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Hearts of Iron
Jesse is a dreamer.
At fourteen he's already thinking about his future, and the excitement of Navy life is calling him.
Lucy is just the opposite.
She can't imagine ever leaving her beloved mountainside community or saying good-bye to those she cares about.
But despite their desires, these two best friends know that their futures have been decided for them. The year is 1820, and Jesse's parents expect him to continue in the family tradition of working at the forge on the mountain, while Lucy's father expects her to marry someone outside their community and find a better, more sophisticated life somewhere else. So what happens when family expectations clash with what's in a teenager's heart? Is it possible to find a balance between one's destiny and one's dreams -- or must these two friends risk everything to create their own path to happiness?
Hearts of Iron is a moving novel about family, friendship, the power of love, and the few precious opportunities we're given to set the course of our life.
At fourteen he's already thinking about his future, and the excitement of Navy life is calling him.
Lucy is just the opposite.
She can't imagine ever leaving her beloved mountainside community or saying good-bye to those she cares about.
But despite their desires, these two best friends know that their futures have been decided for them. The year is 1820, and Jesse's parents expect him to continue in the family tradition of working at the forge on the mountain, while Lucy's father expects her to marry someone outside their community and find a better, more sophisticated life somewhere else. So what happens when family expectations clash with what's in a teenager's heart? Is it possible to find a balance between one's destiny and one's dreams -- or must these two friends risk everything to create their own path to happiness?
Hearts of Iron is a moving novel about family, friendship, the power of love, and the few precious opportunities we're given to set the course of our life.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published October 24, 2006
92 people want to read
About the author
Kathleen Benner Duble
13 books56 followersKathleen Benner Duble had sixteen car accidents before she was twenty-one. Being an at-home writer keeps her from hitting the road (or anyone else)! She is the author of eight books for children. Kathleen loves digging for unique historical fiction plotlines and encouraging students and lovers of books to look for great stories right in their own backyard!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
January 7, 2018
”’Everything is all wrong. You have to stay when all you want is to leave, and I have to leave when all I want to do is stay.’”
Sometimes the quietest, slowest stories about the seemingly most simple things are the ones that tug at your heartstrings the most. And this meditative, bittersweet tale of growing up fits that mark perfectly.
Even though Lucy wasn’t born there, she’s felt at home in her little mountain community. The wide open spaces, the closeness of the townsfolk, and the freedom to do as she pleases fill her with peace, and she can’t ever imagine leaving her beloved home.
First of all, don’t let the hideous cover deter you. I don’t know who did the cover design, but they need a talk, because it’s absolutely atrocious. But the premise sounded so good that I decided to give it a whirl despite the horribleness that is the cover. And what goodness waited inside. This coming of age tale is both hopeful and bittersweet, much like the main characters. I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart for tales set in the small, wild towns with acres of forests and individuals who live simply. This book fit all those soft spots and more. I didn’t think it would make that much of an impact on me as a reader, but I was pleasantly surprised with what this book had to offer.
The friendship between Lucy and Jesse was heartwarming and simultaneously heartbreaking to read about. They’re completely devoted to one another despite meeting later in childhood. Lucy may have been a city girl before, but as soon as she moves to the small town and meets Jesse, she becomes a country girl through and through. Kindred spirits at heart.
I will note that one thing that will deter a lot of readers from this book is the fact that one of the main plot points and driving forces of this book is a love triangle. Yeah, yeah, I hate them too. But this one perfectly captured the adolescent fascination and confusion over first love, the familiar and the newness of it all.
While this book wasn’t fast paced or action packed as most YA books are today, it perfectly captured the intense and often terrifying feelings of growing up and discovering who you are and what you want to be.
Sometimes the quietest, slowest stories about the seemingly most simple things are the ones that tug at your heartstrings the most. And this meditative, bittersweet tale of growing up fits that mark perfectly.
Even though Lucy wasn’t born there, she’s felt at home in her little mountain community. The wide open spaces, the closeness of the townsfolk, and the freedom to do as she pleases fill her with peace, and she can’t ever imagine leaving her beloved home.
