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Book Discussions:  America 250 Reading Challenge  |
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GinnyBelle
True Blue Farmgirl
286 Posts
Ginny
West Lafayette
IN
USA
286 Posts |
 Posted - May 15 2026 : 09:14:47 AM
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Good afternoon ladies! As part of earning my Bibliophile badge, I am joining you all in Heather’s Wildflower Book Club. As for the second part to earning, I am issuing a reading challenge that will hopefully be a fun time.
As the America 250 approaches, my challenge is to read a book between now and July 4th that is set during the American Revolution. It can be fiction or non-fiction, any genre or length. Audiobooks also count. Tell us what you read, perhaps a brief summary, and what you thought of it.
I will have small, to be determined, prizes for all who complete the challenge.  |
Ginny #6994
February 2023 FGOTM |
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Blessed in Colorado
True Blue Farmgirl
5968 Posts
Debbie Fischer
Coos Bay
OR
5968 Posts |
Posted - May 15 2026 : 6:48:47 PM
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Okay, I would like to join the challenge. I am looking at 3 books and I will pick 1 of them to read. The first is 1776, The Campaign that Won America, The Story of Yorktown, and the last George Washington and The Secret Six. I will let you know which one I will read.
Thank you Ginny for the Challenge. |
Big Hugs,
Debbie
Farmgirl if the Month for:
September 2012, February 2018, September 2022 and August 2025.
“My altars are My Mountains and the Ocean.” Lord Bryon
When I am old I am wearing Purple. I am Old!!
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GinnyBelle
True Blue Farmgirl
286 Posts
Ginny
West Lafayette
IN
USA
286 Posts |
Posted - May 16 2026 : 06:16:19 AM
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| Thank you for accepting! Those all sound like good choices. I will be curious to see which one you choose! |
Ginny #6994
February 2023 FGOTM |
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nndairy
True Blue Farmgirl
2175 Posts
Heather
Wapakoneta
Ohio
USA
2175 Posts |
Posted - May 16 2026 : 09:44:55 AM
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| As soon as I get through the 3 books I have now I'll see what my library has to offer for the Revolution! |
~Heather
“I would rather be on my farm than be emperor of the world.” — George Washington |
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Bellepic
True Blue Farmgirl
749 Posts
Christine
Santa Ana
CA
USA
749 Posts |
Posted - May 17 2026 : 08:28:08 AM
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Fun concept! We can shift the TBR stacks around to make this happen.
Fallon-- Johnny Tremain. If that's too tricky, we've read a couple "Who Was..." biographies on founding fathers and will pick another.
Chris-- My dear Hamilton : a novel of Eliza Schuyler Hamilton
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Farmgirl#8680
www.steamstead.blogspot.com
Oct 2025 FGOTM |
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GinnyBelle
True Blue Farmgirl
286 Posts
Ginny
West Lafayette
IN
USA
286 Posts |
Posted - May 17 2026 : 08:58:32 AM
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Heather- Awesome! There are so many good options out there, so you are sure to find something! Haha!
Chris- Johnny Tremain is a marvelous choice! I hope it works out, as the story is still one of my favorites even as an adult! I will have to look up My Dear Hamilton, as I've not heard of that one.
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Ginny #6994
February 2023 FGOTM |
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Wanda Sue
True Blue Farmgirl
1951 Posts
Wanda
Murrells Inlet
SC
USA
1951 Posts |
Posted - May 17 2026 : 2:22:49 PM
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| Ginny I will join your challenge, now I need to check the library for a good book. |
A day hemmed in prayer is less likely to unravel.
Wanda Sue
Farm Girl #3677
Farmgirl of the Month-August 2022 |
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Blessed in Colorado
True Blue Farmgirl
5968 Posts
Debbie Fischer
Coos Bay
OR
5968 Posts |
Posted - May 17 2026 : 2:36:52 PM
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| Ginny, I chose to read George Washington’s Secret Six: The Spy Ring That Saved The American Revolution by Brian Kilmeade and Don Yaeger. It is real good so far, holds my interest and is a quick read. I am already learning things I did not know or remember. This is my first book I have ever read on the American Revolution. Out of the 3 I chose The George Washington book as he has always been my favorite President beside Abe Lincoln. I will keep you all posted on how it is as I get further into it. |
Big Hugs,
Debbie
Farmgirl if the Month for:
September 2012, February 2018, September 2022 and August 2025.
