historical fiction
Deborah Samson is a young girl in the 1760s when her mother,
who cannot afford to take care of her children, sends Deborah away to be an indentured servant. Eventually, she is sent to work for a
family with ten boys helping their mother with the housework. While there, she is able to practice her
reading and writing and grows close with the boys. She also maintains a strong
friendship with a pen pal. Alas, the
Revolutionary War is upon them and Deborah, with her adventurous spirit, a
changed set of circumstances, and the need to break free, decides to join the
war effort pretending to be a boy.
I’ve always enjoyed Amy Harmon’s novels and A Girl Called Samson was no exception. Deborah’s life jumped off the page from the
start and I was easily persuaded to root for her. She was kind, smart, curious, and able to do
anything to which she set her mind. Harmon described life in the 18th
century clearly and believably. Deborah wanted more for herself than the
societal limitations of her time. And when she found herself involved in
happily coincidental circumstances, her life became that much more interesting.
The second half of the novel was the exciting part and I
looked forward to every chance I had to read it. The ugly realities of war in
the 18th century were evident but, thankfully, this novel wasn’t
about the battles. It was about a brave, young woman and her choices and
relationships.
I didn’t realize until the Author’s Note at the end that
Deborah was a real person, as were many of those mentioned in this fictional
novel. How cool that Deborah actually existed and got away with her fake
identity, paving her own way! Sadly, the
central romantic relationship in this novel was entirely fabricated between two
real people but it was enjoyable nonetheless.
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