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Katie's Trunk
The realities of the American Revolution come alive for Katie and her Tory parents as they face the anger of their rebel neighbors. By the author of Dakota Dugout.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1992
About the author
Ann Turner
104 books35 followersAnn Turner, also known and published as Ann Warren Turner, is a children's author and a poet.
Ann Turner wrote her first story when she was eight years old. It was about a dragon and a dwarf named Puckity. She still uses that story when she talks to students about writing, to show them that they too have stories worth telling.
Turner has always loved to write, but at first she was afraid she couldn't make a living doing it. So she trained to be a teacher instead. After a year of teaching, however, she decided she would rather write books than talk about them in school.
Turner's first children's book was about vultures and was illustrated by her mother. She has written more than 40 books since then, most of them historical picture books. She likes to think of a character in a specific time and place in American history and then tell a story about that character so that readers today can know what it was like to live long ago.
Ann Turner says that stories choose her, rather than the other way around: "I often feel as if I am walking along quietly, minding my own business, when a story creeps up behind me and taps me on the shoulder. 'Tell me, show me, write me!' it whispers in my ear. And if I don't tell that story, it wakes me up in the morning, shakes me out of my favorite afternoon nap, and insists upon being told."
(from: http://www.eduplace.com/kids/tnc/mtai...)
Ann Turner wrote her first story when she was eight years old. It was about a dragon and a dwarf named Puckity. She still uses that story when she talks to students about writing, to show them that they too have stories worth telling.
Turner has always loved to write, but at first she was afraid she couldn't make a living doing it. So she trained to be a teacher instead. After a year of teaching, however, she decided she would rather write books than talk about them in school.
Turner's first children's book was about vultures and was illustrated by her mother. She has written more than 40 books since then, most of them historical picture books. She likes to think of a character in a specific time and place in American history and then tell a story about that character so that readers today can know what it was like to live long ago.
Ann Turner says that stories choose her, rather than the other way around: "I often feel as if I am walking along quietly, minding my own business, when a story creeps up behind me and taps me on the shoulder. 'Tell me, show me, write me!' it whispers in my ear. And if I don't tell that story, it wakes me up in the morning, shakes me out of my favorite afternoon nap, and insists upon being told."
(from: http://www.eduplace.com/kids/tnc/mtai...)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
October 27, 2013
The story Katie's Trunk takes place during the Revolutionary War. Katie, a young girl faces rejection from her former peers and neighbors because of being a Loyalist (Tory). When the rebels come to steal their belongings such as money and valuables, Katie and her family hide in the nearby forest. Due to anger, Katie returns to her home and hides from the men in her mother's wedding trunk. When the men begin to search the trunk, a neighbor of Katie's discovers that she is there, but doesn't tell his companions. Instead, he frightens them away and leaves the trunk open so she can breathe. Katie realizes later that even though they are on opposite sides of the war, they are still connected together through love.
I will be honest and say that I didn’t know the term “Tory” when reading this book and I had to look it up. While researching the term “Tory”, I learned that this book is based upon a true event that happened to the author's ancestor when she was a child. "As revolutionary sentiments ran high in their village, she and her family became more and more outcasts, until one day a band of rebels came raiding, with her trapped in the house, hiding in a trunk."
I think some pre-teaching would have to take place in order for students to understand the meaning of this story. I think it would be a good book for third and fourth graders. Some study skills that would work well are compare/contrast and cause/ effect.
I will be honest and say that I didn’t know the term “Tory” when reading this book and I had to look it up. While researching the term “Tory”, I learned that this book is based upon a true event that happened to the author's ancestor when she was a child. "As revolutionary sentiments ran high in their village, she and her family became more and more outcasts, until one day a band of rebels came raiding, with her trapped in the house, hiding in a trunk."
I think some pre-teaching would have to take place in order for students to understand the meaning of this story. I think it would be a good book for third and fourth graders. Some study skills that would work well are compare/contrast and cause/ effect.
