Published Book Review - Sybil Ludington: Revolutionary War Rider
From School Library Journal
Gr 4- 7: Once upon a midnight dreary, Sybil Ludington rode weak and weary. Hers is a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore, as she rode in darkness from house to house, rapping, rapping her maple branch upon each and every patriot's door. This is the often overlooked and true story of Ludington, brought to life in a work of historical fiction. When British troops are spied burning the homes and storehouses in the nearby town of Danbury, CT, Col. Henry Ludington dispatches his 16-year-old daughter Sybil to wake soldiers in the surrounding areas and bid them to rally toward her home and prepare for the battle ahead. Sybil's harrowing ride was twice the distance of Paul Revere's and would span nearly eight hours in the pouring rain. During that time, young women were never seen riding alone at night, forcing Sybil to defend herself against lecherous highwaymen and the suspicions of enemy soldiers. Abbott does a fine job in creating the 18th-century world of the American Revolution. History teachers will delight in the thorough descriptions of rebel espionage strategies and the images of their coded messages. VERDICT This will make a solid addition to library collections, as there is a dearth of materials regarding the brave acts of females and young people during the Revolutionary War
