TIME ENOUGH FOR DRUMS

Between 1775 and 1781 Jemima Emerson grew from a rebellious child to a courageous young woman. Set in Trenton, NJ, during the American Revolution, her story tells how the war touched life around her. At 15, spirited and independent Jemima is eager to be involved in what is going on--too eager in the minds of her father and her tutor, John Reid. As war clouds gather, Jemima takes her place as a patriot with her family. Slowly Jemima learns just how deep the family's involvement is: her mother writes essays urging support for the Colonial cause, and her father will not sell anything British in his shop. But why are they so close to John Reid, a Tory? Jemima resents his firmness with her and even more his politics, but comes to realize two things: that John is a spy for the Colonies and that they love each other. Jemima's life is Filled with pain: her father is killed, her mother withdraws from the world, she worries about her brothers and John, and through it all she must manage the house and shop. But after much travail, all ends well; Jemima is ready to begin anew with John. A stirring book which brings history to life accurately. Rinaldi's enthusiasm for her subject is catching.