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Elizabeths from different eras share traits like klutziness and an inquisitiveness about the world around them.. Each Elizabeth has her challenge - the one from the present has some family ans abandonment issues while the Elizabeth from the past has the Revolutionary War disrupting her family. The alternating voices in the chapters works well in giving the girls worlds authenticity. The Battle of Fort Stanwix is described in an immediate an vivid manner. Solid historical fiction.
I enjoyed the story very much. The narration volleys between Elizabeth in modern day and Zee during the beginning of the American Revolution. Elizabeth meets and gets to know her mother's family. Zee sees the revolution up close. The story offers a glimpse of what it was like to live during the revolution, as well when war happened in your own backyard, literally! Today, war is so far away geographically.
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Recommended Ages: grades 4-7
While staying with her aunt, Elizabeth finds something remarkable: a drawing. It hangs on the wall, a portrait of her ancestor, Eliza, known as Zee. She looks like Elizabeth.
The girls’ lives intertwine as Elizabeth’s present-day story alternates with Zee’s, which takes place during the American Revolution. Zee is dreamy, and hopeful for the future—until the Revolution tears apart her family and her community in upstate New York. Left on her own, she struggles to survi ...more
While staying with her aunt, Elizabeth finds something remarkable: a drawing. It hangs on the wall, a portrait of her ancestor, Eliza, known as Zee. She looks like Elizabeth.
The girls’ lives intertwine as Elizabeth’s present-day story alternates with Zee’s, which takes place during the American Revolution. Zee is dreamy, and hopeful for the future—until the Revolution tears apart her family and her community in upstate New York. Left on her own, she struggles to survi ...more
Two stories, in alternating chapters, of girls separated by centuries in the same family. Elizabeth is the contemporary girl, and Zee is her ancestor who lived during the time of the Revolutionary War in upstate NY. Elizabeth discovers Zee for the first time when she is sent to live with her aunt Libby, sister of her mother, who died long before. Short, but an interesting read with sympathetic characters.
Would be easy to recommend this to a girl who likes to read historical fiction, esp. Revolutionary War era. Elizabeth & Zee are related--Elizabeth is modern-day, and Zee is her ancestor in the 18th c. Both are a bit absent-minded but are also storytellers, and each finds her way through difficult times. An entertaining read; I enjoy Giff's stories and her characters. Also made the war come alive with Zee's experiences.
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Elizabeth learns about her family history, about American history, and about her gift for interpreting history as STORY.
Great teachers (and great authors) remind us that history is the story of people throughout time.
When Elizabeth visits her deceased mother's sister, she finds a connection to a girl like herself through an old family drawing.
Zee, growing up during the tumultous days of the American Revolution, struggles to survive and overcome painful losses.
Told in alternating narration between Zee and Elizabeth, Storyteller weaves realistic and historical fiction elements into a unique family story. ...more
When Elizabeth visits her deceased mother's sister, she finds a connection to a girl like herself through an old family drawing.
Zee, growing up during the tumultous days of the American Revolution, struggles to survive and overcome painful losses.
Told in alternating narration between Zee and Elizabeth, Storyteller weaves realistic and historical fiction elements into a unique family story. ...more
Jul 11, 2010
Lisa Nagel
marked it as to-read
Oct 14, 2010
Phyllis Davis
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Nov 11, 2010
Erinn
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Dec 29, 2010
Jodi
marked it as to-read
Jan 23, 2011
The Reading Countess
marked it as to-read
