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The Letter Writer (2008)

by Ann Rinaldi(Favorite Author)

3.8 of 5 Votes: 2

ISBN

0152064028 (ISBN13: 9780152064020)

languge

English

genre

Historical Fiction

publisher

HMH Books for Young Readers

review 1: 3.75 STARSThere are moments when Anne Rinaldi's writing style just stuns you...and there are moments when it's surprisingly lackluster, and I say surprisingly because most of the book's writing was spot on. Hypnotizing and cryptic and simmering; it packed a good punch where it needed to. Can you tell I really liked the writing?!I also loved the MC, Harriet's, character. She is honest and smart, thoughtful and compassionate. But the only problem I did have was that I honestly felt she was way too young. I found this book in the YA section of my library, but was put-off by the fact that Harriet is eleven years old. I am not one to discredit the commonly undermined wit, intelligence, and maturity of young people, but if Rinaldi was going to create such a matured young charact... moreer, then there was something missing in this little girl -- the little. There were definitely moments when her vulnerability and naivete shined through, but not in a way that was executed well enough to make her read so young. She's hardly even pre-teen at this point. I will say that other than Rinaldi's writing style, I highly commend her unwillingness to shy away from the brutality that was the Nat Turner rebellion. Through this young girl's eyes we get a gruesome picture of what it was like, and in general, what slavery was like. I know this is YA, but it is also clearly younger YA and though I would like to recommend it to younger readers, I would use caution in my choices, especially if they might not respond well to brutal killings...like the killing of children.Overall, it was an engrossing story with well thought-out and diverse characters. The ending was lacking, but the whole second half of the book made for a good climax. I also think this could have been a longer story.
review 2: Ann Rinaldi always gives a well researched novel with accurate facts that she weaves into a personal story, in this case a young girl who was only 1/2 sister to a southern family. This family runs a rather large plantation and, like most families of that time they had many slaves. The family was somewhat decent in the care of slaves, but a cruel head of the family, a pastor and the main character's half-brother, is as harsh with the slaves as he is with everyone. The main character meets and then unwittingly helps Nat Turner to plan his infamous slave rebellion. The story presents an interesting perspective, but like most of the Ann Rinaldi books I have read, it is underdeveloped and the ending feels rushed and unfinished. less

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