Storyteller

by Patricia Reilly Giff

A story of the American Revolution from two-time Newbery Honor–winning author Patricia Reilly Giff.
 
While staying with her aunt, Elizabeth finds something a drawing. It hangs on the wall, a portrait of her ancestor, Eliza, known as Zee. She looks like Elizabeth.
The girls’ lives intertwine as Elizabeth’s present-day story alternates with Zee’s, which takes place during the American Revolution. Zee is dreamy, and hopeful for the future—until the Revolution tears apart her family and her community in upstate New York. Left on her own, she struggles to survive and to follow her father and brother into battle.
 
Zee’s story has been waiting to be rediscovered by the right person. As Elizabeth learns about Zee, and walks where Zee once walked and battles raged, the past becomes as vivid and real as the present.
 
In this beautifully crafted, affecting novel from beloved author Patricia Reilly Giff, the lives of two girls reflect one another as each finds her own inner strengths.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Middle Grade, Young Adult, Fiction, Historical, American Revolution, Childrens

176 pages, Hardcover

First published September 10, 2010

About the author

Patricia Reilly Giff was the author of many beloved books for children, including the Kids of the Polk Street School books, the Friends and Amigos books, and the Polka Dot Private Eye books. Several of her novels for older readers have been chosen as ALA-ALSC Notable Books and ALA-YALSA Best Books for Young Adults. They include The Gift of the Pirate Queen; All the Way Home; Water Street; Nory Ryan's Song, a Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators Golden Kite Honor Book for Fiction; and the Newbery Honor Books Lily's Crossing and Pictures of Hollis Woods. Lily's Crossing was also chosen as a Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Book.

Reviews

[Shelley · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars. This just didn't work for me. All of Zee's chapters (set during the Revolutionary War) are in italics and that makes me think that her story isn't worth reading, that it's not the main plot. Except when I actually concentrated on reading and not skimming those parts, I realized that it was far more interesting than Elizabeth's story now. But everyone felt very flat and there was little emotional connection shown, which made the characters' changing feels lack depth or logic.

It did make me interested in learning more about the Revolutionary War, though. I know most of the Civil War battles, but not these. This is also a good story to introduce the idea of genealogy and personal history to kids. I just wish it was better written.

[Tina Petrillo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute quick read!

[Karla Hutchinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Storyteller, is a beautifully written historical fiction young readers' novel. I loved reading the story and getting to know Elizabeth and Zee. The story starts with Elizabeth and how she must go stay with her mother's sister for a few weeks because her father must go away on a business trip. At her aunt's house she gets to hear stories of a girl in a painting who is undoubtedly one of her ancestors. We get to read the intertwined stories of these two girls, and even as an adult I teared up and dreaded for it to end.
This story has plenty of fictional narrative in it, but there is also historical validity to the way it is connected to the revolutionary war, and the war leaders and battles are very real as well. This chapter book would give students a new way to think about the revolutionary war; as though it is more than a page in our history book, but that it was personal to those who were alive during it. The fact that these young girls are about the age of our older elementary school students will make it very easy for them to relate to. The characters act and talk like they do, and so "switching shoes" will be accessible to them.
Another good way that I can imagine using this in a classroom would be to point out the value in family histories, and oral storytelling, as it is often the only way for us to pass on personal accounts that may one day be pieces of a huge historical shift.
The other connection I felt between this story and curriculum was how it could be used to demonstrate and practice predictions, foreshadowing, and major connections (text-self, text-world, text-text). All of these major reading skills are necessary to get everything that this text has to offer, and they are all skills that are heavily focused on in the comprehension-driven 3-5 classrooms across the country.
The book is an easy read as far as the language is concerned, but the jumps between the 18th and the 20th century can be difficult to follow, but nonetheless as long as the teacher/parent can scaffold the events and setup appropriately then this book can be accessible and enjoyed by grades 3-5.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Storyteller is about two protagonists, both named Elizabeth, one who lives in the 21st century and the other in the 18th century, or Zee as she is nicknamed. Elizabeth is forced to a new school for the reminder of her semester while her father, an artist, goes to Australia to seal a new business deal. In which, she lives with her maternal aunt Libby, who describes her to be so much like her mother. There, she discovers a portrait of an ancestor who looks a lot like her, Zee, who comes from the time of the Revolutionary War. From here, we get to see how both lives are brought together, as Liz tries to figure out her ancestor's story, she gets more inspired by Zee.

