), this book is sure to please and garner even higher marks.
January 17, 2014
First written for Fire & Ice
Those who know me well know how much of a fan of the revolution I am. In turn they also know how picky I can be about books set in the era and how I often lament the lack of good, readable and accurate books that take place during this nations forming. After reading Revolutionary by Alex Myers, I am no longer lamenting. This book was simply put one of the finest historical fictions on the Revolutionary war I have ever read.
The story of Deborah Samson may not be known by as many as say the story of General George Washington, but to those who know it like me, we love it. It has been an honor and a privilege to read such a well told fictional account of the time in her life that made her become a soldier. From a woman who was seen as strong willed straining at the bit to break free from the reigns of confinement to a man, a good soldier who served loyally and bravely for the freedom of this country every word is placed with purpose and intent. For me personally it was one little detail that stood out the most that just gave that extra little push to making me believe in this whole story, the use of he and she. As the story comes from Deborah’s point of you would expect to always see she being used, however I noticed in the moments where Deborah truly became Robert and felt more closely with Robert the wording became he. That makes sense to me I get that. Just as towards the end when Robert starts to feel more like Deborah again we see she come back into play, a small detail that some might not even notice as they read the action of the story but I did and I appreciate it.
While as with any historical fiction there are some playing with facts here and there overall I cannot fault the accuracy of Revolutionary. From the uniforms to the way that the drills and firing of the musket are described it all rings true and right well researched. This book gets a highly recommend from me because it is truly a master piece of the Revolutionary war, telling a story that many in this world today will still connect with now.
Those who know me well know how much of a fan of the revolution I am. In turn they also know how picky I can be about books set in the era and how I often lament the lack of good, readable and accurate books that take place during this nations forming. After reading Revolutionary by Alex Myers, I am no longer lamenting. This book was simply put one of the finest historical fictions on the Revolutionary war I have ever read.
The story of Deborah Samson may not be known by as many as say the story of General George Washington, but to those who know it like me, we love it. It has been an honor and a privilege to read such a well told fictional account of the time in her life that made her become a soldier. From a woman who was seen as strong willed straining at the bit to break free from the reigns of confinement to a man, a good soldier who served loyally and bravely for the freedom of this country every word is placed with purpose and intent. For me personally it was one little detail that stood out the most that just gave that extra little push to making me believe in this whole story, the use of he and she. As the story comes from Deborah’s point of you would expect to always see she being used, however I noticed in the moments where Deborah truly became Robert and felt more closely with Robert the wording became he. That makes sense to me I get that. Just as towards the end when Robert starts to feel more like Deborah again we see she come back into play, a small detail that some might not even notice as they read the action of the story but I did and I appreciate it.
While as with any historical fiction there are some playing with facts here and there overall I cannot fault the accuracy of Revolutionary. From the uniforms to the way that the drills and firing of the musket are described it all rings true and right well researched. This book gets a highly recommend from me because it is truly a master piece of the Revolutionary war, telling a story that many in this world today will still connect with now.
February 10, 2017
I remember being intrigued by Deborah Samson after reading a book about her as a kid, but I'd completely forgotten about that until I came across the part in this book when she digs a bullet out of her own leg to avoid being revealed as a woman. It's a shame that she isn't more widely known! Alex Myers brings a fascinating angle to her story through his experiences as a transgendered man. In most "woman disguises herself as a man" tales, they are just that - disguises. But here, Deborah plans to change her identity to Robert and live as a man, and that changes the entire tone of the book. Mr. Myers adds a level of authenticity through his personal knowledge of what it means to alter gender identifiers, and I appreciated how that perspective colored Deborah's story in a way I hadn't seen before.
