A Stand for Independence

American Girl: Felicity #4-6

by Valerie Tripp

When Felicity overhears a plot against the colonists, no one believes her but Ben, her father's apprentice. So the two risk great danger to warn the colonists themselves. Soon afterward, Felicity finds a secret note from Ben. He has run away to join George Washington's army, and he is injured. Felicity is worried about him but knows it would be wrong to help a runaway apprentice. Then she is turned away from the door of her best friend, Elizabeth. Will the war for independence come between Felicity and her friends?

Genres: Historical Fiction, Middle Grade

165 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2017

About the author

Valerie Tripp is a children's book author, best known for her work with the American Girl series.

She grew up in Mount Kisco, New York with three sisters and one brother. A member of the first co-educated class at Yale University, Tripp also has a M.Ed. from Harvard. Since 1985 she has lived in Silver Spring, Maryland. Her husband teaches history at Montgomery College.

Right out of college, Tripp started writing songs, stories, and nonfiction for The Superkids Reading Program, working with Pleasant Rowland, the founder of American Girl. For that series, Tripp wrote all the books about Felicity, Josefina, Kit, Molly, and Maryellen and many of the books about Samantha. She also wrote the "Best Friends" character stories to date, plays, mysteries, and short stories about all her characters.. Film dramatizations of the lives of Samantha, Felicity, Molly, and Kit have been based on her stories. Currently, Tripp is writing a STEM series for National Geographic and adapting Greek Myths for Starry Forest Publishing. A frequent speaker at schools and libraries, Tripp has also spoken at the Library of Congress, the Smithsonian, The New York Historical Society, and Williamsburg.

Reviews

[Miranda Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

This review is for the 2017 Beforever relaunch of Felicity's story.

Now this book is the second in the Felicity duology and combines books 4, 5, and 6 into one novel (Happy Birthday, Felicity!, Felicity Saves the Day, and Changes for Felicity).

The nice thing about the relaunch is that it isn't abridged - the three books are reproduced in their entirety without cuts and at most a transition paragraph between the books.

However, if you are torn on whether to read this book or the originals, I would recommend the originals because they are just so much better.

The Beforever relaunch is printed on cheaper paper, cuts out all of the beautiful illustrations and really pars down the historical sections at the back of the book. It's a bummer that all the original 'sparkles' of the series get cut for this 3-books-in-1 format.

Also, this is admittingly a personal vendetta of mine, but I am disappointed that the company would choose to make the Merriman family slaveowners (specifically, Mr. and Mrs. Merriman own Marcus (who works in the shop) and Rose (the family cook)) but then not refer to the two black slaves as anything but 'servants'.

Before anyone gets their girdle in a twist, I completely understand that it would be historically accurate for the Merriman family to own slaves BUT I find it frustration that the company chose for this to be their backstory BUT THEN try to hide that backstory from the audience.

With the parred down historical section at the end of this book, any reference to owning slaves is left out and you have to read the companion cookbook and other stories to understand that Marcus and Rose are not really 'servants.'

I feel like there could have been a real discussion from Felicity's perspective as she learns what it means to fight for freedom from England compared to the hypocrisy of owning another human. Or the Beforever relaunch could have addressed that in the historical section to provide perspective for the audience.

But alas, we don't get that.

More Reviews in the Felicity-verse

Main Series:
Meet Felicity - ★★★★☆
Felicity Learns a Lesson - ★★★★★
Felicity's Surprise - ★★★★☆
Happy Birthday, Felicity - ★★★★☆
Felicity Saves the Day - ★★☆☆☆
Changes for Felicity - ★★☆☆☆
Felicity's Boxed Set - ★★★☆☆

Best Friend Book:
Very Funny, Elizabeth - ★★☆☆☆

Short Stories:
Felicity's Dancing Shoes - ★★★★☆
Felicity Takes a Dare - ★★★★☆
Felicity's New Sister - ★★☆☆☆
Felicity's Valentine - ★★★☆☆
Felicity Discovers a Secret - ★★★★☆
Felicity's Short Story Collection - ★★★☆☆

Mystery Books:
Peril at King's Creek - ★★★☆☆
Traitor in Williamsburg - ★★★☆☆
Lady Margaret's Ghost - ★★★★☆

Beforever (Re-Release of Main Series in 2017):
Love and Loyalty - ★★★☆☆
A Stand for Independence - ★★★☆☆

Felicity's Historical and Activity Books:
The Boston Tea Party (American Girl: Real Stories From My Time) - ★★★★☆
Felicity's Cookbook - ★★★★★
Felicity's Cooking Studio - ★★★★★
Felicity's Craft Book - ★★★★★
Felicity's Theater Kit - ★★★★☆
Introduction to Williamsburg - ★★★★★
Welcome to Felicity's World · 1904 - ★★★★★

Additional Historical and Activity Books Featuring Felicity:
American Girl Cross-Stitch - ★★☆☆☆
The American Girls Party Book - ★★★★★
An American Girl: How a Billion-Dollar Doll and It's Unlikely Founder Changed Girlhood Forever - ★★★★☆
American Girl Sweet & Savory Treats Cookbook - ★☆☆☆☆
Everything I Need to Know I Learned From American Girl - ★★★☆☆
The Making of American Girl - ★★★★★
Minute Mysteries - ★★★★☆
Minute Mysteries 2 - ★★★★☆
The Official American Girl Cookbook - ★★★★☆

Beginner Reader & Picture Books:
Happy Birthday! (Little Golden Book) - ★★★★☆
Happy Holidays! (Little Golden Book) - ★★★★★
Time for School! (Little Golden Book) - ★★★★☆

[Esther Shingler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mature themes of loyalty, loss and friendship. Still a wonderful read-a-loud for my 5, 6 and 8 year old daughters.

[Sheelie Kittee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely adore the American Girl books, how they do bring back such good memories!!

Felicity was one of my favourites, although I don't believe I had her as the doll - I had Kirsten and Samantha instead. Really inspiring story.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

As good as the first volume! Nice to see Felicity standing up for her family while still following her moral compass. I was disappointed in the lack of mention about slaves on her grandfather's plantation and the moral implications there. Hard to like Grandfather when we know he's a slave owner.

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.2

[Antonela LoRusso · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing book! Thank you Valerie! I loved how it ended with Elizabeth being the first of Felicity's customers. I hope to one day find a friend like Elizabeth.