Molly Pitcher: Young Patriot

by Augusta Stevenson, Gene Garriott (Illustrator)

Molly Young Patroit is the next installment in the Childhood of Famous Americans series.

A childhood biography of the Pennsylvania German woman who became a Revolutionary War heroine when she carried water to American soldiers and even fired a cannon herself during the Battle of Monmouth.

Genres: Biography, Childrens, American History, History, Nonfiction, Biography Memoir, Womens

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1960

Reviews

[Christine]

I'd like to re-read this. During the summer of 1976, the American Bicentennial, I read so many books about colonial life and the American Revolution. I was very interested in colonial women, including Molly Pitcher. She appealed to me as someone very independent, who had no problem with breaking gender roles, in the interest of serving her nation.


Among the many statewide celebratory events, was an opportunity to paint fire hydrants as colonial figures, like Minutemen, "Lobster Backs" (British soldiers), George Washington, Ben Franklin, et al.
I insisted to my crew of (eleven and twelve year old) neighborhood kids that we should paint our fire hydrant as Molly Pitcher. Sadly, the girls were outnumbered five to two, and we wound up doing a Minuteman. Still, it was great fun, and I have never forgotten it, decades later.

[Cindy aka "The Book Fairy" · Rating 4 out of 5]

A marvelous account of another young patriotic and brave woman; Molly Hayes who was nicknamed Pitcher because she valiantly helped care for some many soldiers with life saving water during the intense heat in war battles. No doubt she saved countless lives during those times during gutsy venturing alone through woods on horseback and into the battlefields to aid the heat struck, she encouraged her own wounded brother and other young soldiers. I learned a bit more on how sugar was smuggled as the Americans were fed up being outrageously taxed as a colony to fund British wars and eventually for independence.

Lovely read indeed!

[Dianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book countless times as a girl. I'd love to get my hands on a copy and re-read it! I enjoyed all the books from this series, but Molly Pitcher was by far my favorite.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am in the process of collecting the original hard backs of the Childhood of Famous Americans books, originally published by Bobbs-Merrill. Not the ones about boys, just the girl ones. Because they were a huge part of my childhood from probably ages 7- 10. I checked them out of both the school library and the public library over and over again. My parents had raised me to be a huge fan of history and these books fit the bill!

Molly Pitcher, Girl Patriot by Augusta Stevenson is such an exciting, cheerful little story about an ordinary farm girl who experienced all sorts of adventures. She grew up to play a pivotal part in one particular battle of the Revolutionary War, earning commendation from George Washington himself.

It was such a pleasure to read this childhood favorite again. It was like comfort food for the brain!

[Tori · Rating 4 out of 5]

The boys enjoyed the story and the look at pre-revolutionary colonial American life. I thought it did a good job to humanize why the British taxes were strongly opposed. And it set up Molly's childhood in a way that made her heroic and unusual choices during the revolution both natural for her to make even while standing out. I wish there was a summary at the end to tell which parts were imaginative license for the story and which were accurate.
The general portrayal of Native Americans as the faceless enemy was unfortunate (though not unexpected from a book written awhile ago about this Era) and required some adjustments and discussion as we read.

[Gregg Puluka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read about a true Jersey girl! Perfect book for a young lady looking for a historical female to look up to

[Chloe · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was very educational. It told lots about her, but also about her family. I loved this lots.

[GheenGirls · Rating 5 out of 5]

Turtle: great! Return to library.

[Shauna Ludlow Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had never heard of this young female patriot who helped win a battle against the British in 1778 near her hometown in New Jersey with General George Washington.

Mary “Molly” Ludwig Hays did many heroic things as a young girl then as a woman. She had a strong moral code and was loyal to her family and friends.

Very inspiring book for young readers.

[Louise O'neil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Homeschool read- the kids enjoyed it. Lots of good info.

[Dakota Smith · Rating 2 out of 5]

Like how she was part Dutch and her wearing wooden shoes. What an amazing woman 👩🏻

[Kerri · Rating 5 out of 5]

My children and I read this book. I realize that there is not a great deal of biographical information about Molly Pitcher, but the book gives insight into daily American colonial life, through the eyes of a young girl.

Instead of reading a dry sentence like, "Travel was difficult as the roads were poor," we see the many hardships Molly has to go through because of the rough roads. Molly attends a birthday party where there was no cake or sweets because of the high tax on sugar.

I highly recommend this book to any children who want to learn about what America was like before it was the USA.

[Russell · Rating 5 out of 5]

All should read this just for the hints of past. How even items like sugar were a treat (get it) not a habit. How as a species we have lost what it is to be family friends and society. But without taking ourselves too serious. How spectacular life can be

[Jacob · Rating 5 out of 5]

Molly was a brave lady. She wanted to help the army out, but her parents said she couldn't go. But her parents finally decided that she could go. So she went and it was very hot, so they were getting boiled to death, but she came with a wet cloth and made it so they didn't die.

[Mamma · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember this book for the 4th grade, its what started me to like reading.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like it better if it would say more about Molly's marriage,
but beside that it was wroth reading.

[Marissa Hughes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great if you are homeschooled and have to read some kind of history or if you just love history to begin with. I very much enjoyed it and finished it in a couple days.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

GOOD BIO

[Janice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book