November 19, 2013
Clear your calendar before opening this un-put-downable novel. War, disguise, change, love, identity: these themes and more mark Myers’ fast-paced account of a woman who defies societal and physical limits to live and fight as a man. The confident handling of narrative and vivid description belie the depth of research behind this first novel. Revolutionary is a page-turner that engages readers with perennial questions: What does identity mean? How can we earn the acceptance of others? What are the risks and rewards of challenging convention? But above all, what will happen to Deborah/Robert, during her perilous adventure??
February 1, 2014
A quick-paced, clear and heart-felt historical novel, "Revolutionary" is a wild mix. Start with it based on the tale of a real woman who shucked the confines of accepted social injustices, and joined the Continental Army as a foot soldier. Stir in the fact that the author, Alex Myers, is an actual descendent of this heroine. Top it all with Myers himself being a woman-to-man transsexual. If it sounds like an unpalatable mess, it is not. Each of these components serves the next, revealing a person in brutal circumstances discovering impossible answers. All the while, the final days of the American Revolution are spilled out around you.
September 10, 2016
I could not put this down! It's a very quick read. I particularly enjoyed the focus on all of the little ways women were dissimilar to men in the 18th century. It wasn't just dress - it was attitude, bearing, relationships. Myers really pulled that in. The only awkward part was the switch from Deborah to Robert in the beginning of the book. The switch back was fine - it was just the first switch that was too intermixed and drawn out. Definitely recommend this to any history buffs!
August 14, 2016
One of my favorite books this year ❤️
December 14, 2018
Oh boy, how to review this book. I’m not really a fan, and looking at the reviews here it seems like people have issues with the fact that it’s a trans story and that is somehow confusing. Unironic allusions to the author having some kind of agenda is really not where we need to go in 2018, ok? Jesus. I think the way the author showed the main character dealing with their (gonna just use the neutral pronoun, as it’s a bit awkward to use s/he his/her everywhere) gender and other aspects of their identity was well done, for the most part. At the end, it felt like the air had been let out of the story a little bit, rushing towards a particular outcome that I didn’t understand. It’s possible that the author felt constrained by the history of this character and wanted to make things fit but I don’t see why when you’ve already fictionalized so much you don’t just keep shifting.
Which brings us to my agenda:
Also, wooo, do I wish I could better understand what the hell the author meant with the rape plot point in this book. I am not putting that under a spoiler tag because it happens in the first chapter of the book. Not a good start! Our main character needs a reason to run off and join the army and as we all know, when you’re trying to motivate someone perceived female – what better than some violent trauma? (Deepest sarcasm here because it’s the internet and you can’t assume shit.) Putting aside how much I don’t appreciate that being thrown into the story, when you look at how the character reacts to the rape as the story goes on? Mostly they don’t! It’s like a nonevent in their past. There’s one comment when they get their period that at least they’re not pregnant. But later, when they see naked men or have sex with one or talk about the negative experiences they had when they were perceived female it just…doesn’t come up? This could be the character repressing the memory as much as possible but you see character actively repressing other bad things and this barely gets three or four sentences in the rest of the whole book so?? Just, honestly tired of people having this concept that rape is only what happens to you in the exact moments it’s happening – trauma stays with a person and if a writer wants to use rape as some motivating factor, the story should have to carry the rest of this burden too.
Which brings us to my agenda:
Also, wooo, do I wish I could better understand what the hell the author meant with the rape plot point in this book. I am not putting that under a spoiler tag because it happens in the first chapter of the book. Not a good start! Our main character needs a reason to run off and join the army and as we all know, when you’re trying to motivate someone perceived female – what better than some violent trauma? (Deepest sarcasm here because it’s the internet and you can’t assume shit.) Putting aside how much I don’t appreciate that being thrown into the story, when you look at how the character reacts to the rape as the story goes on? Mostly they don’t! It’s like a nonevent in their past. There’s one comment when they get their period that at least they’re not pregnant. But later, when they see naked men or have sex with one or talk about the negative experiences they had when they were perceived female it just…doesn’t come up? This could be the character repressing the memory as much as possible but you see character actively repressing other bad things and this barely gets three or four sentences in the rest of the whole book so?? Just, honestly tired of people having this concept that rape is only what happens to you in the exact moments it’s happening – trauma stays with a person and if a writer wants to use rape as some motivating factor, the story should have to carry the rest of this burden too.