”Lucy looked out at the stillness of the water and the mountains that rose beyond it. She loved this lake. She loved these mountains. She loved her life.”Her best friend Jesse is another story. He wants nothing more than to run away and join the Navy. He feels isolated by both his community and his father, who wants him to follow into the family tradition of working in the iron ore deep in the heart of the mountains. And where Jesse wants to leave, Lucy wants to stay. However, her father expects her to leave the mountain and marry someone above their social station to gain a better life for her. And finding a way to compromise is becoming very hard for them, especially with their growing feelings towards each other. But when the arrival of a potential suitor for Lucy comes, their dreams and hopes will be tested like never before.
First of all, don’t let the hideous cover deter you. I don’t know who did the cover design, but they need a talk, because it’s absolutely atrocious. But the premise sounded so good that I decided to give it a whirl despite the horribleness that is the cover. And what goodness waited inside. This coming of age tale is both hopeful and bittersweet, much like the main characters. I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart for tales set in the small, wild towns with acres of forests and individuals who live simply. This book fit all those soft spots and more. I didn’t think it would make that much of an impact on me as a reader, but I was pleasantly surprised with what this book had to offer.
The friendship between Lucy and Jesse was heartwarming and simultaneously heartbreaking to read about. They’re completely devoted to one another despite meeting later in childhood. Lucy may have been a city girl before, but as soon as she moves to the small town and meets Jesse, she becomes a country girl through and through. Kindred spirits at heart.
”They liked each other the minute they’d seen each other, both dirty and bruised frim playing too hard. She’d followed him into all kinds of trouble that day, and had continued to every day from them on. It was always Jesse and Lucy- a team. They were best pals. Always would be.”And yet despite their class differences, they’re remarkably similar in personality. Both of them want the complete opposite of what their parents want them too. Lucy, extremely headstrong and determined, wants to live in the wild mountains forever with her father, despite his best efforts to raise her as a proper young lady and marry a nice city boy. You can tell through her fierce narration that this is where she belongs, and despite her short time there, makes her mark on the mountain that can’t be erased.
”’You ain’t gonna marry Samuel Lernley. You just can’t.’Jesse is the exact opposite of Lucy, and the author does a good job highlighting those differences. He’s wild and much more bitter towards his hometown than Lucy is, and his strained relationship with his father only serves to highlight those differences. Desperate to run off with the Navy and escape, the only thing holding him back is Lucy, who doesn’t want him to go. And as the story progresses, you can see that he might not want to either.
‘Why?’
‘Cause this mountain wouldn’t be the same with you gone, Lucy Pettee.’”
I will note that one thing that will deter a lot of readers from this book is the fact that one of the main plot points and driving forces of this book is a love triangle. Yeah, yeah, I hate them too. But this one perfectly captured the adolescent fascination and confusion over first love, the familiar and the newness of it all.
”He wasn’t Jesse. It wasn’t always comfortable with him. He wasn’t like an old shoe, worn and familiar, but he made her feel something different. The feeling was a strange one, kind of wild and scary, frightening but exhilarating.”Readers may have strong feelings to who she ends up with, especially with the ending. Personally,
While this book wasn’t fast paced or action packed as most YA books are today, it perfectly captured the intense and often terrifying feelings of growing up and discovering who you are and what you want to be.
October 29, 2013
in the book there are two main characters named Jesse and Lucy.
Jesse is a dreamer,a thinker,already thinking about his future and joining the navy.Lucy she is the complete opposite she cant picture her life away from the mountainside community where they live,or cant imagine saying goodbye to the ones she loves and the ones who care about her but forget there diffrences the two bestfriends already know there future isnt what they want.The year was 1820,Jesse who wanted to be in the navy his parents expected him to keep the family tradition and stay workining in the mountains at the forge.while on the other hand lucys parents father wanted her to marry someone outside of the mountains so she could have a better lie,to find someone one with money who could support her so she could have a more mature life.Somewhere besids the mountains.So what do you think wpuld happen when your life is already planned and you wanna change yours,and when all your parents plans collide?Do you think its possible to balance out destiney and your dream?
or do you think they will risk their destiney and friendship just for happiness? read this book to find out.