Zee is a teenage girl living with her small family at the brink of the Revolutionary War. Both her father and brother are Patriots and they volunteer to fight in the cause, leaving Zee and her mother behind. But as Loyalists and Patriots divide families and neighbors, Zee escapes death as Loyalists burn down her family farm, killing her mother in the process. Desperate to reunite with her father and brother, Zee goes on her own, by foot to reach Fort Stanwix where they are lodged. Through her journey, Zee becomes more self-sufficient, realizing she is on her own and cannot rely on her neighbors no longer, she pushes herself to make the journey. Through which, she encounters wild animals, ravaging disease, a thrashing river, and Loyalists, all changes her from a clumsy little girl to a woman who could look out for herself. And it is through her love for her family that she reaches safety to be reunited as the war takes a bloody turn.

I enjoyed this book very much, for both stories the author tells. Zee overcoming many obstacles on her own inspires Elizabeth to look into her own inner strength. While both perspectives are meant to be more character-driven, Zee's story has more plot-focus added in. But in doing so, and learning her story, Elizabeth becomes less resentful of her father ditching her and becomes more open to an aunt she never really knew. Sweetly, Liz becomes more grateful for the people in her life, despite how alone she felt at the beginning. In which, by the end, she becomes more empathetic to her family history and willing to learn more of both sides. I can see this book as one of those Newberry types where we see development for the better, where Liz and Zee become stronger individuals by the end of their experiences. The added historical placement supplements the contemporary issue of dealing with loneliness and our flaws in a way that makes the story relatable to young readers and how we must always persevere through hardships to find happiness.

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

While staying with her aunt, Elizabeth finds something remarkable: a drawing. It hangs on the wall, a portrait of her ancestor, Eliza, known as Zee. She looks like Elizabeth.
The girls’ lives intertwine as Elizabeth’s present-day story alternates with Zee’s, which takes place during the American Revolution. Zee is dreamy, and hopeful for the future—until the Revolution tears apart her family and her community in upstate New York. Left on her own, she struggles to survive and to follow her father and brother into battle.

Zee’s story has been waiting to be rediscovered by the right person. As Elizabeth learns about Zee, and walks where Zee once walked and battles raged, the past becomes as vivid and real as the present.

In this beautifully crafted, affecting novel from beloved author Patricia Reilly Giff, the lives of two girls reflect one another as each finds her own inner strengths.

[kyra · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars*

This book just wasn’t my cup of tea. I picked it up a few years ago when I was in a big historical fiction phase, but I didn’t get to it until now, when I don’t particularly enjoy historical fiction. I didn’t really enjoy the writing style, and I didn’t feel connected with the characters. I didn’t find myself caring what happened to them. I think this book would’ve been better if it was longer and the characters were more developed.

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was quite engaging. This is a subject I really don't know much about. The beginning of the Revolutionary War. I never really thought much about how a town could be divided so easily. There are some tough chapters dealing with death. It also had tidy nice endings that are to be expected with a middle grade book.

[Skittles_14 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book, read this almost every other wekk in Elementary school! Highly recommend this adventurous and interesting book!

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this expertly woven tale, that bound together 2 similar girls from the same family, born hundreds of years apart.

[Tani Mortensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it, read it in one day..

[Samira · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favorite authors from when I was younger. Funny to read one I hadn’t read with older (wiser?) eyes. Nostalgic yet different at the same time.

[Aidan Denman · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a young girl this book has inspired me truly.

[Josiah · Rating 2 out of 5]

History becomes very real for Elizabeth in the pages of Storyteller, as a trip to stay with her Aunt Libby brings her into a close connection with an adventurous family past that she didn't even know had ever occurred.