September 11, 2017
Alex Myers "Revolutionary" was a very good book. I do highly recommend reading this informational text about the Revolutionary War. I had never read one of Myers books and I have to say I was very impressed. I do not know if there is a movie based on this book. He structured this book so it was easy to follow by only following the point of view of the main character.
The genre of this book is adventure. The adventure starts as the main character struggles with the issue of equality rights. The author does a good job of pointing this out early in the book so it is obvious this story will be about equality rights. The author does a very good job of describing the beginning setting of the story. Myers also does a very good job of introducing and continuing to describe the life of the main character. Readers can easily relate to them if they believe in equality rights. I think that if they described the main characters background as a child it would make them better understanding. The plot is intriguing. The more you read in the book the more things start to make sense but it takes a while to realize what is going on in the book. But as you get deeper into the book, some shocking events come out of no where which kept me intrigued throughout the entire book. I can compare this novel to the Civil Rights Act led by Rosa Parks. The Civil Rights act was mainly focused on equality rights of gender and race. This book by Alex Myers has to deal with equality rights and that's how this novel is compared to the Civil Rights Act. This book is the author's debut. There is a controversy among the people and the friends of the main character when they find out the main characters secret. The readers should be aware of the lack of equality rights.
The main point of the novel was to resolve the lack of equality among genders. The moral to this story is that even though you may be considered different for who you are, you should never give up no matter what and accomplish your goals. I would recommend this book to people who read and analyze the past on equality rights and how all genders are equal today. I think high school students would like this book if they have to read a book about the revolutionary book and are interested in equality rights. I believe it does not matter if a girl or boy reads this it would have the same effect either way. It is very appropriate for advanced students because it uses great details in the story to describe and uses advanced language to describe parts of the book.
The genre of this book is adventure. The adventure starts as the main character struggles with the issue of equality rights. The author does a good job of pointing this out early in the book so it is obvious this story will be about equality rights. The author does a very good job of describing the beginning setting of the story. Myers also does a very good job of introducing and continuing to describe the life of the main character. Readers can easily relate to them if they believe in equality rights. I think that if they described the main characters background as a child it would make them better understanding. The plot is intriguing. The more you read in the book the more things start to make sense but it takes a while to realize what is going on in the book. But as you get deeper into the book, some shocking events come out of no where which kept me intrigued throughout the entire book. I can compare this novel to the Civil Rights Act led by Rosa Parks. The Civil Rights act was mainly focused on equality rights of gender and race. This book by Alex Myers has to deal with equality rights and that's how this novel is compared to the Civil Rights Act. This book is the author's debut. There is a controversy among the people and the friends of the main character when they find out the main characters secret. The readers should be aware of the lack of equality rights.
The main point of the novel was to resolve the lack of equality among genders. The moral to this story is that even though you may be considered different for who you are, you should never give up no matter what and accomplish your goals. I would recommend this book to people who read and analyze the past on equality rights and how all genders are equal today. I think high school students would like this book if they have to read a book about the revolutionary book and are interested in equality rights. I believe it does not matter if a girl or boy reads this it would have the same effect either way. It is very appropriate for advanced students because it uses great details in the story to describe and uses advanced language to describe parts of the book.
January 25, 2014
Written to be posted on my blog Stories from the Trees
This book was borrowed to me because the owner thought I would enjoy it, she was right. I plan purchasing a copy for myself for re-reading, just as a general note there. Now onto the nuts and bolts of my review.