Jesse is a dreamer,a thinker,already thinking about his future and joining the navy.Lucy she is the complete opposite she cant picture her life away from the mountainside community where they live,or cant imagine saying goodbye to the ones she loves and the ones who care about her but forget there diffrences the two bestfriends already know there future isnt what they want.The year was 1820,Jesse who wanted to be in the navy his parents expected him to keep the family tradition and stay workining in the mountains at the forge.while on the other hand lucys parents father wanted her to marry someone outside of the mountains so she could have a better lie,to find someone one with money who could support her so she could have a more mature life.Somewhere besids the mountains.So what do you think wpuld happen when your life is already planned and you wanna change yours,and when all your parents plans collide?Do you think its possible to balance out destiney and your dream?
or do you think they will risk their destiney and friendship just for happiness? read this book to find out.
April 29, 2022
This young adult novel was interesting for its plot and historical background. I liked the setting of the mountain and the iron-forging community. Like with all historical fiction, I felt like I learned about a different way of life while also enjoying a story.
August 11, 2017
I adore, adore this book! It's a great book and I recommend for anyone to read regardless of age. The story is about Lucy and Jesse and how their relationship jumps from one feeling into another feeling that it turns into a great frenzy. Call me naive, but I still believe that true love can conquer all although I'm saying this in regard of the relationship between Jesse and Lucy. Jesse did love Lucy, but not as much as he love his freedom, his adventures, or himself... I suppose his real love was an idea and that for some reason frightens me because who would of guessed that real love can be just a thought and not an actual person. Perhaps I am naive.
Another part of the book that triggered uncomfortableness was when Samuel and Lucy found each other truths and that truth would intertwined their lives forever. Their love was not real; how can it be so? Their burden and their discomfort is what will forever connect them and their lives won't ever know what real comfort is. I don't know why, but this saddens me deeply. I love the story and the characters, but this sentiments of realization is what troubles me. I indeed wanted each character to have a real happy ending. Each character. Lucy and Samuel are forever troubled in heart and they only have each other to comfort each other. This makes me so sad.
Yet I'm here thinking of the "what ifs?". What if Jesse really loved Lucy just a little bit as much as his adventure would he bring Lucy? What if Lucy did love him enough as she thought then why didn't she went with him? Is the discomfort too great that only with something tragic happens could make Lucy leave her mountainside? And so much more...
But overall I give this book 5 stars because it's darn good! It's a simple read with complex thoughts.
Another part of the book that triggered uncomfortableness was when Samuel and Lucy found each other truths and that truth would intertwined their lives forever. Their love was not real; how can it be so? Their burden and their discomfort is what will forever connect them and their lives won't ever know what real comfort is. I don't know why, but this saddens me deeply. I love the story and the characters, but this sentiments of realization is what troubles me. I indeed wanted each character to have a real happy ending. Each character. Lucy and Samuel are forever troubled in heart and they only have each other to comfort each other. This makes me so sad.
Yet I'm here thinking of the "what ifs?". What if Jesse really loved Lucy just a little bit as much as his adventure would he bring Lucy? What if Lucy did love him enough as she thought then why didn't she went with him? Is the discomfort too great that only with something tragic happens could make Lucy leave her mountainside? And so much more...
But overall I give this book 5 stars because it's darn good! It's a simple read with complex thoughts.
September 23, 2013
When my friend recommended this book to me, I was dubious. I mean, she practically shoved it into my hands and forced me to read it. So I started reading it, just to get her off my back. It wasn't long before I got hooked. I brought it home with me and when I was finished reading it, I set it down on my desk. Later that night, I was surprised to find that my sister had taken the book and was engrossed. This was the first time I ever saw her interested in a book as she's not the bookworm type. She liked the book more than I did, I guess because it was written more for kids her age, but I also really enjoyed the book. It was sweet but not perfect. The ending was a little sad but if it had happened any other way, I wouldn't have enjoyed the book as much as I did.
July 1, 2008
I love historical fiction and am not above a YA read, but this one left a little to be desired. The characters make dumb decisions, but worse than that you don't care enough about them to worry about it. It seems like the author vacationed on the mountain that is the setting for this book, and her priority was praising her vacation spot instead of fully developing her story.
July 2, 2009
some parts of this book were rather boring, and too....step by step. Like, saying every detail on what she was doing. But the story is beautiful, and the ending is a thrill.
August 7, 2019
One of my favorite books! This book has a great feel to it and you immediately feel like you're in the middle of their little community in the mountains. Works great as a read-aloud. Beautifully descriptive and the characters are all relatable.
May 3, 2018
Riveting.