Author Patricia Reilly Giff relates the stories of Elizabeth and of her Revolutionary War era ancestor, Zee, in chapters that alternate (for the most part) between the twenty-first and eighteenth centuries. It's easy to tell which is which, even at first glance; not only is the writing tense different (second-person present tense for Elizabeth, first-person past tense for Zee), but Zee's story is written primarily in italics. From the first time that Elizabeth sets her sights on the curiously special painting of Zee that hangs in a place of honor in Aunt Libby's house, she feels that she shares more with the girl who lived two hundred years earlier than just startlingly similar looks. Elizabeth can almost feel the crucial smaller details of Zee's harrowing personal tale as if she were along with her for the ride, and as her desire to find out more of Zee's story continues to grow, she learns that her Aunt Libby feels much the same way. In fact, most of Elizabeth's family on her mother's side feels an unexplainable connection to Zee, and seem to sense that link most strongly when looking at the portrait of their conflicted ascendant.

Zee, for her part, lived during a pivotal time in U.S. history. The first rumblings of war between the colonists and their mother country are to be heard everywhere, and families who once were close friends are beginning to distrust and even dislike each other, an outgrowth of passionate political allegiances. It seems that just as many of the colonist families want to remain loyal to the rule of King George as want to break free and form a nation of their own, and anger between the primary factions is rising at an alarming rate. Soon, Zee will have to worry about violence breaking out between colonial families, and chances are that the people she loves will be caught directly in the terrifying crossfire.

Before Zee and her nation find peace, she will lose nearly everything she has and everyone she loves. The toll of war is always high, paid in the lives of a nation's young and most vital citizens, but Zee believes in the cause of freedom for which her fledgling country is willing to fight. After the killing there will still be hope that life can go on, and that future generations will see the tangible gain that came from daring to go to war against the powerful British. Through all the generations and the many, many years, Elizabeth finds her own way to hold on to that promise and, in a way, validate what Zee had worked so hard to earn for her family centuries ago.

Any book written by Patricia Reilly Giff harbors potential to win awards, and Storyteller is an interesting story idea. Some good Revolutionary War history is introduced through the plot, and readers who are partial to the story may, like Elizabeth, be inspired to read more about the war that improbably led to the independence of our country. If Storyteller can get people interested in eighteenth century U.S. history, then it has accomplished a good thing, and I'm glad that it was written.

[Matt Guion · Rating 3 out of 5]

Genre: Children’s historical fiction, coming-of-age

Synopsis: Elizabeth, forgetful and clumsy, lives alone with her father in the twenty-first century, until he sends her to live with her Aunt Libby while he goes off to Australia on business. While adjusting to a new life, a new school, and a relative she barely knows, she comes across a drawing of a distant relative named Eliza, but called Zee, who lived in the eighteenth century during the American Revolution. During her visit, Elizabeth learns Zee’s story--how the war tore her small village apart, pitting friend against friend, and how she lost everything and made the journey to find her family fighting one of the bloodiest battles of the war. She learns of Zee’s incredible courage and about the importance of telling stories.

Review: This is a rather mediocre attempt at historical fiction. The idea is nice and the message is a strong one, but it just doesn’t seem well executed. The book alternates between Elizabeth’s story in the twenty-first century and Zee’s in the eighteenth. Zee’s story is done fairly well and might actually work pretty well as a standalone story. The dialogue is rather uninspired and it doesn’t have that atmosphere that you have in good historical fiction, but you feel drawn to the character of Zee and what she’s going through, and it was these passages I felt the most investment in and that made me want to keep reading.

The same cannot, sadly, be said for the twenty-first century story of Elizabeth. I understand what the author is trying to do: use Elizabeth’s story as a vehicle for the historical one to show the parallels of history and how important it is to pass those stories along. But the twenty-first century story just isn’t very well planned out. I didn’t feel invested in the character of Elizabeth, or any of the other characters, for that matter, the pacing was way off, the motivations were often never explained, and the dialogue was still uninspired. The transitions between the two stories were usually done well, with some aspect of one story nicely paralleling some aspect of the other. But the story itself just didn’t work. It was kind of like an episode of Wishbone, with the real life events inspiring scenes from the story. And don’t get me wrong, I love Wishbone . . . but what works for a half-hour episode of a kids’ show does not necessarily work for a novel.