I have done living history events for both the revolution and the civil war and I enjoy reading books that are set in the era. The down side is more often then not historical fictions tend to make the wars romantic. War is not romantic, war is bloody. War is a lot of hurry up and wait making sure that uniform and gun work well, then bits of action which are usually fast, hard and bloody as well as traumatic. I appreciate that the author Alex Myers seems to have a firm grip on that. Deborah was a woman yes but she was a woman posing as a man in an army that was not exactly known for its cleanliness over all (hey they didn't have a lot of modern stuff back in that era!). So you got that dirt and grit, right from that smelly tent that Deborah takes over when she first arrives in west point. Right on through to how much camp work needed to be done and how little fighting there was at that point in the war. Little does not mean none however. All of this is painted really well in Revolutionary.
The story itself was engaging, the cast of characters made you want to know more about them. Not just Deborah/Robert but the supporting characters as well, I look for that in a book. I admit when one of the key moments near the end of service came for Deborah (and I will not say what exactly in the interest of spoilers) I had to set the book down. Not because I did not enjoy the passage but because I was upset about what happened. Upset for Deborah upset for what I knew that would mean overall in the course of the story. If a book can make me feel that much for a surrounding cast it truly has been well written.
My rating in the end: 5 bows (might have a fun graphic later)
This book was borrowed to me because the owner thought I would enjoy it, she was right. I plan purchasing a copy for myself for re-reading, just as a general note there. Now onto the nuts and bolts of my review.
I have done living history events for both the revolution and the civil war and I enjoy reading books that are set in the era. The down side is more often then not historical fictions tend to make the wars romantic. War is not romantic, war is bloody. War is a lot of hurry up and wait making sure that uniform and gun work well, then bits of action which are usually fast, hard and bloody as well as traumatic. I appreciate that the author Alex Myers seems to have a firm grip on that. Deborah was a woman yes but she was a woman posing as a man in an army that was not exactly known for its cleanliness over all (hey they didn't have a lot of modern stuff back in that era!). So you got that dirt and grit, right from that smelly tent that Deborah takes over when she first arrives in west point. Right on through to how much camp work needed to be done and how little fighting there was at that point in the war. Little does not mean none however. All of this is painted really well in Revolutionary.
The story itself was engaging, the cast of characters made you want to know more about them. Not just Deborah/Robert but the supporting characters as well, I look for that in a book. I admit when one of the key moments near the end of service came for Deborah (and I will not say what exactly in the interest of spoilers) I had to set the book down. Not because I did not enjoy the passage but because I was upset about what happened. Upset for Deborah upset for what I knew that would mean overall in the course of the story. If a book can make me feel that much for a surrounding cast it truly has been well written.
My rating in the end: 5 bows (might have a fun graphic later)
November 19, 2013
This book at first seemed like a solid young adult historical novel, but it quickly evolved into something much more nuanced than YA novels typically are (and there are a few scenes that are not YA at all -- it's definitely an adult novel). The internal dialogue was strong, which was good because it was critical to the story to witness the juxtaposition between what Deborah was thinking and what she was saying or doing as she operated in the world as Robert. But it's not all internal (not at all), and I can see broad appeal for this book since things happen and the plot moves consistently forward, as you'd expect in a novel set during a war. The author plays a bit with pronouns as Deborah moves more deeply into the role of Robert, and while at first this was slightly off-putting, this pronoun playfulness became something that allowed me as the reader to float in and out of the female dressed as male character with Deborah. I felt like some characters disappeared and never came back to tie up the loose ends they left behind, and I was disappointed as a fan of Deborah's with how her personal life actually ended up (but it made sense in the context of the story). Overall, it was a book I wanted to keep to reading and one I'd recommend for its obviously meticulously researched historical accuracy, the engaging way the main character managed her various secrets, and because I consistently wondered, "What happens next?".
July 23, 2014
I’ll preface this review by saying I read an Advanced Reader Copy so tweaks could certainly be made for the final version.
I found this book to be a bit confused. The story is of Deborah Sampson, a woman who chafed against the restraints placed on women in the Colonial period, so she disguised herself as a man to join the Continental Army. In the year she spent as a soldier she found the freedom and respect she was never able to muster as a woman.