July 13, 2010
You know, it's not often that you find children's books about the Revolution from the perspective of Loyalists. It's all the Patriots were heroes and the Patriots were right and the Patriots were great.
Of course, in a war, nothing is ever that simple. Not really, and as adults we probably know that, although it's hard to shake the simple truths we memorized as children.
This book is based upon a true event that happened to the author's ancestor when she was a child. As revolutionary sentiments ran high in their village, she and her family became more and more outcasts, until one day a band of rebels came raiding, with her trapped in the house, hiding in a trunk.
It's not clear whether she was lucky and wasn't found, or whether she was saved by a sympathetic Revolutionary who had no desire to harm a small child, but this was a very close shave.
It's a different sort of story, probably because it tackles a hard truth we don't always like to hear: Even our national heroes, the "good guys", did bad things at times. (And even the bad guys (as they were to Katie and her family) can do nice things.)
Of course, in a war, nothing is ever that simple. Not really, and as adults we probably know that, although it's hard to shake the simple truths we memorized as children.
This book is based upon a true event that happened to the author's ancestor when she was a child. As revolutionary sentiments ran high in their village, she and her family became more and more outcasts, until one day a band of rebels came raiding, with her trapped in the house, hiding in a trunk.
It's not clear whether she was lucky and wasn't found, or whether she was saved by a sympathetic Revolutionary who had no desire to harm a small child, but this was a very close shave.
It's a different sort of story, probably because it tackles a hard truth we don't always like to hear: Even our national heroes, the "good guys", did bad things at times. (And even the bad guys (as they were to Katie and her family) can do nice things.)
March 3, 2010
This book is a thought provoking one because it takes into account Katie's feelings toward the rebels who were ransaking their house. She felt that it wasn't fair and went back into the house instead of following her father's orders to hide in the woods with her mother and siblings. She hid in the trunk at the foot of her parent's bed among her mother's dresses. When one of the rebels felt her in the trunk he redirected the rest away from her and left the lid open. The gang hurried out of the house since gunshots and galloping was heard in the distance. Upon returning to the house the family gathered happily together and Katie wondered if being branded a Tory was as bad as it seemed and what did the future bring. I would use this picture book with third or fourth grade students when discussing the beginnings of the American Revolution. Since it is written from the point of view of a girl siding with the English, I would try to find another story with the point of view from the colonists and discuss the similarities and differences.
October 26, 2011
Katie's Trunk takes place during the lead up to the Revolutionary war. The interesting thing about this book is that it comes from the "tory", or pro-British, point of view. This story showed how communities were torn apart based on their political views. In Katie's Trunk the rebels attack the families home. Most of the family hides in the forest but one of the girls in the house when the rebels get there. She has to hid in her mothers wedding trunk as she hears her neighbors ransack their house. The rebels start going through the trunk she is hiding in until a hand touches her. Instead of calling her out the rebel makes an excuse for the group to leave and leaves the trunk open for Katie to get air.
It was interesting to hear the a Revolutionary War story from the other side. Often we only hear stories from the Patriot side. Opening up to this point of view gives the reader new light and information about how difficult it was for communities during those times.
It was interesting to hear the a Revolutionary War story from the other side. Often we only hear stories from the Patriot side. Opening up to this point of view gives the reader new light and information about how difficult it was for communities during those times.
April 11, 2009
While looking for revolutionary war books for my children, I found this one. It is an intersting true picture book from the Tory perspective
November 20, 2023
I found the book Katie’s Trunk while looking for a historical fiction book for my Youth Literature class for one of my master's classes. I wanted to find a picture book I could read to my first graders when we learn about The American Revolution. This book has been reviewed on Kirkus Review.