“My altars are My Mountains and the Ocean.” Lord Bryon
When I am old I am wearing Purple. I am Old!!
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debbieklann
True Blue Farmgirl
3442 Posts
Debbie
Madras
OR
USA
3442 Posts |
Posted - May 17 2026 : 5:29:17 PM
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| I am starting a trilogy by Celeste de Blasis, the first one is titled America’s Daughter. It’s historical fiction opening in 1773. I would really like to read America’s First Daughter, a novel about Thomas Jefferson’s daughter, Martha ( or Patsy, as she was called). |
Debbie Klann
Farmgirl Sister #770
2018 Farmgirl Sister of the Year
FGOTM January 2020 and March 2026
"Well behaved women seldom make history"...
Laurel Thatcher Ulrich |
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GinnyBelle
True Blue Farmgirl
286 Posts
Ginny
West Lafayette
IN
USA
286 Posts |
Posted - May 18 2026 : 08:36:44 AM
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Wanda- Thanks! I am looking forward to learning what hook you find!
Mama Debbie- That sounds like a neat book! I may have to check it out myself this year. I saw a show on Netflix about Washington's spies and it was really good. I would like to learn more.
Debbie- Shut the front door! I am reading the same books. Haha! I am halfway through the 2nd one right now. They are really good so far. I will warn, they get a bit spicy in parts. But the story is really good and covers a lot of territory. |
Ginny #6994
February 2023 FGOTM |
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debbieklann
True Blue Farmgirl
3442 Posts
Debbie
Madras
OR
USA
3442 Posts |
Posted - May 18 2026 : 09:25:51 AM
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| No way!!! So far I am enjoying it. I will close my eyes in the spicy parts :) |
Debbie Klann
Farmgirl Sister #770
2018 Farmgirl Sister of the Year
FGOTM January 2020 and March 2026
"Well behaved women seldom make history"...
Laurel Thatcher Ulrich |
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debbieklann
True Blue Farmgirl
3442 Posts
Debbie
Madras
OR
USA
3442 Posts |
Posted - May 26 2026 : 4:13:14 PM
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I just finished the last book in the triology today. It's been a long time since I had a book that I couldn't put down and these I couldn't put down!!! Although it was historical fiction, I love how the author created the story with real characters and facts and wove the family into the story. So, so good!!! It's hard to imagine all that our founding fathers and military went through to fight for freedom from England. It makes me even more appreciative 250 years later. It also made George Washington more real to me. Now I'm looking at the book that Debbie F is reading next.
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Debbie Klann
Farmgirl Sister #770
2018 Farmgirl Sister of the Year
FGOTM January 2020 and March 2026
"Well behaved women seldom make history"...
Laurel Thatcher Ulrich |
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GinnyBelle
True Blue Farmgirl
286 Posts
Ginny
West Lafayette
IN
USA
286 Posts |
Posted - May 27 2026 : 04:37:30 AM
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| Debbie, that is wonderful! I'm so glad you enjoyed them that much. I certainly felt that way about the first two. I haven't started the third one yet, as I wanted to draw it out more and also read the books Mama Debbie sent me. I'm definitely looking forward to starting the third book soon! |
Ginny #6994
February 2023 FGOTM |
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debbieklann
True Blue Farmgirl
3442 Posts
Debbie
Madras
OR
USA
3442 Posts |
Posted - May 27 2026 : 06:15:51 AM
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| I read the last one slower than the second because I wasn’t ready for the story to be over :). |
Debbie Klann
Farmgirl Sister #770
2018 Farmgirl Sister of the Year
FGOTM January 2020 and March 2026
"Well behaved women seldom make history"...