For all that, though, I did enjoy the historical sections of the book. It was actually pretty gritty at times, not shying away from the darker aspects of war. I also like the focus that was placed on how friends and neighbors could be on different sides of the conflict, with some of Zee’s best friends being Loyalists, even after those Loyalists destroyed her home. And even though it’s told from the side of the Patriots, it at least attempts to be sympathetic to the Loyalist side as well. And of course, the message of the importance of keeping the stories in history is one I can definitely get behind. For a children’s historical fiction novel, it would probably work pretty well. But it doesn’t work nearly as well for adults, and even for kids, I think the story would be pretty forgettable next to other, better novels of this genre. It’s worth a read . . . but probably not more than one.

Worth rating: Worth borrowing

[Margo Tanenbaum · Rating 4 out of 5]

Patricia Reilly Giff's newest release, Storyteller, tells the stories of two girls, Elizabeth and Zee, distantly related to each other across more than 200 years. When Elizabeth's father leaves for Australia, she is sent to live with her Aunt Libby, her mother's sister, whom she barely knows. At her house she discovers an intriguing old framed portrait of a distant relative named Eliza, known as Zee, who looks almost exactly like her. She is immediately drawn to the picture, thinking how strange it is to look so much like someone who lived so long ago.

As Elizabeth's aunt shares with her the bits and pieces she knows of Zee's story, Giff skillfully interweaves Zee's 18th century diary, which begins just as hostilities are breaking out between the colonists and the British. The absent-minded Zee longs to make her father and mother proud of her, but doesn't seem to be able to do anything right. As political tensions split apart her small community, pitting neighbor against neighbor, Zee's brother and father take off to train with a militia led by General Herkimer, who comes from the same part of Europe as they do, leaving Zee and her mother alone to mind the family farm in upstate New York.

But when Zee's house is set on fire, she loses everything--including her mother. With the help of Old Gerard, a Native American, she takes off on a journey that will require all Zee's survival skills as well as strength she didn't even know she had. She will need every ounce of courage to overcome her shock at her loss and fend for herself, traveling through the wilderness to try to find her brother and father at the far-away fort.

As Elizabeth, in the 21st century, learns more about Zee and has the opportunity to walk where her distant relation walked, she becomes the storyteller, the heir to Zee's story, the story she'll pass on to her own children.

This is an excellent novel to pair with Gary Paulsen's 2010 release Woods Runner; both stories deal with aspects of the American Revolution that are less discussed in literature for young people, since they take place on the "frontier" or wilderness rather than in the urban political hubs of Boston, Philadelphia, or New York. They therefore provide a much different perspective on the conflict; both also highlight the role that the Native Americans played in the Revolution, many fighting on the side of the British in the hopes that they would stop further colonial expansion into their lands.

[Olivia Hope · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am reading Storyteller by Patricia Reilly Giff, it is an inspiring story about a girl named Elizabeth, her mom died and she lives with her dad, she lives in the 21st century. There is another part in the book about a girl named Zee who is like Elizabeth's long lost twin in the eighteenth century. They both have similar story's with losing their mother and having their dad leave for a while but for different reasons. When Elizabeth's dad leaves to go sell artwork, he leaves her with her aunt she has never met before and thats where she finds out about Zee and the information she would like to know.

Elizabeth and Zee were the main characters in the book. Both of them were very interesting in different and similar ways. Elizabeth was a very strong girl with growing up without a mother and dealing with change a lot of the time. She didn't get upset or down on her self a lot. If that were me I would be devastated and not know what to think. Zee is also a strong girl. She saw her mother die right in front of her and has to travel miles and miles through war to try to find her brother and dad. A lot of people would give up in that situation but she had the mind set to keep going know matter what conditions lay ahead of her. Both Zee and Elizabeth were very inspiring characters and interesting to read about.