While I imagine it would be confusing to act in the manner of the opposite sex, it seemed that Myers added his own transgender bias to the narration, flipping somewhat chaotically between references to the character as Deborah and Robert, yet the character’s inner dialog did not reflect that conflict. The character seemed to know she was a woman acting as a man yet the narrator did not.
Because of the different perspectives in narration, part of this book was a woman struggling to fit into a man’s world, and part of it was just a war book. I found the epilogue to greatly detract from the book, and that’s a large part of the reason I’m knocking it down to two stars.
I found this book to be a bit confused. The story is of Deborah Sampson, a woman who chafed against the restraints placed on women in the Colonial period, so she disguised herself as a man to join the Continental Army. In the year she spent as a soldier she found the freedom and respect she was never able to muster as a woman.
While I imagine it would be confusing to act in the manner of the opposite sex, it seemed that Myers added his own transgender bias to the narration, flipping somewhat chaotically between references to the character as Deborah and Robert, yet the character’s inner dialog did not reflect that conflict. The character seemed to know she was a woman acting as a man yet the narrator did not.
Because of the different perspectives in narration, part of this book was a woman struggling to fit into a man’s world, and part of it was just a war book. I found the epilogue to greatly detract from the book, and that’s a large part of the reason I’m knocking it down to two stars.
April 20, 2015
I've loved learning about the Revolutionary War ever since first grade when I started watching the TV show Liberty's Kids, and more recently, I've enjoyed reading young adult books with LGBTQ characters. As you might expect from a book that combines two of my favorite things, I loved Revolutionary.
I think one of the things that made this book so good was that the author is trans, as opposed to a lot of other young adult books with trans characters but cis authors (note: cis=someone who's gender identity matches the gender they were assigned at birth). Revolutionary felt very authentic because of this. I also thought that, despite (or maybe because of) not being able to use the words we use nowadays to describe gender (trans, cis, genderqueer, etc), Alex Myers did an excellent job of discussing Deborah/Robert's gender identity, specifically with the changing names and pronouns for the protagonist throughout the book.
I hope all of my friends will see this review and read this book so we can have discussions about how much we love the book, and I can't wait to read anything that Alex Myers writes next!
I think one of the things that made this book so good was that the author is trans, as opposed to a lot of other young adult books with trans characters but cis authors (note: cis=someone who's gender identity matches the gender they were assigned at birth). Revolutionary felt very authentic because of this. I also thought that, despite (or maybe because of) not being able to use the words we use nowadays to describe gender (trans, cis, genderqueer, etc), Alex Myers did an excellent job of discussing Deborah/Robert's gender identity, specifically with the changing names and pronouns for the protagonist throughout the book.
I hope all of my friends will see this review and read this book so we can have discussions about how much we love the book, and I can't wait to read anything that Alex Myers writes next!
September 8, 2013
Grown up book: I loved this historical fiction novel -- I found myself totally engaged and immersed from the outset. This story of Deborah Sampson had so many levels of interest, from the nitty gritty of just how a woman might pass as a soldier for so long, the details of life in military camp at that time, to the real philosophical ponderings of equity, of perception, and of gender. It is feminist and humanist, and leaves me still thinking of what might have been true then and what is still true now and what we have blissfully changed. It also led me to further research on the history of Deborah Sampson, for which I have to give this book a lot of credit because pre 20th c history is not usually my thing. A mark of a well written book that I still want more from the main character, I'm not quite ready to let him/her go. [True confessions for ethics of reviewing even on GoodReads, I know (and revere) the author IRL.]
