Sissy!

by Tom Mach

In 1857, Nellie, a slave girl, is rescued by the Underground Railroad. Five years later, Jessica Radford's parents, who had adopted the girl, are brutally murdered by a border ruffian and Nellie is kidnapped. How does Sissy, Nellie's angel, finally bring Jessica peace on the most brutal battlefield of the Civil War-Lawrence, Kansas?

345 pages, Paperback

First published November 30, 2003

About the author

Tom Mach wrote three successful historical novels, Sissy!, All Parts Together, and Angels at Sunset (his most recent work). In 2011 Sissy! and All Parts Together were listed by the Kansas State Library as worthy to be included among the 150 best Kansas books (which would include authors such as Truman Capote and Laura Ingalls Wilder). Sissy! won the J. Donald Coffin Memorial Book Award while All Parts Together was a Best Books Award Finalist. Angels at Sunset received 5-star reviews and was also a Finalist for the International Book Award. On March, 2012, the state of Kansas issued a proclamation honoring Mr. Mach for his help in recognizing the 100th anniversary of the 1912 passage of Kansas Suffrage by proclaiming 2012 in honor of his book and officially calling it the “Kansas Angels at Sunset Centennial.”

His poetry collection, The Uni Verse, won the Nelson Poetry Book Award, while Sissy! won the J. Donald Coffin Memorial Book Award. Mr. Mach has written numerous other books as well--including a collection of short stories entitled Stories to Enjoy.

Tom was a former copywriter, editor of two magazines, conducted writing workshops in Ohio, California, and Kansas, and taught writing at KU’s Continuing Education Program. In addition to numerous articles he has authored in national and regional publications, he was past president with the California Writers Club and the Kansas Authors Club. He won the Jack London Award in California and a Service Award with the Kansas Authors Club. He currently resides with his wife in Lawrence, Kansas—where he is also involved in volunteer work to help children with their writing skills.

His website is www.TomMach.com

Reviews

[Haley Whitehall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tom Mach's novel Sissy! is more than a Civil War novel. It's a story of how people looked inside themselves to get the courage and inspiration they needed to fight the evil surrounding them. I was touched by the relationships and connections between everyone in this book. The character development was so wonderful it made me think of a literary novel but with the Civil War battles and soldiers it works in mainstream historical fiction too.

The historical description was woven in well transporting me back to Bleeding Kansas and the Civil War. I cheered for the former slave who fought so courageously for their freedom. Each character had a distinctive voice and I loved how each chapter was written from one of their perspectives. This is very hard to do well. I've also read Book 2 of the Jessica Radford Trilogy and have been patiently waiting for the last book. I'm beginning to worry they are not going to publish it. The story needs to be told though.

[Diana Senn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written, finished in one evening could not put it down. The character's were build up well, easy to follow. History was well explored for both civil war and abolishing issues. Romance also built into story andtherights of women so there are a lot of issues being dealt with, but covered well

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good story about the slavery issues in the South. I enjoyed it, but it took me time to read it as I did it in such short segments.

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not bad. Has a lot of history of Kansas in it and the author is someone I know.