My favorite part of the book is when Zee is on a mission to find her brother and her dad and Elizabeth is trying to figure out what ended up happening to Zee and the trails she took to find them. This book is layed out so one chapter you get to find out what is happening to Zee and where she is and the next chapter Elizabeth is trying to find out what path Zee took and where she was at that moment. Elizabeth has a map on the back of a portrait of Zee so she knew the path she took to get where she needs to go.

I would not want to trade places with the two characters, Elizabeth and Zee, I feel that I would be stressed about what is happening. In Zee's situation I may give up because of being to scared or afraid of what could happen to me being alone out in a frightening war. If I was in Elizabeth's place I would feel confused on why my dad left me with my aunt that I haven't meet my whole like. I would be overwhelmed with changing from living with my dad to traveling hours to stay with my aunt with no one I know while my dad goes on a trip for work. I loved to read about both characters, just being in their spot would frighten me.

[QNPoohBear · Rating 3 out of 5]

lizabeth, a 21st century girl, is sent to live with her Aunt Libby she's never met when her father has to leave the country for business. Elizabeth is upset at being left with a stranger and having to change schools but she and her Aunt Libby begin to bond when Elizabeth notices an old drawing of an ancestor who looked just like her. Elizabeth begins to feel a kinship with the other Elizabeth (called Zee) and Elizabeth's quest to know Zee's story helps her bond with her mother's family and find her way in her new school. Zee lives in the 1770s in upstate New York with her parents and older brother who came to America from Europe searching for a place to belong. Zee feels unwanted and unloved because she's awkward, clumsy and forgetful. Luckily, her closest friend Ammi likes Zee just fine. Ammi's older brother Isaac seems to like Zee too. However, Zee and Ammi's families are on opposite sides of the growing conflict between those who are loyal to the king and those who wish to be free. Zee's father and brother march off to join the patriots and Zee and her mother are left to run the farm the best they can. When tragedy strikes, Zee must pull herself together and find a path to safety and to freedom.

Elizabeth and Zee's stories alternate with each chapter and show how everyone isn't perfect but each person possesses unique abilities that enrich the lives of others. I personally felt Elizabeth's story was the weaker of the two. Told in first person present tense it reads awkwardly and some of Elizabeth's feelings get left out and events are rushed. Zee's story kept me turning the pages wanting to know what happened, though some parts were a little gruesome. I appreciated the realistic portrayal of the Revolutionary War and reading about a heroine who had many faults but was still likable and a strong female character. I do not think the writing is as strong as Giff's earlier historical fiction novels but it's still above average. This is a good book for middle school children and their parents. Adults will probably like Zee and Elizabeth's desire to know Zee's story.

[Jennifer Wardrip · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reviewed by Sally Kruger aka "Readingjunky" for TeensReadToo.com

When Elizabeth's father tells her he will be traveling to Australia to sell his wood carvings, she thinks it means she'll have to stay with Mrs. Eldridge and endure her overweight bulldog and his bad breath. She's in for a surprise. Father says Elizabeth will be staying with her Aunt Libby, her mother's sister.

Staying with Libby means living with someone she doesn't even know and going to a new school where she doesn't have any friends. All Father says is it is time Elizabeth learned about her mother's side of the family.

Libby makes Elizabeth feel as welcome as possible. The house is awfully quiet and her aunt's cooking is horrible, but when Libby shows Elizabeth to the room she'll be using while she visits, everything feels a bit better. The room belonged to Elizabeth's mother when she was a girl. There's a handmade quilt on the bed and a cozy chair by the window perfect for snuggling up in with a good book.

It doesn't take long for Elizabeth to discover the faded sketch of a young girl hanging in the hall. It is amazing how much the girl resembles her. Libby tells Elizabeth that the girl's name was Eliza "Zee," and she lived during the Revolutionary War. Elizabeth is filled with questions about this mysterious girl from the past, and what follows is a fascinating journey into her family history.

