What do you think?
Rate this book
At the Heels of History #1
Filigree's Midnight Ride
Join Filigree, a five-pound Pomeranian, as he stows away on Paul Revere’s midnight ride.
Filigree may be a small puff of a Pomeranian but he has a big, brave heart. As the Revere family dog, he’s ready to do his part to help the American colonists stand up to the British soldiers. But the other dogs, like Jove, Sam Adams’s Newfoundland, and even the Revere cat, Anvil, think Filigree is a joke. The Reveres’ daughter Frances is the only one who believes in him.
br>When Frances’s father, Paul Revere, leaves home on a secret mission, Filigree and Frances know they have to help, no matter how dangerous it might be. Will a pint-sized pup just be in the way, or can Filigree prove that even a very small dog can fight for freedom?
Filigree may be a small puff of a Pomeranian but he has a big, brave heart. As the Revere family dog, he’s ready to do his part to help the American colonists stand up to the British soldiers. But the other dogs, like Jove, Sam Adams’s Newfoundland, and even the Revere cat, Anvil, think Filigree is a joke. The Reveres’ daughter Frances is the only one who believes in him.
br>When Frances’s father, Paul Revere, leaves home on a secret mission, Filigree and Frances know they have to help, no matter how dangerous it might be. Will a pint-sized pup just be in the way, or can Filigree prove that even a very small dog can fight for freedom?
192 pages, Paperback
Published August 27, 2019
2 people are currently reading
39 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 10, 2019
Disclaimer: The authors are friends and, in fact, I've worked with them on keeping their collaboration strong.
This is a book I probably wouldn't have read otherwise. The story is of Paul Revere's daughter's Pomeranian named Filigree, and how he overcomes the contempt of larger revolutionary dogs and eventually becomes instrumental in making Paul Revere's ride work.
I think it's an age-range which is especially difficult for adults to read, because the books don't have either the simple charm of picture books or the potential nuance and complication of true YA books. As adult readers, we just know that the unappreciated small dog will triumph and win the respect of the big dogs, just as people who have been through a U.S. education, we know that Paul Revere will succeed, and that the American Revolution will eventually succeed.
Nonetheless, the book is fun. The characters (both dog and human) are well written. Claire Powell's illustrations are captivating. The story includes at least one genuine surprise, hard to do within the constraints of the form. The authors chose to write about Paul Revere's real ride and real goals, rather than the inaccurate version based on the famous poem, and they provide an age-appropriate afterword explaining that (as well as an afterword acknowledging the role of slavery in pre-American Revolution New England).
Even knowing how it had to come out, I couldn't help cheering for Filigree. More "On the Heels of History" books are coming, and I look forward to them.
This is a book I probably wouldn't have read otherwise. The story is of Paul Revere's daughter's Pomeranian named Filigree, and how he overcomes the contempt of larger revolutionary dogs and eventually becomes instrumental in making Paul Revere's ride work.
I think it's an age-range which is especially difficult for adults to read, because the books don't have either the simple charm of picture books or the potential nuance and complication of true YA books. As adult readers, we just know that the unappreciated small dog will triumph and win the respect of the big dogs, just as people who have been through a U.S. education, we know that Paul Revere will succeed, and that the American Revolution will eventually succeed.
Nonetheless, the book is fun. The characters (both dog and human) are well written. Claire Powell's illustrations are captivating. The story includes at least one genuine surprise, hard to do within the constraints of the form. The authors chose to write about Paul Revere's real ride and real goals, rather than the inaccurate version based on the famous poem, and they provide an age-appropriate afterword explaining that (as well as an afterword acknowledging the role of slavery in pre-American Revolution New England).
Even knowing how it had to come out, I couldn't help cheering for Filigree. More "On the Heels of History" books are coming, and I look forward to them.
May 28, 2019
I got an advance reader copy from the authors, and I feel seriously privileged right now. The book says it's for readers 6-9, and I'm sure readers in that age range will love the book. But just for the record, I'm going to be 61 in a matter of weeks, and I thoroughly enjoyed it myself.
This is the first book in a series (Yes!), "At the Heels of History" giving us history from the view of a dog, and I'll be honest, I thought, 'Cute, that'll be fun.' Not in a dismissive way, but in the sense that I thought I knew what it would be like. But the authors surprised me, and in good ways! Now, of course, I happen to know that these are both really good writers, so I should have known better than to think their story would be the usual sort of thing. It was wonderful in a variety of ways, but I am not going into details because I don't want to spoil it for you. For those of you who care about such things, the reader learns some history (I did), but in a way that does not feel like homework at all - definitely pleasure reading. Highly recommended!
This is the first book in a series (Yes!), "At the Heels of History" giving us history from the view of a dog, and I'll be honest, I thought, 'Cute, that'll be fun.' Not in a dismissive way, but in the sense that I thought I knew what it would be like. But the authors surprised me, and in good ways! Now, of course, I happen to know that these are both really good writers, so I should have known better than to think their story would be the usual sort of thing. It was wonderful in a variety of ways, but I am not going into details because I don't want to spoil it for you. For those of you who care about such things, the reader learns some history (I did), but in a way that does not feel like homework at all - definitely pleasure reading. Highly recommended!
