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Spitfire: A North Country Adventure
Book by Kate Messner
144 pages, Paperback
First published September 14, 2007
1 person is currently reading
75 people want to read
About the author
Kate Messner
124 books1,668 followersKate Messner is an award-winning author, TED 2012 speaker, and former middle school English teacher. Her books for kids include THE BRILLIANT FALL OF GIANNA Z.,SUGAR AND ICE, and EYE OF THE STORM (Walker/Bloomsbury Dec. 2010) the MARTY MCGUIRE series (Scholastic), SEA MONSTER'S FIRST DAY, and OVER AND UNDER THE SNOW (Chronicle, Books). Kate also wrote SPITFIRE and CHAMPLAIN AND THE SILENT ONE, both Lake Champlain historical novels published by North Country Books.
Kate lives with her family on Lake Champlain, where she loves to read, write, hike, swing on birch trees, and eat chocolate. She also hangs out in various places online.
Visit Kate's website: http://www.katemessner.com
Find Kate on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/KateMessner
...or follow her on Twitter - @katemessner
Kate lives with her family on Lake Champlain, where she loves to read, write, hike, swing on birch trees, and eat chocolate. She also hangs out in various places online.
Visit Kate's website: http://www.katemessner.com
Find Kate on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/KateMessner
...or follow her on Twitter - @katemessner
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
November 28, 2018
Serendipity.
At a librarian's award banquet, Messner was a speaker. She spoke about her most recent MG novel about the prison break at Dannemora with an emphasis on the exciting research she did to write an authentic story. I hadn't read anything she's written, and I loved her just based on this one "author talk." When I went to purchase that book, Breakout, she saw my school district printed on my nametag, and her eyes lit up. She said that she had spent some time in my village, in the basement of our public library, researching for a book she had written, Spitfire. No, she didn't have a copy available. I am the only school librarian in our little village, working in the middle school no less, and hadn't heard of a book for middle school students written as a result of research conducted in the basement of the public library across the street, a book that has our village as a supporting role. How is this possible? I'm so glad I met her, so lucky that I was wearing that name tag.
I've finally acquired a copy for our library, because if any library is going to carry this book, it should be ours! And it's really good! My enjoyment of the story was enhanced by the fact that I already knew about this battle from the book The Notorious Benedict Arnold: A True Story of Adventure, Heroism & Treachery. I already had enthusiasm for this topic because of that book, and I knew exactly how exciting and ugly things were about to get as soon as I recognized the setting. The story is sweet, powerful, graphic (amputations, boats with decks sopping wet with blood, but I didn't get sick), and really just PERFECT for all middle school students in my village. I think it will appeal to both boys and girls, and those with and without Revolutionary War knowledge. This book is a gem for my school community.
Coming of age, research process (author's note), local history, Rev. War.
At a librarian's award banquet, Messner was a speaker. She spoke about her most recent MG novel about the prison break at Dannemora with an emphasis on the exciting research she did to write an authentic story. I hadn't read anything she's written, and I loved her just based on this one "author talk." When I went to purchase that book, Breakout, she saw my school district printed on my nametag, and her eyes lit up. She said that she had spent some time in my village, in the basement of our public library, researching for a book she had written, Spitfire. No, she didn't have a copy available. I am the only school librarian in our little village, working in the middle school no less, and hadn't heard of a book for middle school students written as a result of research conducted in the basement of the public library across the street, a book that has our village as a supporting role. How is this possible? I'm so glad I met her, so lucky that I was wearing that name tag.
I've finally acquired a copy for our library, because if any library is going to carry this book, it should be ours! And it's really good! My enjoyment of the story was enhanced by the fact that I already knew about this battle from the book The Notorious Benedict Arnold: A True Story of Adventure, Heroism & Treachery. I already had enthusiasm for this topic because of that book, and I knew exactly how exciting and ugly things were about to get as soon as I recognized the setting. The story is sweet, powerful, graphic (amputations, boats with decks sopping wet with blood, but I didn't get sick), and really just PERFECT for all middle school students in my village. I think it will appeal to both boys and girls, and those with and without Revolutionary War knowledge. This book is a gem for my school community.
