Rating: 
Summary: An Incredible Book!
Review: I'm 15 years old, I've been reading Ann Rinaldi's books for at least five years, and I have to say that this has been my favorite. I got it yesterday and finished it within three hours - it was that good. Time Enough For Drums is one of those books that just grabs ahold of you and never lets go.Most of Ann Rinaldi's main characters are strong-willed, outspoken young women, but I am constantly surprised at Ms. Rinaldi's ability to add new facets to the girls' personalities. Jem Emerson is no exception. She is sassy and willful to a fault, but is usually saved from getting herself into real trouble by the fact that the people around her genuinely love her for her good heart. I'm a fan of a good romance too, and the love story in the book is very satisfying. Anyone who has read a lot of Ann Rinaldi knows that the endings of her books don't always turn out exactly the way we want them to, but I was happy with this one, even though it was a little sad. Ms. Rinaldi is very realistic in her approach on the American Revolution and although the book is not graphic it makes no attempt to portray war as something better than it really is. Jem and the people close do suffer as a result of the war, but they are better people because of it. This book would be a great gift for someone interested in American History or someone just looking for a good read.
Rating:
Summary: A One of a Kind Novel
Review: September 1, 2002
Time Enough for Drums Why do I think Ann Rinaldi wrote Time Enough for Drums? I think Ann wrote this book because she really enjoys history. Maybe she felt that children aren't getting enough education about the Revolutionary War, so she based the book on a real fifteen year girl growing up with plenty of struggles for her and her family.
The ideas the author is trying to share with the reader are how the main character, Jemima, felt, what was going on in her life, sharing her grief, her sorrow, her happiness, and her growth.
The supporting characters are important in helping Jemima develop. I think Dan, John Reid, and Lucy had the most influence on Jemima. Dan helped Jemima by sending her letters of what was going on and showing that he was still alive. John Reid helped Jemima by tutoring her and admitting that he loves her. Lucy helped Jemima by getting through the time that no one was there, especially when the Hessians invaded their house.
As I read the book, I went through a variety of thoughts and feelings. The feelings that I experienced were happy, sad, angry, upset, confused, and frustrated. The ideas that I witnessed were: what could happen next, why did this happen, and for what cause.
I have learned a little bit of what went on during the Revolutionary War. The tragedies that happened to Jemima growing up and out of her adolescent years were both interesting and informative. Daniel and Raymond both gave their lives for what they thought was right which was freedom for future generations. Sarah wrote to the Gazette not knowing they would take her husband's life for it. John would marry Jemima after being her tutor for so many years.
In summary, Ann Rinaldi makes history more interesting by writing stories that are fun and informative to read. I also read Rinaldi's, Girl in Blue. I would recommend both of these books. She bases her stories on information she has gathered from books and original papers and then she adds her own little twist.
Rating:
Summary: The Perfect Combination
Review: Ann Rinaldi has done it again! I am a huge fan of all of her books, but this has to be one of the best. The story opens with strong-willed, and opinionated Jemima Emerson, in the middle of the Revolutionary War. Jemima and the other characters in the book are realistic and wonderful, but not always likeable. Ms. Rinaldi allows her characters to grow with the progress of the war, making for a page-turner read. Eventually, you come to love all of the characters. Ms. Rinaldi allows her characters to be who they are while still following the historical rules of the time. In the story, Jemima must overcome hardship, the loss of a loved one, the troubles of war, and learining to love someone. This book combines everything; romance, adventure, and historical significance in to one awesome read. I recomend this book to any historical fiction reader or anyone who just loves a good book.
Rating:
Summary: An Historically Accurate Novel
Review: I read this book when I was 12 and I still read it over and over again. It is a great book for it's historical content and the well-developed characters. Jemima Emerson is the daughter of a merchant in Trenton, New Jersey, who is tutorted by her father's friend's son, John Reid. John's parents have died at sea and Jemima's older sister, Rebecca, has ditched him to marry a British soldier. To Jem, John is a heartless Tory who goes against everything Jemima is fighting for, freedom. Jemima starts off as a self-centered young brat and grows to be a responsible woman during the United States' Revolutionary War. Time Enough For Drums is well written and researched. Ann Rinaldi is an excellent historical fiction novelist and I would recommend this book to any one who loves history, especially colonial United States, and loves to read.
Rating:
Summary: Bravo, Ann Rinaldi!