November 3, 2019
This is a fun way for kids to experience history. A small Pomeranian helps Paul Revere on his legendary ride. Both of my big kids read this book and loved it. They like how the story is told through the dog's point of view.
If you go to the website, you can find fun facts about the story and the history that inspired it.
This is a fun early chapter book for kids ages 6-9 with lots of illustrations and large text. It's a quick read, so most kids will have no trouble finishing the book in a few sittings.
Source: the publisher sent me a copy of this book.
If you go to the website, you can find fun facts about the story and the history that inspired it.
This is a fun early chapter book for kids ages 6-9 with lots of illustrations and large text. It's a quick read, so most kids will have no trouble finishing the book in a few sittings.
Source: the publisher sent me a copy of this book.
May 6, 2020
Filigree's Midnight Ride by Pam Berkman and Dorothy Hearst, illustrated by Claire Powell, 181 pages. McElderry Books (Simon), 2019. $18
Content: G
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL - ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
Frances Revere, the daughter of Paul Revere, has a little Pomeranian dog named Filigree. He wants to be part of "gang" of big, important dogs, but they all say he is too small. Filigree wants to help fight for freedom and his chance comes when Paul Revere is sent on a secret mission. He is determined to help and Frances is the only one that believes in him. The story follows Filligree on this dangerous mission. Filigree is a small dog with a big heart and will to succeed. He wants to help the colonists beat the soldiers.
Told from Filigree's point of view, the authors puts a new light on Paul Revere's ride and on that period in history. It shows how important it is for all of us to have someone believe in us. I liked that the story is told in simple and easy to understand language. This will be a great story for young students, or for a students to read his or her first "big book" on their own.
Ellen-Anita, Librarian
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...
Content: G
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL - ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
Frances Revere, the daughter of Paul Revere, has a little Pomeranian dog named Filigree. He wants to be part of "gang" of big, important dogs, but they all say he is too small. Filigree wants to help fight for freedom and his chance comes when Paul Revere is sent on a secret mission. He is determined to help and Frances is the only one that believes in him. The story follows Filligree on this dangerous mission. Filigree is a small dog with a big heart and will to succeed. He wants to help the colonists beat the soldiers.
Told from Filigree's point of view, the authors puts a new light on Paul Revere's ride and on that period in history. It shows how important it is for all of us to have someone believe in us. I liked that the story is told in simple and easy to understand language. This will be a great story for young students, or for a students to read his or her first "big book" on their own.
Ellen-Anita, Librarian
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...
November 20, 2019
What a fun read! I'm an adult, and so not necessarily the intended audience for this chapter book. But the cover of Filigree grabbed my attention a month ago, I picked it up and started to read. Three hours later I finished, and was satisfied by how I had spent my afternoon. As an uncle who reads to and with kids, and soon to be parent, this is a great book. The story is engaging and sparks the imagination, there is plenty of G-rated action, and the illustrations add to the overall narrative. Also, as it turns out, this is not mere fluffy fiction. The book is heavily researched, and almost all of the details (up to and including the name and reputation of the horse Paul Revere rode) are accurate.
At the very end of the book was a very tasteful nod to the role of African Americans in the events surrounding the Battle of Lexington and Concord. This was information I'd never been exposed to before, and while it does not relate directly to the story, it was a good teaser on an important subject, and was presented in a very straightforward was. It left me, if anything, wanting to know more about the subject. I give Filigree’s Midnight Ride five stars on story, writing, illustrations, and accessibility for all age groups. And a bonus star for historical accuracy!
At the very end of the book was a very tasteful nod to the role of African Americans in the events surrounding the Battle of Lexington and Concord. This was information I'd never been exposed to before, and while it does not relate directly to the story, it was a good teaser on an important subject, and was presented in a very straightforward was. It left me, if anything, wanting to know more about the subject. I give Filigree’s Midnight Ride five stars on story, writing, illustrations, and accessibility for all age groups. And a bonus star for historical accuracy!
December 31, 2022
quite surprised to read in the end notes a thank you to Contra Costa's libraries. i bought the book because the cover depicts a v. annoyed samoyed. turns out the dog is an annoyed pomeranian., and i should have realized that because the dog is standing on a horse's head. even a sammy puppy would be too big.
i didn't even noticed it was signed. After i finished it i asked the bookseller (Shoshana at Flashlight) if there were any others. The second book i liked even more.
i didn't even noticed it was signed. After i finished it i asked the bookseller (Shoshana at Flashlight) if there were any others. The second book i liked even more.
September 13, 2019
See mini review here: https://www.readingrumpus.com/2019/09...
December 20, 2019
The ride of Paul Revere told from the point of view of a tiny dog. My students loved it and it led to a good discussion on historical fiction.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews