The Last Silk Dress

Rating:
Summary: Not too too great
Review: I am one of the most prolific readers that you'll ever come across, and an avid reader of historical fiction. I've read and liked some of Ann rinaldi's work, but this book is a bit too bland. Great for historical detail, don't get me wrong but the book is a bit dry and a bit of a "candy" novel if you catch my drift. Doesn't exactly stick in your mind for very long. I'd recommmend this book to people a few years younger than me, though, because I liked her books when I was younger. Also a great way to introduce kids into this genre, but for teens it's not so great if you're looking for depth.

Rating:
Summary: Great!
Review: Susan Chilmark is a 14 year old girl living during the Civil War. Her father adores her, but her mother hates her and whips her whenever she can. On a chance accounter with her older, estranged brother, she learns more about the war and "the cause" that she believes in furvently. After that she begins to slowly change. She spends a ton of time with her brother, she ignores her mother and she learns about family secrets that should have been kept hidden, because they affect her most of all, out of all the people in her family.
Ilove this book, especially the parts with the Union Soldier Timothy, because I love romance. I also liked the parts with her older brother, because it reminded me of how my brother and i get along.

Rating:
Summary: An Amazing Accoplishment
Review: This book grabs you from the first page to the very last word. You wont stop reading it. As soon as you pick it up, your eyes are glued to it. It starts with a girl just wanting to do something for the cause and follows her through many adventures with her dashing brother ,who refuses to enlist in the army and is therefore exiled from the prominent, her father who is away from home helping to build a Confederate ship, and with her mother who's mental sanity is somewhat questionable. Definately an amazing accoplishment of Rinaldi to be able to capture life of that time so well. You will read it again and again.

Rating:
Summary: If your a civil war nut this is the book for you.
Review: This book is very captivating. It dipicts a life of a girl (Susan) who is willing to do anything she can for her country. Her mother is another story and is full of nonsense. I think she was hurting though and takes all her problems out on her daughter, who she physical and emotional hurts. My friends were making fun of the cover though and saying it was a Preteen Romance novel, I had to laugh though. Like they say you cant judge a book by its cover. The cover is very deceiving theres not a lot of romance which is good and there is a ton of history in it too. The biblography is loaded with stuff Rinaldi researched just to write this book to keep it somewhat accurate. I really enjoyed it and I hope others will be inspired to read it too.

Rating:
Summary: The Best Book!
Review: I had to read this book for ss. The book choice was optional, so when I looked at this choice, it seemed like a good one, so I checked it out. After reading it, I went around the house depressed that there was not a sequel. This has been, by far, the best book I have ever read in a long time! Though it is historical ficton, it is very interesting. The author writes in great detail, making you feel as though you are the main character. This is a MUST GET book! You MUST GET THIS AND READ THIS! THIS IS AN AWESOME BOOK!!!!!!!

Rating:
Summary: Silk Dress
Review: The Silk Dress is about a girl named Susan Chilmark. Her mother, Charlotte, who is extremely strict and Roger,her father and Susan live in the South in Rhichmond during the Civil War. Susan, who is fourteen,has always believed in the Confederate cause until she accidentally meets her bother, Lucien, who ran away fromhome when he was younger. He did not Believe in the practice of slavery as his family did. His girlfriend is sent away for secretive reasons that drove him away. Susan starts helping the Confederate cause and then relizes that she did not agree sith what they were fighting for; the practice of slavery. She then tries to undo what she has done by releasing the silk balloon that she helped make.
I think that the book was really exciting. There were always parts that made you want to keep reading. I did not like one part of the book. I thought she could have figured out a better way to support her beliefs rather than betraying the Confederacy.
I would recommend the book "Silk Dress", to anyone who likes a dramatic but, also, an exciting and thrilling adventure.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful
Review: This book was a lot better than I thought it would be. I've discovered a new favorite author. My interest was held throughout the book with the many unexpected twists and turns. I highly recommend this book!

Rating:
Summary: The best book I ever read:
Review: This book was the best! I enjoyed following Susan Dobson Chilmark through her mischevious adventures!
The book was about life in the South during the Civil War. The back of the book reads:"High-spirited, beautiful Susan Chilmark, fourteen, vows to do something meaningful to support the Confederacy during the Civil War. Despite the wishes of her mother , Susan and her best friend Connie collect silk dresses from all the ladies of Richmond to make a ballon that will be used to spy on the Yankees. But the isssues behind the war aren't as obvious as Susan thinks. But when she meets her dashing, scandalous older brother and discovers why he was banished from the family, Susan unlocks a pandoras box of secrets that forces her to rethink and challenge the very system she was born into. Does she have the courage to do what's right even though it may hurt the ones she loves??"

Rating:
Summary: Book Review
Review: This book is about a girl named Susan Dobson Chilmark. Her mom has a bad reputation as a crazy lady, and she abuses Susan. Susan has a long lost brother that finds her and then helps her find silk dresses for the cause. She then falls in love with her brother's friend. Then she finds out about her messed up family issues. It is a very strong story about family, it is a good book to read.
My favorite part of the book was when Susan was eating with her brother and his friend. Her brother brother's friend, named Timothy, kept on eyeing Susan like she was the most beautiful thing in the world. This made Susan blush and her brother noticed this going on. Then Timothy decided to draw her. So he took ut a sketchpad and began to sketch her out. That is my favorite part becuase it is the first time they met (love at first sight?).
I chose this book at first becuase I needed a book for my english class on historical fiction. I picked this one particularly because it sounded interesting in the beginning of the book. It was kind of dull, but when read that Susan cross dressed because her mother forbid her to go outside, it lightened me up. Things get really sad in the book, and sometimes, things jump out at you. It is very unexpected, because you think you know what happens, but really, you don't know the half of it! It is enjoyable for people who like a loves story and adventure combined with many problems.

Rating:
Summary: BEST BOOK!!!!!
Review: k...this is ann rinaldi's best book ever! it's better even then an aquaintance with darkness. better than tamora pierce's books. k. sorry. my thoughts wander easily. too easily. anyway, this book was about this girl named Susan Chilmark (she had a name in between but i forgot it), and her mom is messed up, her dad can't stand up to her and her brother was disowned. o and her best friend isn't allowed to see her when this book starts. her life sounds pretty [bad] doesn't it? well, then she volunteers to collect silk dresses for a baloon for "the cause" (confederate) and does but that's after she accidentally meets her brother and then she goes to live with....oops. i'm giving it away. so sorry. k. well. i'll stop now. just read it before i tell u again. that wouldn't be good. ^.^