Author Patricia Reilly Giff tells the stories of modern-day Elizabeth and 18th-century Zee through alternating chapters. Elizabeth learns not only about the mother she lost years ago, but also about her family's place in history. Readers also hear Zee's story as she fights for survival during a time of war that separated families and tore apart lives. Giff's gift for writing historical fiction is put to excellent use in STORYTELLER as she bridges from past to present to connect the story of two young girls.

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'd really like to give this book 3 1/2 stars, or 3 for the part that takes place in the 20th century, and 4 for the part that takes place in the 18th century. The story shifts between Elizabeth in the 20th century, and her ancestor Zee in the 18th century, during the American Revolution. Elizabeth and Zee not only look alike (according to an old drawing of Zee), but are similar in personality. While in the 20th century Elizabeth discovers a side of her family she never knew, Zee loses family in the tragedy of war. Both girls, in the end, learn something about themselves.

What particularly interested me about this story was that Zee becomes entangled in the battle of Oriskany, which took place just a few miles from where I live. I found it annoying, however, that, in the 20th century, Elizabeth and her cousin Harry never once referred to the present-day Fort Stanwix as being in Rome, New York! The name of the fort they visit toward the end of the book was Fort Stanwix, though it was never named, and the preceding chapter implied that was that it was in Utica, which is incorrect.

I actually enjoyed the story of Zee much more than the story of Elizabeth. I didn't care for the third person present narrative of Elizabeth's story. Zee's part was told in the first person past tense, which seemed easier to read. I wish the story had been all Zee's, with more detail. One thing that I question, however, is the implication that the area around Fort Stanwix (present Rome, NY) and Fort Dayton (present Utica, NY) was populated by homesteaders at that time (based on the description of all the men, women, children, and livestock seeking safety in Fort Dayton). I always understood that the area was pretty much wilderness, with a farms along the Mohawk River but not in the Fort Stanwix vicinity. I could be wrong though--I'll have to check into it. Anyway, overall a bit disappointing, but worth the read for Zee's story.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Elizabeth is a young girl sent to live temporarily with a maternal aunt she has never met before. While struggling to adjust to her new situation, Elizabeth finds herself drawn to a painting in her aunt's house of Zee -- a relative who lived during the time of the American Revolution and who bears a striking resemblance to Elizabeth. In alternate chapters, the reader hears Zee's first person account of the war's effect on her and her family -- with a particular focus on an interesting but little-known piece of Revolution history known as the Battle of Oriskany. Both girls share certain life experiences (e.g. loss of their mothers) and personality traits (forgetful, dreamy, self-critical). Unfortunately, I thought Giff's effort to intertwine the stories was well-intentioned, but not as effective as it could have been.

Zee's story was far more compelling to read than Elizabeth's and I found myself very involved in the chapters about her. Elizabeth as a character was just not as interesting or realistic. It was unclear to me why Elizabeth would have such intense feelings for Zee based on just the painting; unless I missed something, she had no way of learning the details about Zee's life that are shared with the reader. Having her read a diary might have been a trite plot line, but it would have at least explained the strong connection Elizabeth feels.

I did find the historical fiction part of the book fascinating and well-written. It shows how the clash between Loyalists and Patriots affected individual families and neighbors and comes to a satisfying conclusion.

[Reading Vacation · Rating 5 out of 5]

REVIEW

Storyteller presents historical fiction in a new way. There are both a historical and a modern story being told. The historical story centers on Eliza (aka Zee), who lived in the time of the American Revolution. The modern story is about Elizabeth, who is sent to live with her Aunt Libby when her own father travels overseas for work.

I liked that each girl gets to tell her point-of-view in alternating chapters. Patricia Reilly Giff has a way of making her characters jump out of the scene and into your head. I enjoyed Zee’s chapters the most. It’s partly because I really (as in REALLY) like to read about the American Revolution – but it’s also because Zee’s scenes were so beautifully written. It’s as though I were right there with her while her world was being turned upside down.

It turns out that Elizabeth and Zee have much in common. Much more than you would expect. Although they lived in different times, both girls were finding their voice under difficult circumstances. I would love to find out about my ancestors too. I wonder if there is a girl in my family’s past who shares some traits with me. This book really got me thinking.