June 21, 2023
This book was a bit....unmemorable? Nothing about it jumped out as really good. Just OK.
April 15, 2016
I literally could not put this book down. I read it in one day :)
The author did a great job of developing the characters and really making you feeling their emotions. They were very relatable. She sort of made you want to "root" for certain characters. You want them to overcome their difficulties!!! (I cried a few times, especially during the Lucy/Jessie episodes)
It was very descriptive. The whole time it was like there was a movie playing along with the book.
The historical aspect was very interesting as well.
Basically, this was a wonderful with the exception of the ending (which is why I did not give it five stars)
SPOILER ALERT!!!
Like I said, Duble really made you feel the emotions of the characters. Instead of marrying Steven, I wanted Lucy to go with Jessie. I had a hard time finishing the book after Jessie left. He and Lucy were so perfect! Lucy and Steven... not so much.
However, I think that was part of the historical aspect; girls in the nineteenth century couldn't marry whomever they pleased. Like the jacket said, "sometimes love isn't about what's right for you". And Duble showed Lucy's strength letting Jessie go, which made the reader very sympathetic. It was one of those satisfying-in-an-unsatisfying-way things.
All in all, not how I would have ended it, but a great book nevertheless. I definitely reccomend reading it especially if you are a teen girl who likes historical romance (it has a similar feel to When Calls the Heart or Little House series).
The author did a great job of developing the characters and really making you feeling their emotions. They were very relatable. She sort of made you want to "root" for certain characters. You want them to overcome their difficulties!!! (I cried a few times, especially during the Lucy/Jessie episodes)
It was very descriptive. The whole time it was like there was a movie playing along with the book.
The historical aspect was very interesting as well.
Basically, this was a wonderful with the exception of the ending (which is why I did not give it five stars)
SPOILER ALERT!!!
Like I said, Duble really made you feel the emotions of the characters. Instead of marrying Steven, I wanted Lucy to go with Jessie. I had a hard time finishing the book after Jessie left. He and Lucy were so perfect! Lucy and Steven... not so much.
However, I think that was part of the historical aspect; girls in the nineteenth century couldn't marry whomever they pleased. Like the jacket said, "sometimes love isn't about what's right for you". And Duble showed Lucy's strength letting Jessie go, which made the reader very sympathetic. It was one of those satisfying-in-an-unsatisfying-way things.
All in all, not how I would have ended it, but a great book nevertheless. I definitely reccomend reading it especially if you are a teen girl who likes historical romance (it has a similar feel to When Calls the Heart or Little House series).
October 28, 2016
I picked up this book hesitantly, as someone who strongly dislikes romances--but I love historical fiction and have read one of Duble's books before, so I took a chance on this one. I'm glad I did! Easy to read and fast-paced, this book gives a picture of life "on the mountain" without imposing modern views on the characters and shows that growing up means abandoning selfishness and learning to navigate the world for what it is.
I don't want to say more for risk of spoiling the story, but I will say that this is a love story that feels real, with an ending that feels happy but not forced or fake. Best of all, there are no bad guys. Lucy's father, for example, might have been cartoonishly portrayed by a less capable author. Instead, he's shown as protective and caring, not serving only as an obstacle to Lucy's love for Jesse but an actual character.
Okay, this is sounding like a really negative positive review. It's a book that busts genre conventions to be an enjoyable read!
I don't want to say more for risk of spoiling the story, but I will say that this is a love story that feels real, with an ending that feels happy but not forced or fake. Best of all, there are no bad guys. Lucy's father, for example, might have been cartoonishly portrayed by a less capable author. Instead, he's shown as protective and caring, not serving only as an obstacle to Lucy's love for Jesse but an actual character.
Okay, this is sounding like a really negative positive review. It's a book that busts genre conventions to be an enjoyable read!
September 29, 2009
Hearts of Ironby Kathleen Benner Duble is a comming of age story that takes place in Connecticut in 1820. Jesse and Lucy have always been best friends but now it's time for them to take on adult roles.
Jesse's father expects him to join the rest of the men in the village working in the furnace and forges, a dangerous and unpleasant place to work.
Lucy's father expects her to get married.
The setting and the characters are interesting but I found the story to be rather bland. I wanted the characters to show more passion. They seemed to just let life happen to them in a passive way.
Jesse's father expects him to join the rest of the men in the village working in the furnace and forges, a dangerous and unpleasant place to work.
Lucy's father expects her to get married.
The setting and the characters are interesting but I found the story to be rather bland. I wanted the characters to show more passion. They seemed to just let life happen to them in a passive way.
August 31, 2013
This is an historical coming of age story which highlights the small window of time during which life revolved around the iron forge on Mt. Riga in Connecticut. Even though the author keeps the romance gentle, she allows some of the harsher realities of life in the 1840s, as well as the difficulty of making life choices, to be evident...and draws in the reader emotionally...not necessarily easy to do in such a quick read.
It was highly recommended to me by a student who read it at least twice in one school year and expressed to me that it made a huge impression on her. Thank you, Ms. Duble!
It was highly recommended to me by a student who read it at least twice in one school year and expressed to me that it made a huge impression on her. Thank you, Ms. Duble!
March 16, 2010
At the beginning the book was really good because you were just starting to learn a lot about each character. But as the story went on, everything started to rush together and that didn't flow well. If the book were longer, I bet it would be better and attract a lot more readers. The ending was pretty easy to guess once things started coming together and I tend to like books that make you think more.
It was a cute read though.
It was a cute read though.
November 19, 2014
Jesse and Lucy have been friends forever. As they get older both must consider what they want to do with the rest of their lives. Jesse dreams of joining the Navy. However his father wants him to join the iron furnace where the majority of the men in town work. Jesse wants no part of that.
Lucy doesn't want to leave her small community ever. She can't imagine why Jesse would want to leave. But she also doesn't want to hold him back.
A sweet story of young love and big decisions.
Lucy doesn't want to leave her small community ever. She can't imagine why Jesse would want to leave. But she also doesn't want to hold him back.
A sweet story of young love and big decisions.
April 8, 2010
Hearts of Iron is my new favorite book!! I absolutely loved it. I laughed throughout the book., but towards the end I cried for 5minutes the was really sad. Even though I loved Jesse I'm glad that she ende up with Samuel. Anyone who likes romance and historical fiction this is definetly the book for you. If you end up liking it you may like The Sacrifice and Quest also by Kathleen Benner Duble.
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November 16, 2013All Lucy wants is her life to stay the way it always has but her father says she needs to be more of a lady and get married, so she tries her best to not leave her beloved mountain then she discovers that her best friend is going to cause her problems as well so she really just has to make choices for other peoples sake not herself and really has to do things out of love.
September 4, 2015
I read this book a long time ago, and I am digging up old books I read as a preteen/teenager so I wanted to mark them on my goodreads while I read it.
This book was deep for me at the time, with a bittersweet ending that left me very sad but thoughtful. I really enjoyed this book and it was a good look into how growing up can mean different things for different people...and that's okay.
This book was deep for me at the time, with a bittersweet ending that left me very sad but thoughtful. I really enjoyed this book and it was a good look into how growing up can mean different things for different people...and that's okay.
July 8, 2023
This book is THE book that got me into reading. I will never forget the first time I read it in middle school. I re read it a couple years back and I know it’s not as good as I once thought but this story will always have a special place in my heart.
October 27, 2009
I was very intrigued by the book's description but it definitely didn't meet my expectations. There was too much detail in parts and the ending felt rushed and unresolved.
November 13, 2009
This book was a very quick read. There were some very unexpected twists and turns. Kathleen Benner Duble captured the time very well.
January 14, 2010
This book has everything I could wish in one. Romance with a twist I was never suspecting at the end. I should have been upset that she didn't end up with the guy I wanted her to, but it was perfect.
March 20, 2010
Sweet historical fiction, romantic but also somewhat bittersweet. Really glad she ended up with the guy she did, although I wonder if the intended audience would agree...
June 10, 2010
i loved this book i really liked the twist at the end and who she ends up marrying and the whole story is really good i couldnt put it down. :)
October 1, 2010
Dawson's Creek meets 1820. In a good way.
December 29, 2010
This was ok. I didn't find all the plot twists believable.
August 16, 2011
The characters are well done, the writing is ok, the plot is good, the romance....different. I'm still deciding how I feel about it. I'm not sure if I like it or not. I'd grade it a B.
July 21, 2014
it just blew at the ending but i luvved it!
May 25, 2012
Good love story.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews