I am pleased to be participating in the A Buss from Lafayette Blog Tour hosted by BeachBoundbooks for the middle grade/young adult novel A Buss From Lafayette by Dorothea Jensen from April 11 – May 2, 2016.
My Review:
Nothing draws me in more than historical fiction. I love stories and I love history. With this story I was drawn in by the title of the book. I had no idea what a ‘Buss’ was and knew I had to find out. This middle grade/young adult historical fiction takes place in a 1825 New Hampshire town interweaving the historical event of General Lafayette’s 7 day tour of the region in his final farewell to the American people and the story of Clara Hargraves, the spunky, feisty fourteen heroine.
I found many elements of this book very enjoyable. First, I found the book pleasantly paced. You know the type of book when you reach the end of the chapter and are left with little morsels and tell yourself just one more chapter, I felt this way on many occasion and read later in the evening then expected. I just knew the young girl would meet Lafayette in the most bizarre manner and have a grand tale to tell.
Secondly, I found the blend of the story and the historical elements to flow seamlessly. It is evident that this author did her research and it made the story feel that much more authentic. I could easily imagine a fourteen old girl like Clara and everything that she had to face and the problems she had to overcome through the detailed descriptions of time and place as well as the use of prose gives the reader a palette for the time period and location.
In the end the ‘Buss’ from Lafayette is tied in nicely like a gift with a bow on it with Clara’s story surrounding her new sibling. It is also of interest to read about how the author made the story centred around the ‘Buss’ from Lafayette and how it is connected to where she lives and a person she knows. Read below in the author bio to discover it as well. There is nothing better in my books then a book that combines a great story with historical elements that can teach us something new.
I enjoyed reading this book and I would recommend this one to girls aged 10-15 as well. Clara the main character is dealing with similar issues girls today face even though she is in the 19th century. Feminine stereotypes, stepmother issues, new romance, and acceptance of self. And of course, the reader will learn a little bit about American History as well.
Don’t forget to enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway at the end of the post. Good Luck!
*Disclosure*: I was provided a free ebook version of the story in order to participate in the blog tour hosted by Beach Bound Books. By participating in the blog tour I have a entry in the rafflecopter giveaway. I only participate in blog tours or do book reviews of books I enjoy, my kids enjoy or I feel might be of value to my readers. You can read my Full Disclosure Policy Here.
About the Book
Author: Dorothea Jensen
Genre: Middle Grade/Young Adult Historical Fiction
Recommended Ages: 10-17
Number of Pages: 266
Publisher: BQB Publishing
Publication Date: April 22, 2016
Synopsis: Fourteen-year-old Clara Hargraves lives on a farm in Hopkinton, a small New Hampshire town, during the early 19th century. She has a couple of big problems. First of all, she has a stepmother, Priscilla, who used to be her spinster schoolteacher aunt. Clara resents that her late mother’s older sister has not only married her father but is about to have a baby. To make matters worse, “Prissy Priscilla” keeps trying to make the rambunctious, clever, and witty Clara act like a proper young lady. Secondly, Clara has red hair, making her a target for teasing by a handsome older boy, Dickon Weeks, and by her pretty seventeen-year-old Dread Cousin Hetty. Clara, however, has a secret plan she hopes will change this. During the last week of June, 1825, Clara’s town is abuzz because the famous General Lafayette is about to visit their state during his farewell tour of America. In those eventful seven days, Clara learns a lot about her family, Hetty, Dickon, herself, and about Lafayette. She comes to understand the huge and vital role the young French aristocrat played in America’s Revolutionary War and to see that her problems might not be quite so terrible after all.
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Good Luck and Cheers,
Bonnie Dani
Educator, Writer, Blogger, Mom
Contact Me: [email protected]
