I just became aware of the Dear America books, a series of historical fiction books, aimed at girls ages 8-13. Each book is written in the form of a diary of a young girl during a different era of US History. They also made some of the books into episodes that are available on Netflix. I am excited to read & watch some of these with my daughter as we study the coinciding time periods in Tapestry of Grace!
Following is a list of the episodes that are available on Netflix, along with a link to the actual book (some of which are even available on Kindle!),the week I plan to use it with Tapestry of Grace and a link to the discussion guide from scholastic. There are a lot more books available, but this is where we will start!
- 1620 (Y2, Wk 21) - A Journey to the New World: The Diary of Remember Patience Whipple, Mayflower, by Kathryn Lasky (discussion guide) (Teaching with Dear America)
- 1763 (Y2, Wk 29) - Standing in the Light: The Captive Diary of Catharine Carey Logan, Delaware Valley, Pennsylvania, by Mary Pope Osborne (discussion guide) (Teaching with Dear America)
- 1777 (Y2, Wk 31-32) - The Winter of Red Snow: The Revolutionary War Diary of Abigail Jane Stewart, Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, by Kristiana Gregory (discussion guide) (Teaching with Dear America)
- 1836 (Y3, Wk 12) - A Line in the Sand: The Alamo Diary of Lucinda Lawrence, Gonzales, Texas, by Sherry Garland (discussion guide) (Teaching with Dear America)
- 1847 - (Y3, Wk 13) So Far from Home: The Diary of Mary Driscoll, an Irish Mill Girl, Lowell, Massachusetts, by Barry Denenberg (discussion guide) (Teaching with Dear America)
- 1859 (Y3 Wk 21) - A Picture of Freedom: The Diary of Clotee, a Slave Girl, Belmont Plantation, Virginia, by Patricia McKissack (discussion guide) (Teaching with Dear America)
- 1864 (Y3 Wk 24) - When Will This Cruel War Be Over?: The Diary of Emma Simpson, Gordonsville, Virginia, by Barry Denenberg (discussion guide) (Teaching with Dear America)
- 1903 (Y4 Wk 1) - Dreams in the Golden Country: The Diary of Zipporah Feldman, a Jewish Immigrant Girl, New York City, by Kathryn Lasky (discussion guide) (Teaching with Dear America)
- 1919 - (Y4 Wk 7) Color Me Dark: The Diary of Nellie Lee Love, the Great Migration North, Chicago, Illinois, by Patricia McKissack (discussion guide) (Teaching with Dear America)
by Candy Malherbe