This story takes place during The American Revolution. Katie and her family are becoming outcasts based on their Loyalist beliefs. Katie and her brother can no longer play with the same friends they used to play with, and those friends would now hiss at them. On the day the rebels came, Katie and her family ran to hide in the woods. Filled with anger, Katie did not want to let them touch her family's things, so she ran back to the house. She was touching all her favorite things before hiding in her mom’s trunk full of dresses. As the Rebels ransacked the house, Katie started to run out of air in the trunk. She was able to get some air when the Rebels opened the trunk and started to take out the dresses. When one of them accidentally touched Katie beneath the dresses, he was quick to rush the others out by making a lie that the family was coming back. Katie’s family rushed into the house, happy to see that Katie was safe. John Warren, the man who had touched her, had kept Katie safe and left the trunk open when he left so that she could breathe.
The way that Ronald Himler, the illustrator, does the illustrations in watercolor makes it look like they were drawn a long time ago and helps take the reader back to the time of The American Revolution times. The details of the pictures also helped with this, from the clothing to the look of the houses in the town.
The author, Ann Turner, is a distant relative of Katie who has heard this story being told over the years. Turner took this story and wanted to retell it to the world while putting her own unique spin on it. Turner is allowing children in the 21st century to see a small snapshot of what it was like for children during The American Revolution.
This story is good for grades first through fourth. This story would be great to pair
with a unit about The American Revolution. It can be used to discuss how the Revolution affected children and not just adults. Using the story, the students can write about if they think Katie running back in the house was the right choice, why or why not. Students can also be asked why John Warren left the trunk open and made the others leave. Would you have done the same thing?
This story takes place during The American Revolution. Katie and her family are becoming outcasts based on their Loyalist beliefs. Katie and her brother can no longer play with the same friends they used to play with, and those friends would now hiss at them. On the day the rebels came, Katie and her family ran to hide in the woods. Filled with anger, Katie did not want to let them touch her family's things, so she ran back to the house. She was touching all her favorite things before hiding in her mom’s trunk full of dresses. As the Rebels ransacked the house, Katie started to run out of air in the trunk. She was able to get some air when the Rebels opened the trunk and started to take out the dresses. When one of them accidentally touched Katie beneath the dresses, he was quick to rush the others out by making a lie that the family was coming back. Katie’s family rushed into the house, happy to see that Katie was safe. John Warren, the man who had touched her, had kept Katie safe and left the trunk open when he left so that she could breathe.
The way that Ronald Himler, the illustrator, does the illustrations in watercolor makes it look like they were drawn a long time ago and helps take the reader back to the time of The American Revolution times. The details of the pictures also helped with this, from the clothing to the look of the houses in the town.
The author, Ann Turner, is a distant relative of Katie who has heard this story being told over the years. Turner took this story and wanted to retell it to the world while putting her own unique spin on it. Turner is allowing children in the 21st century to see a small snapshot of what it was like for children during The American Revolution.
This story is good for grades first through fourth. This story would be great to pair
with a unit about The American Revolution. It can be used to discuss how the Revolution affected children and not just adults. Using the story, the students can write about if they think Katie running back in the house was the right choice, why or why not. Students can also be asked why John Warren left the trunk open and made the others leave. Would you have done the same thing?
December 3, 2019
Book Title: Katie's Trunk
Author/Illustrator: Ann Turner
Reading Level: LG
Book Level: 3.6
Book Summary:
Katie, who’s family is Loyalists, hides under the clothes in her mother’s wedding trunk when Patriots invade their home.
Bookshelf Mentor Writing Trait:
Conventions- This book series is an excellent mentor text for writing to teach conventions, including grammar and action verbs. I would read this aloud in class, during a unit on the American Revolution. I would have students pick out strong action verbs they heard during the read aloud the second time by writing them on post it notes. Then, as a class, we would use a current writing piece to identify action verbs in our writing and then brain storm other, stronger, action verbs to make our writing more interesting for our readers. I would explain to students that by using different, specific, and strong action verbs, it helps our readers to really visualize exactly what it is happening in the stories we are writing.
Other suggestions:
This book could be used in conjunction with The Scarlet Stockings Spy and Samuel’s Choice to teach multiple perspectives of the American Revolution for different types of people. The main message when used in conjunction with the other two books is that historical events have multiple perspectives. Sometimes one side is reported in accurately, so it's important to understand what it was like for all people involved in historical incidents to truly understand a historical event.
Author/Illustrator: Ann Turner
Reading Level: LG
Book Level: 3.6
Book Summary:
Katie, who’s family is Loyalists, hides under the clothes in her mother’s wedding trunk when Patriots invade their home.
Bookshelf Mentor Writing Trait:
Conventions- This book series is an excellent mentor text for writing to teach conventions, including grammar and action verbs. I would read this aloud in class, during a unit on the American Revolution. I would have students pick out strong action verbs they heard during the read aloud the second time by writing them on post it notes. Then, as a class, we would use a current writing piece to identify action verbs in our writing and then brain storm other, stronger, action verbs to make our writing more interesting for our readers. I would explain to students that by using different, specific, and strong action verbs, it helps our readers to really visualize exactly what it is happening in the stories we are writing.
Other suggestions:
This book could be used in conjunction with The Scarlet Stockings Spy and Samuel’s Choice to teach multiple perspectives of the American Revolution for different types of people. The main message when used in conjunction with the other two books is that historical events have multiple perspectives. Sometimes one side is reported in accurately, so it's important to understand what it was like for all people involved in historical incidents to truly understand a historical event.
December 5, 2018
1. Katie's Trunk is the story of a young girl living during colonial/American Revolutionary times and how she can't stand to see her precious items get robbed. She leaves her family who is hiding in the woods because she can't stand to watch the rebels destroy her family's loved heirlooms. She is almost discovered when the rebels open the trunk that she is hiding in and steal the dresses that she is hiding underneath, but she does not get caught.
2. This book is different because it shows the side of the story that is not usually seen and that is the side of the revolution that supports the English. However, children can relate to Katie because she was scared to have people rifle through her things and her family's things, so she stood up and tried to do what she believed was right. There is a lot of suspense when the rebels are going through the trunk and Katie is hiding inside.
3. Some children's picture books that are also set during the American Revolution are Redcoats and Petticoats, Henry and the Cannons, They Called Her Molly Pitcher, The Ride: The Legend of Betty Dowely, and Sleds on Boston Common.
4. This book can bring to light to different sides of war and what war can do to people who were once friends. It shows how children deal with war in different ways.
2. This book is different because it shows the side of the story that is not usually seen and that is the side of the revolution that supports the English. However, children can relate to Katie because she was scared to have people rifle through her things and her family's things, so she stood up and tried to do what she believed was right. There is a lot of suspense when the rebels are going through the trunk and Katie is hiding inside.
3. Some children's picture books that are also set during the American Revolution are Redcoats and Petticoats, Henry and the Cannons, They Called Her Molly Pitcher, The Ride: The Legend of Betty Dowely, and Sleds on Boston Common.
4. This book can bring to light to different sides of war and what war can do to people who were once friends. It shows how children deal with war in different ways.
October 19, 2019
-Every truth has two sides; it is as well to look at both, before we commit ourselves to either.
-There is nothing that exists that has only one side.
-Life consists of two sides ... light and dark.
-In seeking truth you have to get both sides of a story.
TRAVELED TO // In A Town Near You
MET ALONG THE WAY // Katie, Hattie, Mama, Papa, Rebels, Walter
March 17, 2024
In the story, the rebels attack the home. While most of the family hides in the forest, Katie hides in her mother's wedding trunk. She fears being found when the rebels start going through the trunk. A hand touches her but instead of calling her out, the rebel orders the others to flee quickly and then leaves the trunk open for Katie to get air.
Unlike many pre-Revolutionary War stories, Katie's Trunk is written from the "tory", or pro-British, point of view, which helps the reader see how difficult it was for communities torn apart based on their political views. The story is based on a true incident that happened to one of the author's ancestors.
Unlike many pre-Revolutionary War stories, Katie's Trunk is written from the "tory", or pro-British, point of view, which helps the reader see how difficult it was for communities torn apart based on their political views. The story is based on a true incident that happened to one of the author's ancestors.