Coming of age, research process (author's note), local history, Rev. War.
February 6, 2008
Spitfire has great voice, two great voices actually. Abigail (known as Adam) disguises herself as a boy to fight against the British in 1776. During her adventures, she finds friendship in Pascal.
We follow these two young fighters through their battles on the ship, the Spitfire.
I found it a little bit confusing jumping from one character to the other, since they alternate chapters in first person. Despite this, the story is well-written and the characters are enjoyable.
It is a quick, easy read. Excellent for young people learning about history.
The way the story is told, it is easy for the reader to put themselves into the battle scenes and imagine life as a young soldier on the Spitfire.
We follow these two young fighters through their battles on the ship, the Spitfire.
I found it a little bit confusing jumping from one character to the other, since they alternate chapters in first person. Despite this, the story is well-written and the characters are enjoyable.
It is a quick, easy read. Excellent for young people learning about history.
The way the story is told, it is easy for the reader to put themselves into the battle scenes and imagine life as a young soldier on the Spitfire.
January 14, 2019
The book Spitfire by Kate Massner was a very interesting book that ties you in to the text. In the book there is a girl named Abigail, Abigail was in a small armed boat for the Continental Navy on Lake Champlain. Abigail was only an orphan and had lost both her father and her brother to smallpox after the Battle of Quebec. She had previously lost her mother as well. Abigail runs away from the home and she has been trying to find her Uncle Jeb. Abigail wants to serve just like her father and older brother but she is a girl and cant. Abigail cuts off some of her hair and tries to attempt to pass herself off as a boy and join the military. Abigail Is accepted and is now known as Adam. Adam becomes friends with a sailor named Pascal de Angelis, and together they perform duties together and become friends.
I picked this book because I thought it would be an interesting look into the past and what life would have been like back then. My experience reading this book was good and made me keep reading this book. The reason this book was so interesting is because they were so young and different from what we know.
The book Spitfire by Kate Massner was a very interesting and is different because we cant relate to this book because it is so different from what we know today
I picked this book because I thought it would be an interesting look into the past and what life would have been like back then. My experience reading this book was good and made me keep reading this book. The reason this book was so interesting is because they were so young and different from what we know.
The book Spitfire by Kate Massner was a very interesting and is different because we cant relate to this book because it is so different from what we know today
February 16, 2020
I liked this book because this book relates to The Notorious Benedict Arnold. the Main characters are Abigale Smith and Pascal De Angelis. Abigale disguises herself as a man to find her uncle. In the Notorious Benedict Arnold, Arnold didn't care that he had a woman fighting on the march.
March 21, 2012
This work of historical fiction is written in alternating chapters from the perspectives of Pascal DeAngelis and Abigail (Adam) Smith, a couple of 12 year olds on board the Spitfire, a small armed boat for the Continental Navy on Lake Champlain. Abigail (Adam) is an orphan, having lost both her father and older brother to smallpox after the Battle of Quebec in the winter of 1775-76. Previously she had also lost her mother, although I don't recall there being anything in the story which tells us exactly how or when she died. Abigail runs away from the home she has been staying in to find her Uncle Jeb who, as her father and brother had done, is serving under the command of General Benedict Arnold. Knowing that she will never be able to serve, and thus find her uncle, as a female, she cuts off a lot of her hair, puts on her brothers clothes and attempts to pass herself off as a boy. How does she fair? Will she be found out? If so, what happens next? You'll have to read the book to find out.
I bought this book in the summer of 2011 while visiting the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum in Vermont. Having only a short time prior to my attending a summer workshop for teachers at Fort Ticonderoga, learned about the Battle of Valcour Island which this story is about, I was thrilled to pick up this book to give my students an opportunity to read about the battle in an enjoyable, interesting way. Although the story itself is more about the friendship that develops between Abigail (Adam) and Pascal, there is enough battle in the book to interest those who are itching for a good "war" story. Adding to the enjoyment of the book is the continual question of whether or not Abigail will be found out and how people will react if this does happen.