November 19, 2013
Historical fiction isn't always at the top of my reading list, but Myers' story Revolutionary is rich and satisfying. I found myself drawn to the protagonist's dilemma, despite the difference between her time and my place. Deborah is literally a revolutionary war soldier, and her disguise provides Myers the opportunity to describe in vivid detail the day to day life in and around the battlefield. And of course Deborah is a woman in a man's world, a situation that many readers may recognize. In Deborah, Myers perfectly captures the tension between social expectation and individual freedom that transcends the novel's setting. Especially in the final chapters, Revolutionary reminded me of the very human struggles our forefathers and mothers endured for principles we often take for granted today. Myers’ book is subtle but profoundly moving.
December 18, 2013
Intriguing, well-written, and thrilling. This is a brilliant fictionalized account of Deborah Sampson, a real American woman who, disguised as a man, became a soldier in the Revolutionary War. From the start, the reader is rooting for Deborah--she doesn't fit in among her peers and rails against the misogynist conventions of the late 1700s. It's a fantastic, absorbing read that transports you to a different time and place but has a main character that is relevant and relatable today.
Read
September 8, 2016Hooray for historical fiction! Hooray for empowered women! Hooray for Revolutionary!
I had a great time reading this book. It's based on a true story and those books are always a treat for me. In this case you could feel the love that the author had for the subject.
Revolutionary is a well-written labor of love about a fascinating woman. You can't go wrong with this one.
I had a great time reading this book. It's based on a true story and those books are always a treat for me. In this case you could feel the love that the author had for the subject.
Revolutionary is a well-written labor of love about a fascinating woman. You can't go wrong with this one.
December 5, 2015
I don't write reviews very often but this book made me feel I needed to. This book is beautifully written. It is a wonderful piece of history brought to life. Deborah/Robert is a wonderfully brave soldier fighting not only in the Revolutionary war but against traditional gender roles as well. I loved this book from beginning to end and I was left wanting more.
April 25, 2014
I really enjoyed this book. I didn't want to put it down. I found Deborah's transformation into Robert fascinating, especially since the book is written by a transgender person.
September 4, 2018
3.5 stars-I like that the author used the true to life historical tale of a distant ancestor, the Revolutionary War figure Deborah Sampson, who disguised herself as a man and served in the Continental Army during the war for independence, as the backdrop for a work of historical fiction. I understand the liberties taken with the actual story and that's alright by me. What an amazing woman and what a life she led!
That said, I did find this I found this book to be a bit confused. The story is of Deborah Sampson, a woman who chafed against the restraints placed on women in the Colonial period, so she disguised herself as a man to join the Continental Army. In the year she spent as a soldier she found the freedom and respect she was never able to muster as a woman.
While I imagine it would be confusing to act in the manner of the opposite sex, it seemed that Myers added her own bias to the narration, flipping somewhat chaotically between references to the character as Deborah and Robert, yet the character’s inner dialog did not reflect that conflict. The character seemed to know she was a woman acting as a man yet the narrator did not. That was annoying, especially considering how biological sex is real and gender is a construct. Get it together and go back to reading your second wave feminists texts, people. The author had a clear agenda, and it took away from the power of the story.
That said, I did find this I found this book to be a bit confused. The story is of Deborah Sampson, a woman who chafed against the restraints placed on women in the Colonial period, so she disguised herself as a man to join the Continental Army. In the year she spent as a soldier she found the freedom and respect she was never able to muster as a woman.
While I imagine it would be confusing to act in the manner of the opposite sex, it seemed that Myers added her own bias to the narration, flipping somewhat chaotically between references to the character as Deborah and Robert, yet the character’s inner dialog did not reflect that conflict. The character seemed to know she was a woman acting as a man yet the narrator did not. That was annoying, especially considering how biological sex is real and gender is a construct. Get it together and go back to reading your second wave feminists texts, people. The author had a clear agenda, and it took away from the power of the story.
November 20, 2023
Deborah Sampson enlisted in the Continental Army and served her country in the infantry for about 2 years. Her disguise was good enough that she was not discovered until an illness forced her in the hospital where she was discovered. The novel covered upstate New York and PA and the skirmishes that exited in 1782 and beyond. Based on history, this was a fascinating look into colonial times.