May 4, 2021
I love that this book provides an alternative viewpoint of the American Revolution. However, the story and pictures were a little slow in comparison to some of the other books we have been fortunate to find with our study of Early American History.
It probably didn't help that we read this book immediately following the very vibrant and exciting story of The Ride: The Legend of Betsy Dowdy.
It probably didn't help that we read this book immediately following the very vibrant and exciting story of The Ride: The Legend of Betsy Dowdy.
October 5, 2021
Feel the fear of a family when the American Patriots come to their home. They are loyal to the British crown during the American Revolution. Polarization in society made it difficult for average people to choose sides. No one knew what the outcome would be but it would be very bad for the losers. Often history favors the winners. This is a story that gives a face to the losers who were real people too.
Read
September 8, 2019This book is set at the beginning of the American Revolution. It follows Katie, a young girl, whose family's house is raided by rebels. The book has an interesting depiction of the events leading up to the raid and those following. (Picture Book.)
January 17, 2021
50 States Book for Rhode Island. Swapped the original book to this one. Good story about a family of loyalists just before the revolutionary war started. My students had some great discussions and connections to this story!
June 9, 2022
Great opportunity to introduce the complex layers of conflict that took place during the American Revolution- in this case, specifically between colonists who were loyal to the British and those who weren't.
March 6, 2018
beautifully written
October 25, 2018
I thought this book did a wonderful job of sparking the interest of young readers with it's clear yet engaging details.
December 29, 2018
I use this historical fiction story along with "Redcoats and Petticoats" to show students both sides of the American Revolution.
August 10, 2021
It was over my 7 yr olds head.
8/9/21 Read with Julia
8/9/21 Read with Julia
Read
February 17, 2022is good
January 24, 2025
Good for students to give idea what it was like for loyalist during the revolution
May 16, 2024
Exquisitely rendered story of redemption and compassion in a period of chaos and hate.
February 22, 2013
Katie's Trunk by Ann Turner
Katie's trunk takes place during the American Revolution. One day Katie and her mother are sitting around talking, her mother remarks how wasteful it was to dump all that tea in the harbor. What Kate mother is referring to is the Boston Tea Party. Suddenly, they hear Katie's father yell to them to go hide in the woods. Katie and her family make it safely to the woods. But as she sits there, hiding in the bushes, she feels like a trapped wild animal in a cage. Katie get so angry she jumps up from the bushes and starts. running to defend her home. As soon as she gets to her house she hears the voice's of the rebels directly outside her front door. Katie realizes she does not have enough time to run back to the woods, so she hides in her mother's trunk underneath her wedding dress. The rebels start looking through her families belongings, looking for things to take meanwhile, Katie is having trouble breathing because the air in the trunk is getting hotter and hotter. Then she hears a rebel's voice right outside the trunk. She gets a blast of cool air and knows that the rebel had just opened the lid. The rebel begins peeling layer upon layer of her mother's clothing out of the trunk until all that is left between her and the rebel is her mother's wedding dress. The rebel starts to lift the corner of the wedding dress, when suddenly he yells, "OUT!", to the other men, then turns and walls of of the room leaving the lid to the trunk open. The rebel had just saved Katie's life. Then a sudden thread like a song runs through Katie's head, " when mama asked me to sew straight seams to get the goodness straight, I knew I couldn't do it. But John Warren had. When I hid in the black stuffy trunk, when my breathe got lost in mama's dresses, he left the trunk lid up to let me breathe and calls the others away. He left one seam of goodness there and we were all tied to it.