Even if you think historical fiction is not your thing, I recommend Storyteller because of the beautiful writing and characters.

RATING

5 Plot

5 Characters

4 Attention Grabbing

4 Girlie Meter

4 Ending


22 TOTAL


5 STARS

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Storyteller had a very sweet ending; the only problem was that it never got to be one of those books where I want to keep reading. I always found myself drifting off into my own thoughts as opposed to reading it. I like how it was from Elizabeth and her ancestor’s point of view; that made it really intriguing. I thought it was really good but the plot was weak. There was something else that needed to be added to the story to make it whole.
I thought it was cute how Elizabeth and her aunt Libby got along, and how Libby said Elizabeth reminds her of her sister (AKA Elizabeth’s mother). I also liked how they find out all about Elizabeth’s ancestor’s, or Zee’s, life by stories and pictures. Also, in the end, I thought it was cool when they found out that the pictures were all drawn by Zee’s husband.
In all, it was an interesting story; it just needed more plot. Also, another thing, that bothered me was that a lot of times when Zee or Elizabeth thought, they were like, “Oh I must of said that aloud because then they answered me.” I liked the character growth and especially like the parts in the book where it was Zee’s point of view; it was much more fascinating than Elizabeth’s point of view. I also thought it was cool how Zee lived during the American Revolution and you get to learn about her hardships and struggles during the war.

[Seobin · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writing had its distinct style and kind of reminded me of Hidden, by Helen Frost. It was unique and suited perfectly well for the story, though I think the author could have done better describing what exactly Elizabeth's family felt for Zee.

I loved the story that unravelled between the 2 characters, Zee and Elizabeth, one set in 18th century and the other in the 20th. Zee's story shared some similarities with one of my recent history-fiction reads, Fever 1793, but I couldn't help but think Patricia Reilly Giff is a much better author.

Zee's 2 not-too obvious love interests are Isaac and Miller and they are so different that I wonder if the author intended the contrast on purpose. While Isaac is a Loyalist that believes in the King, Miller refuses to accept that the King whom cares for nothing but the supplies that the New world provides for Britain. Though Zee has feelings for Isaac since their kiss, she is fierce when he tells her to remain with the Loyalist, whom are blind to the King's faults. Miller must have had some attachment for Zee a long time ago and he is revealed to have been her husband and the artist of the drawing.

While the writing might have been aimed for younger age groups, it was an excellent light read that sparked my interest for US history.

[M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

When her widowed father has to go to Australia for business, Elizabeth is sent to stay with her deceased mother's sister, a woman she's never met. She has to go to a new school in a town she's never been to before. She doesn't want to go. Aunt Libby is nervous about her houseguest--she's single and has never had children, but she welcomes Elizabeth as best she can.

Aunt Libby has an old portrait of an ancestress--Zee, a girl who lived during the Revolutionary War--and Zee looks just like Elizabeth. Elizabeth is intrigued and wants to know more.

And then the real story starts, Elizabeth's life with Aunt Libby alternating with Zee's life during the war. We've forgotten that just like in the Civil War, the Revolutionary War turned neighbor against neighbor, friend against friend. There were patriots loyal to the new government and patriots loyal to King George and there was a lot of rancor on each side toward the other. Zee lived through all this.

Gradually Elizabeth and Aunt Libby figure out the details of Zee's life during the war and after while they forge lasting bonds between the two of them.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed for www.compassbookratings.com

Beautiful and engaging, Storyteller is another excellent novel from two-time Newbery Honor-winner Patricia Reilly Giff. Modern-day Elizabeth is likable and relatable, especially in her struggle to fit in. Zee's life as a young girl in colonial America was fascinating. Through Zee's eyes, the book also sheds light on a lesser known battle of the Revolutionary War and discusses it in a realistic, yet age-appropriate way. I was both surprised and thrilled with the story's emphasis on family history and the importance of learning from the past. With its solid characters and heartwarming message, Storyteller is a must-read.

