Ann Rinaldi

[aessea1001]

I started reading Rinaldi's novels when I was in junior high, and I've noticed that some of the later ones she's written haven't been as good as her earlier ones. For example: I loved "A Break With Charity" (written in the early '90s) but I wasn't as enthusiastic about "Girl In Blue" (2001). The ones I've enjoyed reading the most I've noticed by her are the books in the "Great Episodes" Series published by the Harcourt publishing company. I'm interested to know what does anyone else think about Rinaldi's books? Love 'em? Like 'em? Hate 'em?

[Kasthu]

It's been a while since I read a Rinaldi, but I loved A Break With Charity and The Fifth of March. She does a wonderful job of bringing historical episodes to life. I've heard that she's got a new one out that branches out from American history, to Elizabeth I.

[Forskande]

I read "The Second Bend in the River" and "Time Enough for Drums" by Ann Rinaldi.

I did NOT like River. At all. I loved drums though.

I wanted to read more by her but I'm really picky. I like my historical fiction to have two people in it that end up together at the end. Whether or not the romance is the main plot or not, it's gotta be there. As far as I know, Time Enough for Drums, River and Blue Girl are the only three she did that have a love story in them right? If she had more I'd read them in a heart beat.

[MrsMorland]

My favorite of hers is The Last Silk Dress, about the American Civil War. Loved it!

[Divia]

I read the Last Silk Dress many moons ago when I was young. I remember it vaguely. I just finished Juliet's Moon, which was OK. I wasn't thrilled with it, but it was a decent enough read. I am also reading the Red Headed Princess, which is about Elizabeth and I'm enjoying that.

[Vanessa]

Someone lent me their copy of Hang a Thousand Ribbons last year. I enjoyed it - it was an easy read (I think it's actually aimed at the young adult market).

[rebecca191]

I liked most of the books I've read by her. I don't think her books in the past couple of years have been as good though. Some of the stories have just been odd. Also practically every book she wrote in the past 3 years was about the Civil War, it seems she used to have more variety of settings. Both of her new books this year will be about the Civil War as well... bleh.

[Divia]

She wrote one about Elizabeth, but I dunno when that was published. I bought it for the lib and I thought it was recent. I'll have to double check.

I think in the back of the book she says that she does or her son does civil war reenactment, so maybe thats why she is gunned up on the CW. I dont mind. A lot of authors write in a specific genre (tudores etc.) Its just I didnt like the book I read of her.

[rebecca191]

Well I guess for me why I started liking her less was she used to write a variety of settings (early 1800s, late 1800s, the frontier, Colonial America, Revolutionary War, and yes the Civil War) but now basically everything is Civil War or the events leading up to it. If she had started out that way it wouldn't have been such a change that annoyed me I guess. I loved the variety of settings she used to write but now it just seems like she's stretching to find yet another Civil War event to write about.

[boswellbaxter]

I just finished Nine Days a Queen, about Lady Jane Grey. I thought it was well written, but it contained some weird historical errors--not huge but annoying to anyone who's researched the period in depth. I thought she did a good job of making Jane an appealing character.