June 26, 2019
I couldn’t get past how the author switched genders and names without apparent reason. I also didn’t feel like any of the characters were fleshed out enough.
March 25, 2025
genuinely a great story. thought provoking, but still kept the plot intriguing to keep reading. the fact that it’s based on a true story of the authors ancestor in the american revolution made it even more compelling. i would actually read this outside of class.
April 15, 2014
I liked it well enough, but this book isn't a straight forward account of a woman that dressed as a man and went to war. As if that does sounds straight forward, it isn't, but this book isn't what you think it is. The fundamental question is what makes a woman a woman? Is it her body of breasts, vagina, a womb, ovaries and a face that never grow hair? Or is it simply a dress, polite and restrained conduct and long hair? Where would this place lesbians, tomboys and non-feminine women/girls? In this people aren't what they seem and how people seem is not what they are. For twenty two years Deborah was a girl and then a woman, in the time period she lived in this didn't mean very much. She had no money, no rights, no voice, no land and had not even an existence without a man's presence in her life. So what makes a woman do we find out? No. It seemed in some ways so easy for Deborah to make the transition to Robert. Her menstruation was only an inconvenience when her clothes were stained and she only got it twice in two years and in that time it was exactly the same, only lasting a day and very mild. What a lucky woman of the day she was! It's true serving women would be used to carrying heavy loads when in cycle as much as out of it and no woman is ever the same in her cycle. However, I very much doubt every cycle is exactly the same for any woman. Changes in diet, temperature, distribution of weight, differing weight and yes there was a lot of bad smell around for anyone to detect the smell of blood, but with the men that slept next to her they couldn't avoid noticing something more pungent? Is this trivial details you may ask? Perhaps it might after all it's only a story, but a story based on a real woman and real events. One bit of jammed cloth in the groin is not really sufficient to answer the issue of her problem and I think it's likely she would have had to go the dense trees more times than the author admits. Of course by that you would think she would have been caught out, someone would have noticed, but then as soldiering was a busy time she still might have got away with it. Altho' the jammed cloth would have made her walking peculiar because if she kept the same bit in place all the time that would have created more than a stink from her vagina I'd say! So we have everything in this book, from a rape scene, to love making with handy no pregnancy, which as well as easy menstrual cycles this woman, as a woman was very lucky indeed. To eating, farts were mentioned in passing, nude bathing (once), a vaguely lecherous character, betrayal, an understanding friend and later lover, a few wounds and how to hide it and my my wasn't her leg lucky too? While reading this book I didn't ever get the sense she would be caught out everything fell into place for her. There was no sharp in take of breathing wondering if she would be caught or die and no sigh of relief either. This Deborah was a very lucky woman and then man and then back to woman and then man...and she knew exactly that she was coming and going mentally. Somewhere towards the end she said she really always wanted to be a man. Talking in a deep gruff voice, swaggering about, killing the odd person came naturally to her after all...if that's what makes you a man...if you are a man. Then there is the epilogue. We know that she marries a man. After all that she went to, the secrecy, the somewhat hard hardships and the like she would marry a man who was a good match but was an absolute bounder as the saying used to go. What ever happened to Robert? Well nobody knows. He was easy to create and twice as easy to ditch when she got home to Jennie and married this ne'er do well. Was Deborah ever a man, ever a man called Robert? Well it seems like not. For a woman that supposedly fought for her freedoms, petitioned the government for an army pension and tried to raise awareness for the plight of women of her age she capitulates to a fraud and a shyster in marriage and stays with him. Was she any further ahead that when she was Robert for almost three years? No. Was she free as she set out to be? No. On the stage she might as well have acted out a fantasy. There was times when the reader was almost taken in by the mention of Robert to Deborah in the same page and from the usage of he to she or the other way around. All in all I can say it was a good book as a novel altho' quite a lot was lacking to make it a really good book.
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