Content Analysis:
Profanity/Language: None

Violence/Gore: A character accidentally slices open her knee; a character severely burns her hands; a second-hand report indicates Indians tomahawked and scalped colonists; a second-hand report indicates a character's mother was killed in a fire; a character participates in a battle, briefly fights off an attacker and witnesses her father last breathe as a result of his war injuries.

Sex/Nudity: A character recalls kissing her childhood crush.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story of the American Revolution from two-time Newbery Honor–winning author Patricia Reilly Giff.

While staying with her aunt, Elizabeth finds something remarkable: a drawing. It hangs on the wall, a portrait of her ancestor, Eliza, known as Zee. She looks like Elizabeth.
The girls’ lives intertwine as Elizabeth’s present-day story alternates with Zee’s, which takes place during the American Revolution. Zee is dreamy, and hopeful for the future—until the Revolution tears apart her family and her community in upstate New York. Left on her own, she struggles to survive and to follow her father and brother into battle.

Zee’s story has been waiting to be rediscovered by the right person. As Elizabeth learns about Zee, and walks where Zee once walked and battles raged, the past becomes as vivid and real as the present.

In this beautifully crafted, affecting novel from beloved author Patricia Reilly Giff, the lives of two girls reflect one another as each finds her own inner strengths.

[Kristin Jacobsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book Storyteller by Patrica Reilly Giff was really entertaining. I really like how the author made every other chapter from the past. The other made the book very suspenseful and mysterious. I dislike how the book was in third person. It would have been more interesting if it were in first person.

Elizebeth and her father were the only two people who lived in the house. Her mother had passed away in a car accident a few years ago. Elizebeth's father was trying to figure out how to tell her he was leaving to go to Australia. Once he had told her, she was very disappointed. He had told her that she would be staying with her aunt, Libby, who was her mother's sister. Days after she was there she kind of liked it. She wound up having a very good time.

In my opinion, I think people who enjoy reading suspenseful books would really like this book. It is definitely a book for 6th grade and up. It is very interesting and really enjoyable. Half of the time, I was on the edge of my seat. It is very good.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

My middle-school aged daughter and I enjoyed this story. It was neat to flip back and forth between modern day Elizabeth and Revolutionary War Zee's perspectives. I love hearing the stories that my grandparents told and finding out interesting facts about my ancestors.

The only complaints I might have is that the book felt very short and the strained relationship between the modern day aunt and uncle felt forced. Also, if the uncle loved history and especially the history of Zee, then why did he not know about his sisters' picture which was framed and hanging on the wall and handed down through the generations. I think the modern day setting could have been fleshed out a little better.

This is a cute story and is great for girls interested in the history of their own ancestors or of the Revolutionary War.

[carissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Recommended Ages: grades 4-7

While staying with her aunt, Elizabeth finds something remarkable: a drawing. It hangs on the wall, a portrait of her ancestor, Eliza, known as Zee. She looks like Elizabeth.
The girls’ lives intertwine as Elizabeth’s present-day story alternates with Zee’s, which takes place during the American Revolution. Zee is dreamy, and hopeful for the future—until the Revolution tears apart her family and her community in upstate New York. Left on her own, she struggles to survive and to follow her father and brother into battle.

Zee’s story has been waiting to be rediscovered by the right person. As Elizabeth learns about Zee, and walks where Zee once walked and battles raged, the past becomes as vivid and real as the present.

[Phoebe · Rating 2 out of 5]

Elizabeth's father must go to Australia unexpectedly, so he takes her to live with her aunt Libby. Shy, awkward, clumsy Elizabeth is strangely drawn to a sketch of Zee, a girl about her own age, and her ancestor. Giff tells Zee's story in alternating segments with Elizabeth's, and she does a pretty good job with Zee and her terrible experiences during the Revolutionary War. I was less interested in Elizabeth and was surprised that such a veteran author as Giff would people her story with such flat characters. The story often felt a bit rushed, and the mysterious connection Elizabeth feels with Zee is not well fleshed out. Upper elementary, junior high.