The Family Greene
Grade 7 Up—Rinaldi once again takes readers to a historical time and place where strong female protagonists convincingly navigate their circumstances. Beginning in 1764 with Catherine Littlefield's formative years and her courtship and marriage to Nathanael Greene, readers experience life in colonial America on the eve of the American Revolution. Then Caty's daughter Cornelia takes over the narration, describing her life with her family on a plantation in Georgia. The theme of conflict, be it of the political, moral, familial, or gender variety, runs through this novel, and readers primarily experience it through Cornelia's eyes. Her manipulative, blackmailing older sister has told her that Pa is not her father, that Anthony Wayne is, and throughout the story Cornelia tries to learn the truth. Her reactions to her often-tenuous home environment and the weight of wondering who her biological father is demonstrate the strength of her character. In contrast, Caty's character fails under the pressure of her circumstances. The relationships Cornelia has with her brother George and with General Anthony Wayne, two of the few likable characters in the novel, provide a respite from the tumult in her life and for readers. However, the ambiguous ending, even if expected, is likely to leave readers dissatisfied.—Hilary Writt, Sullivan University, Lexington, KYCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.