Katie's trunk takes place during the American Revolution. One day Katie and her mother are sitting around talking, her mother remarks how wasteful it was to dump all that tea in the harbor. What Kate mother is referring to is the Boston Tea Party. Suddenly, they hear Katie's father yell to them to go hide in the woods. Katie and her family make it safely to the woods. But as she sits there, hiding in the bushes, she feels like a trapped wild animal in a cage. Katie get so angry she jumps up from the bushes and starts. running to defend her home. As soon as she gets to her house she hears the voice's of the rebels directly outside her front door. Katie realizes she does not have enough time to run back to the woods, so she hides in her mother's trunk underneath her wedding dress. The rebels start looking through her families belongings, looking for things to take meanwhile, Katie is having trouble breathing because the air in the trunk is getting hotter and hotter. Then she hears a rebel's voice right outside the trunk. She gets a blast of cool air and knows that the rebel had just opened the lid. The rebel begins peeling layer upon layer of her mother's clothing out of the trunk until all that is left between her and the rebel is her mother's wedding dress. The rebel starts to lift the corner of the wedding dress, when suddenly he yells, "OUT!", to the other men, then turns and walls of of the room leaving the lid to the trunk open. The rebel had just saved Katie's life. Then a sudden thread like a song runs through Katie's head, " when mama asked me to sew straight seams to get the goodness straight, I knew I couldn't do it. But John Warren had. When I hid in the black stuffy trunk, when my breathe got lost in mama's dresses, he left the trunk lid up to let me breathe and calls the others away. He left one seam of goodness there and we were all tied to it.
March 18, 2013
Summary
Katie’s Trunk takes place in the late 1700s in Northampton, Massachusetts during the Revolutionary War (1775-1783) and is a story derived from a conversation with Turner’s Aunt Lucy. Katie was a rebellious and stubborn little girl. Rebels and Tories were friends living in neighborhoods together until the war broke up these friendships. The rebels came to Katie’s home one day and the family hid in the woods. The thought of the rebels bothering their home and other belongings angered Katie so she ran back into the house and hid in a trunk hiding under her mother’s dresses that were in it. The rebels were searching for money her father kept in the house and almost found Katie when they heard the Tories coming and left.
Response
This story makes me feel an interest in learning about history. Turner set this story up in a manner that appeals to children and encourages them to learn about history. The way she mentioned the tea in the harbor could peak a child’s interest in the Boston Tea Party and events surrounding this protest. The children being called Tories could give children an interest in the Revolutionary War.
Classroom Connection
My classroom connections are borrowed from http://gse.uml.edu/rtah/lessons/docs/... where you can find lots of lesson plans for this book. Before reading the book I would ask the children the following questions:
• What do I already know about the topic?
• What questions do I have?
• What you’d like to learn form this story
After reading the story I would ask if anyone had any more questions? I would have a class discussion on any questions they still had. Then I would have each student write in their own words things they learned from the story.
Text Complexity
This book is a 660L Lexile measure with a Guided Reading level T. There is an interest level of Grades K – 2 and DRA level of 44/50. Students should be able to read this book by themselves by the end of 4th Grade.
Katie’s Trunk takes place in the late 1700s in Northampton, Massachusetts during the Revolutionary War (1775-1783) and is a story derived from a conversation with Turner’s Aunt Lucy. Katie was a rebellious and stubborn little girl. Rebels and Tories were friends living in neighborhoods together until the war broke up these friendships. The rebels came to Katie’s home one day and the family hid in the woods. The thought of the rebels bothering their home and other belongings angered Katie so she ran back into the house and hid in a trunk hiding under her mother’s dresses that were in it. The rebels were searching for money her father kept in the house and almost found Katie when they heard the Tories coming and left.
Response
This story makes me feel an interest in learning about history. Turner set this story up in a manner that appeals to children and encourages them to learn about history. The way she mentioned the tea in the harbor could peak a child’s interest in the Boston Tea Party and events surrounding this protest. The children being called Tories could give children an interest in the Revolutionary War.
Classroom Connection
My classroom connections are borrowed from http://gse.uml.edu/rtah/lessons/docs/... where you can find lots of lesson plans for this book. Before reading the book I would ask the children the following questions:
• What do I already know about the topic?
• What questions do I have?