This book will likely appeal to both boys and girls alike. There is enough battle action in it to pique the boys' interest. At the same time, Abigail, posing as Adam, is such a strong female character that I believe the girls will be interested in her story, rooting for her right through to the end. It's not essential that the reader be familiar with the Battle of Valcour Island, but having a little bit of understanding of those events will certainly make the book even more enjoyable to read. At only 125 pages, this book is a quick read, easily completed in not more than 2-3 days. The author's notes which follow the story are also worth reading as they give you a bit of insight into what parts of the story are fiction and which are true.
I bought this book in the summer of 2011 while visiting the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum in Vermont. Having only a short time prior to my attending a summer workshop for teachers at Fort Ticonderoga, learned about the Battle of Valcour Island which this story is about, I was thrilled to pick up this book to give my students an opportunity to read about the battle in an enjoyable, interesting way. Although the story itself is more about the friendship that develops between Abigail (Adam) and Pascal, there is enough battle in the book to interest those who are itching for a good "war" story. Adding to the enjoyment of the book is the continual question of whether or not Abigail will be found out and how people will react if this does happen.
This book will likely appeal to both boys and girls alike. There is enough battle action in it to pique the boys' interest. At the same time, Abigail, posing as Adam, is such a strong female character that I believe the girls will be interested in her story, rooting for her right through to the end. It's not essential that the reader be familiar with the Battle of Valcour Island, but having a little bit of understanding of those events will certainly make the book even more enjoyable to read. At only 125 pages, this book is a quick read, easily completed in not more than 2-3 days. The author's notes which follow the story are also worth reading as they give you a bit of insight into what parts of the story are fiction and which are true.
November 17, 2012
Reviewed by Julie M. Prince for TeensReadToo.com
A spirited girl who wants to do more than sit idly by during the Revolutionary War, Abigail Smith takes action. Determined to find her only living relative, Abigail cuts her long hair, sheds the frilly dresses she's been forced to wear, and puts on her brother's britches.
Thus disguised, she presents herself to General Benedict Arnold and takes her place as a sailor aboard the Spitfire, a battleship in an American Fleet facing off against the British.
Abigail, now known as "Adam," befriends another young sailor, Pascal de Angelis, and together they perform duties and follow whatever orders are assigned to them.
A fascinating look at life aboard a revolutionary battleship, this book portrays wartime life in 1776, even things that would make grown ups gasp. Consequently, kids are sure to love it.
This is a great story, accompanied by maps and drawings by Martha Gully and cover art by Gail Smith Schirmer.
A spirited girl who wants to do more than sit idly by during the Revolutionary War, Abigail Smith takes action. Determined to find her only living relative, Abigail cuts her long hair, sheds the frilly dresses she's been forced to wear, and puts on her brother's britches.
Thus disguised, she presents herself to General Benedict Arnold and takes her place as a sailor aboard the Spitfire, a battleship in an American Fleet facing off against the British.
Abigail, now known as "Adam," befriends another young sailor, Pascal de Angelis, and together they perform duties and follow whatever orders are assigned to them.
A fascinating look at life aboard a revolutionary battleship, this book portrays wartime life in 1776, even things that would make grown ups gasp. Consequently, kids are sure to love it.
This is a great story, accompanied by maps and drawings by Martha Gully and cover art by Gail Smith Schirmer.
February 21, 2009
I learned a lot about the battle of Plattsburgh from this book. It is about Abigail Smith who dresses as a boy so that she can fight and try to find her Uncle Zeb and only living relative. she makes very good friends with a boy her age named Pascal who knows her only as "Adam"
February 11, 2009
A very insightful young reader's book. The story is well paced with great characterization. I would recommend it to any young reader who wishes to be lost in history.
July 25, 2009
Really good! I just wished it had ended differently. . .=[
October 17, 2009
Historical fiction for teens.
September 30, 2010
exciting book written by our own teacher!!
August 26, 2012
A good book for young readers and for anyone who has a love for history.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews