| Booktalk
#1
We have all heard about the
American Revolution. When we think of the stories, we probably think
of Concord, Boston and Philadelphia. We seldom read about how the
war affected the South. This story is set in South Carolina.
The Livingstone family wanted nothing to do with the war. They lived
in the mountains and felt they were well removed from the fighting.
When 14 year old Francis and his older sister are sent to help their grandmother,
they find the war catching up with them. A terrible battle occurs
in Camden and the British take up residence in Grandmother's house.
Francis and Kate escape back to the mountain only to find the war following
them. The war is not just about fighting the British. The war
also sees neighbor fighting neighbor. Francis tries his best to stay
out of the fighting. He knows he could never shoot another person.
But he finds that you don't always have control over your own fate.
Join Francis as he tries to understand the war and ends up participating
in a battle on King's Mountain.
Booktalk #2
The American
Revolution. We’ve all heard about it. Usually we think of Lexington and
Concord Philadelphia , Yorktown . But what about our own state? Did you
know that one of the most important battles of the war was fought in South
Carolina ? Some even say it was the turning point of the war for the Patriots.
The Battle of King’s Mountain. Imagine you’re a 14-year-old boy who thought
that the war was far away. Then imagine you’re sent to your grandmother
who lives in Camden and you’re caught in a battle with the British army.
What do you do? Then you return home to the mountains and find that the
war has followed you. Neighbor is fighting neighbor. You must make a choice.
What do you do?
Prepared
by: Becky James for The
South Carolina Children's Book Award nominees 2005
Booktalk
#3
“Is it hard, Pa?” I asked.
“What?”
“Shooting a man.”
“Most difficult thing there is.”
I would never have believed that I would be having this conversation with
my Pa. When I first got my Dickert rifle on my ninth birthday, I
could hardly bring myself to kill a deer. That deer haunted my drawings
for days afterwards. But here I am, Francis Hugh Livingstone
(fourteen) and about to fight in a battle on Kings Mountain.
I barely got to see Ma and my brothers before Pa and I had to head out.
I was in Camden for awhile. My sister Kate and I had to help my grandmother
run her tavern. British soldiers have taken over the town, and the
Tories, loyal to the king, terrorized the patriot farmers. It was
so hard being nice to them when I saw them stealing from innocent people.
I tried my best to stay out of things, but when they captured my cousin
George, I just had to help him. I just gave him some water, but they
came after me anyway.
When I finally made it home, I discovered the war had come to the mountains.
I had no choice. I have got to fight to keep my family safe.
What is going to happen? Will Pa and I be okay, or are we going to
end up like those soldiers around Camden- wounded or even worse dead?
To learn more about Francis’ near misses, his adventures, and whether or
not Francis and his Pa survived the American Revolution read Kings Mountain
by G. Clifton Wisler. Nominated for the 2004-2005 S.C. Children’s
Book Award. (Lucy Turner, lucyturn1@yahoo.com,
MLIS Intern, University of South Carolina)
Booktalk #4
I would never have believed that I would be having this conversation with
my Pa. When I first got my Dickert rifle on my ninth birthday, I
could hardly bring myself to kill a deer. That deer haunted my drawings
for days afterwards. But here I am, Francis Hugh Livingstone
(fourteen) and about to fight in a battle on Kings Mountain.
I barely got to see Ma and my brothers before Pa and I had to head out.
I was in Camden for awhile. My sister Kate and I had to help my grandmother
run her tavern. British soldiers have taken over the town, and the
Tories, loyal to the king, terrorized the patriot farmers. It was
so hard being nice to them when I saw them stealing from innocent people.
I tried my best to stay out of things, but when they captured my cousin
George, I just had to help him. I just gave him some water, but they
came after me anyway.
When I finally made it home, I discovered the war had come to the mountains.
I had no choice. I have got to fight to keep my family safe.
What is going to happen? Will Pa and I be okay, or are we going to
end up like those soldiers around Camden- wounded or even worse dead?
To learn more about Francis’ near misses, his adventures, and whether or
not Francis and his Pa survived the American Revolution read Kings Mountain
by G. Clifton Wisler. Nominated for the 2004-2005 S.C. Children’s
Book Award. (Lucy Turner, lucyturn1@yahoo.com,
Intern, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC) |