• What you’d like to learn form this story
After reading the story I would ask if anyone had any more questions? I would have a class discussion on any questions they still had. Then I would have each student write in their own words things they learned from the story.
Text Complexity
This book is a 660L Lexile measure with a Guided Reading level T. There is an interest level of Grades K – 2 and DRA level of 44/50. Students should be able to read this book by themselves by the end of 4th Grade.
February 13, 2017
This book would be a great one to use to teach the loyalist perspective.
May 30, 2010
My boys decided this gets 4 stars and is "okay". It's a rather short book relating to one incident. I thought it valuable in discussing the Tory side of the American Revolution. We had a good discussion about the "right" and "wrong" side (and is there truly one? and if so, when?). We also discussed the honorable actions of one man and how you should treat you enemies.
One thing that did bother me though was the disobedience of Katie. They were hiding in the woods and she ran back to the house, while her parents were telling her not to. Because everything turns out fine children may think that no bad consequences come when you disobey. It's something I think needs to be addressed when reading this book.
Overall a neat little book.
One thing that did bother me though was the disobedience of Katie. They were hiding in the woods and she ran back to the house, while her parents were telling her not to. Because everything turns out fine children may think that no bad consequences come when you disobey. It's something I think needs to be addressed when reading this book.
Overall a neat little book.
May 4, 2015
This book takes place during the revolutionary way era. It follows a young girl, Katie, and her family as they deal with the difficult times associated with time period. As there house is being taken over by opposing forces, the family escapes into the woods. However, Katie runs back into the house to try and save a few family belongings. Katie manages to escape and hide in a trunk full of her mother's dresses.
This beautiful story illustrated in lovely watercolors transports the reader back in time to a simpler and more troubled era. This historical fiction is geared toward an older reader however, kids of every age would love to have it read to them. They will feel like they are being transported back to the past.
This beautiful story illustrated in lovely watercolors transports the reader back in time to a simpler and more troubled era. This historical fiction is geared toward an older reader however, kids of every age would love to have it read to them. They will feel like they are being transported back to the past.
March 3, 2010
Reading Level: 5th grade and older
Katie, the spunky one of the family, refuses to give up her home when rebels come. Just as her Tory family is well hidden in the woods, she runs back inside the house. When the rebels enter her home, she hides inside her parents wedding trunk under her mothers fine gowns. This story is based on a true incident. It has good characterization and voice and the lines drawn between Tory & Rebels are shown. This reader needed to reread as the ending was a bit unclear and the story didn't come together well. There is good historical information describing events leading up to the revolutionary war.
Katie, the spunky one of the family, refuses to give up her home when rebels come. Just as her Tory family is well hidden in the woods, she runs back inside the house. When the rebels enter her home, she hides inside her parents wedding trunk under her mothers fine gowns. This story is based on a true incident. It has good characterization and voice and the lines drawn between Tory & Rebels are shown. This reader needed to reread as the ending was a bit unclear and the story didn't come together well. There is good historical information describing events leading up to the revolutionary war.
March 4, 2010
"Katie's Trunk" takes place at the beginning of the Revolutionary War. It about a tory family that finds out the rebels are coming. They run to hide in the woods and Katie the young daughter runs to her home because she says it was not fair for the rebels to come take their things. When the rebels arrive Katie hides in her mother's wedding trunk. Luckily they do not find her and leave. This story is based on a true happening of one of the author's ancestor's. This book would be best used for upper elementary since studies of the Revolutionary War would be helpful to understand the story. The illustrations are done with oil paint and fit well with the story line.
March 5, 2011
Based on the true story of one of the author's ancestors who as a young girl during the American Revolution,initially hides with her family in the woods when they receive word that marauders are coming, but in anger before they arrive, she rushes back into the house, touching all the things she loves in the home. As the marauders, including former neighbors, enter the house, she hides in her mother's a trunk. She knows that one of the former neighbors, feels her in the trunk but he draws the marauders away and out of the house, proof that good will can survive the conflict between neighbors during that war.
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