Laurel Thatcher Ulrich |
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Wanda Sue
True Blue Farmgirl
1951 Posts
Wanda
Murrells Inlet
SC
USA
1951 Posts |
Posted - May 27 2026 : 09:48:08 AM
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| Ginny I found the book I will be reading for the challenge. “The Lives of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence”, it is a reprint of an 1848 original. I borrowed from my daughter-in-law Victoria, and can’t wait to read about these brave men. |
A day hemmed in prayer is less likely to unravel.
Wanda Sue
Farm Girl #3677
Farmgirl of the Month-August 2022 |
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Bellepic
True Blue Farmgirl
749 Posts
Christine
Santa Ana
CA
USA
749 Posts |
Posted - May 28 2026 : 06:36:11 AM
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| I wonder how de Blasis compares to Dray and Kamoie. It seems that they are all writing historical fiction for the same time period, all with fetching dresses and attenuated heads on their strong woman protagonists on their covers... So far, I am finding the "spicy" bits of D&K's Dear Hamilton the most tedious part, but maybe their treatment of Patsy and peripheral view of TJ is more riveting. |
Farmgirl#8680
www.steamstead.blogspot.com
Oct 2025 FGOTM |
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LauraBell
True Blue Farmgirl
442 Posts
Laura
Corpus Christi
TX
USA
442 Posts |
Posted - May 29 2026 : 07:39:26 AM
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Oh my goodness - I want to jump in - just getting settled after having Caroline here for an unexpected visit. I'll start looking for a book (and checking out all of your recommendations).
Happy reading! |
Laura
Happy to be Farmgirl #7286 |
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Bellepic
True Blue Farmgirl
749 Posts
Christine
Santa Ana
CA
USA
749 Posts |
Posted - May 29 2026 : 10:49:37 AM
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I finished My Dear Hamilton. 3/5 stars for me. It made the time period come alive but the plot was repetitive and rambling. I hadn't appreciated just how much time elapsed between the Declaration of Independence, the start of Washington's first term (13 years later), and establishing DC as our nation's capital (24 years later!). I also hadn't appreciated how prevalent slave ownership was in the northern colonies. If I was still working on the Herstory badge series, I would immediately reach for a book like Sisters in Spirit: Haudenosaunee Influence on Early American Feminists based on the exchanges with the Iroquois/Six Nations Confederacy that Eliza Schuyler is influenced by as a girl.
One thing I thought was really fun to learn about and want to bring back to modern times is the idea of cockades. When I looked it up, these reminded me of the ribbons they give out at sporting events and contests, but 250 years ago, they also indicated political sympathies. American Revolutionaries sported black ones. The French Revolution adopted Red-White-Blue. As a rift formed between the founding fathers on whether they favored greater central control (Federalists) or greater state rights (Republicans) the Feds kept black and the Republicans adopted the rebellious French Red/White/Blue.
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Farmgirl#8680
www.steamstead.blogspot.com
Oct 2025 FGOTM |
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LauraBell
True Blue Farmgirl
442 Posts
Laura
Corpus Christi
TX
USA
442 Posts |
Posted - May 31 2026 : 6:05:50 PM
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Okay - I think I have picked A Founding Mother by Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie. I've put it on hold on Libby but will see if I can find a copy at my local library. I'll keep y'all posted.
Happy Reading! |
Laura
Happy to be Farmgirl #7286 |
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GinnyBelle
True Blue Farmgirl
286 Posts
Ginny
West Lafayette
IN
USA
286 Posts |
Posted - May 31 2026 : 6:25:56 PM
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Debbie- I don't blame you. I am really looking forward to starting it!
Wanda- Oh, wow! That sounds really neat. You will have to let me know if they mention anything about John Morton. I am loosely "related" to him through my grandmother's adopted family. I don't know anything about him, however, beyond that he signed and was, I think, from Pennsylvania.
Laura- I'll have to look in to that book too, perhaps! My TBR pile just keeps growing.
Christine- Thanks for the book rating! Also I am 100% with you on cockades. I do a bit of historical reenacting now and then and I am hard pressed to pass up a good cockade. I also love how various groups have used them throughout history. One of my favorites is the white cockades of the Scottish Jacobites and the marvelous tunes and songs they inspired.
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Ginny #6994
February 2023 FGOTM |
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Book Discussions: America 250 Reading Challenge |
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America 250 Reading Challenge