Review: I recently became aware of the many historical fiction books by Ann Rinaldi and was looking at the recommendations on Amazon to choose one to read. I clicked on 'Time Enough for Drums' and knew I just had to read it when I saw all of its rave reviews! Well, here's another one: Jemima Emerson is a free-spirited, strong-willed girl of fifteen when talk of the Revolutionary War reaches her hometown of Trenton, New Jersey. Jem is a Patriot and is strongly against the British and their king, George III. She is also strongly against her private tutor, John Reid, who is a devoted Tory and is intent on keeping Jem under control and sculpting her into a young lady (The very last thing on Jem's mind!). As the war begins to take shape, Jem's older brother joins Washington's army, her younger brother wants to with all his heart, her mother sews for the soldiers and writes essays promoting the Cause, and her father, a merchant, refuses to stock British imports in his store. The American Revolution is very much a part of the Emerson family's lives, but Jem is tired of spending long hours each day with her tutor when she could be riding her horse, visiting her grandfather, or helping the Cause. Lessons become more intense after John Reid is put in a position where he almost has to admit defeat and failure in keeping Jem under control and educating her. One day Jem discovers a huge secret about John that puts his life in peril and forces him to trust her. The secret gives Jem newfound respect for him and causes her to view him in a different way. Eventually this respect turns into admiration and then into love, which is mutual between Jem and John. When the war comes directly to Trenton, John Reid and Jem's younger brother leave to take part in the fight for independence. With the British occupying their town, Jem finds herself being faced with hard choices and forced to grow from girl to woman in a matter of several days. Through it all Jem remains true to herself and learns many valuable lessons about life and war. She has seen many awful for things for someone so young, but she has managed to learn something from each experience. At the war's end Jem emerges as a wise and spirited young woman with bright plans for the future and a new approach to life. 'Time Enough for Drums' was a wonderful book and definitely one of the best I have read. I loved Jemima's strong and willful character and the book's historical setting. Historical details were beautifully woven into a captivating plot that made me feel connected to the characters and the time. I know this is a book I will read over and over again, one that has found a special place in my heart.
Rating:
Summary: Tottaly Awesome
Review: Time Enough for Drums by, Ann Rinaldi is about a teenage girl named Jemima living during the American Revolution. Growing up, she learns that not everything is at appears. Jemima learns to live with the fact shes falling in love with her tutor. And it doesn't help that her sister is a tory.
I think the author wrote this book to explain what it was like to live during this time period, but to also point out that the most unexpected people can be the greatest of friends, and most importantly to not give up on what you believe in. I like this book because it is so action filled, and adventerous.
Rating:
Summary: Time Enough For Drums
Review: Ann rinaldi is an amazingly talented writer, but this book has got to be one of her best! An historical fiction book, she mixes in just enough history and just enough of her own creative twist to make it easy to relate to and to understand. I definetly recommend this book to anyone that loves some adventure, humor, mystery, AND romance all tied into one perfect package.
Rating:
Summary: One Of The Best Books I've EVER Read
Review: This book was written very well. I've read two of Ann Rinaldi's books Or Give Me Death and Time Enough for drums and I couldn't put either one of them down. You feel as if you are the person. She engrosses you in their lives you cry when they cry and smile when something good happens to them. This book is really good I got it from the library and then went and bought it so I could read it whenever wanted. These kind of romances are better then the modern ones because they are always really in love it was a great book and I'd recommend it to just about anyone.
Rating:
Summary: Time Enough for Drums
Review: This book is one of the best in the whole world. It's about a girl named Jemima, whose brothers are in George Washington's army. Jemima falls in love with her tutor, who is a spy for the army. Her father gets killed by the Hessians, and her mother goes insane.
Rating:
Summary: A Refreshing Read
Review: I was delighted with this book, which I casually picked up and decided to read. I am so glad that I found it. I was hooked by the first chapter. Jemima Emerson is an independent and determined young teenager who loves riding her horse Bleu and hates French lessons (and her tutor, John Reid). Life for Jem is changing rapidly at the start of the Revolutionary War. Her brother and friend Raymond are joining the Continental Army and her mother is writing essays for the newspaper under a psuedonem. The clash of wills between Jem and John is highly entertaining, and the resulting love that blossoms is very satisfying after so much fighting. The story moves very quickly and carries the reader's interest to the end. Many books I've read contain long and boring chapters before the romance and action pick up in the middle of the story, but in Time Enough for Drums the clash of wills between Jem and John is evident in the first chapter. I recommend this book to any age level, and it definately deserves 5 stars!
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