The Fifth of March: A Story of the Boston Massacre

by Ann Rinaldi, Melissa Hughes (Narrated by)

Overview

Fourteen-year-old Rachel Marsh is nanny to John and Abigail Adams’ children and witnesses firsthand how tension builds in the feisty New England town in the two years before it erupts in the Boston Massacre. Friends become foes and families divide as British troops arrive in 1768 to force the outspoken Bostonians to toe the line and obey the British government.

But the idea of liberty and self-government has taken hold, and once considered, can not now be set aside. At the same time, Rachel begins to take stock of her own life and future, and learns that to live life to its fullest and with integrity, one must seek the truth for oneself and take a stand.

Ann Rinaldi, a master at making history come alive, creates a tense and front row seat for the listener as she uses the voice of young Rachel Marsh to underscore that American liberty was not easily won, but at great cost to those who would not let their dreams die.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	2000003475223
Publisher:	Audio Bookshelf,LLC
Publication date:	02/14/2005
Edition description:	Unabridged
Age Range:	12 - 18 Years

About the Author

ANN RINALDI is an award-winning author best known for bringing history vividly to life. A self-made writer and newspaper columnist for twenty-one years, Ms. Rinaldi attributes her interest in history to her son, who enlisted her to take part in historical reenactments up and down the East Coast. She lives with her husband in central New Jersey. Visit her online at www.annrinaldi.com.

Editorial Reviews

Several years ago Ann Rinaldi became my favorite historical fiction writer because of her devotion to exploring the depths of female emotion while viewing history through the quandaries obscured by time. In The Fifth of March, she writes about fourteen-year-old Rachel Marsh, John Adam's indentured servant in Boston in the 1770s. Rachel becomes friends with a British soldier and she's caught between loyalty to America and to friendship. Everything comes to a head on March 5th at the Boston Massacre when Rachel's friend shoots a Bostonian. She is torn apart by her loyalties to the Adams family, her burgeoning sense of Americanism, and her bonds of true friendship. The book is part of the "Great Episodes" series.

Children's Literature - Susie Wilde

Gr 6-9-Ann Rinaldi's award-winning novel (Harcourt, 1993) is reminiscent of Johnny Tremain. It features an orphaned bondservant, Rachel Marsh, who finds herself enmeshed in the furor that was pre-Revolutionary Boston prior to the Boston Massacre. Many historical personages are featured in the story-John, Abigail, and various other Adamses of Boston; Henry Knox; and soldier Matthew Kilroy. The tale melds history and fiction to give an excellent view of colonial Boston, its inhabitants, and the political and social attitudes that pervaded the city. Rachel discusses the role of women in society with Abigail Adams herself. The notion of colonial British-Americans discovering that they have become "plain Americans" and the philosophical changes that entailed is examined. Melissa Hughes gives an honest voice to narrator Rachel. Early, wistful readings tender an innocence that develops into confidence and assurance as the character grows in years, education, and confidence, lending believability to the narrative. The Adams' cook is referred to as a "nigra girl," which is historically accurate, but might be offensive to some. The story is sprinkled with mild oaths and finds Rachel chastely fending off the advances of soldier Matthew Kilroy. Rinaldi has scored a winner with this book, destined to be a classic, and Hughes ably provides a clear, crisp, and honest rendering.-Mike Brown, Bowie High School, MD Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

School Library Journal

"Carefully researched and lovingly written."—Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher