This Saturday, July 4, America celebrates its 250th birthday. The Declaration of Independence, penned by Virginia’s own Thomas Jefferson, was signed two hundred and fifty years ago and declared our independence from Britain. To commemorate America’s semiquincentennial anniversary, the library and Henrico Recreation and Parks have planned several events. In addition to these, we invite you to explore stories to learn more about the Revolutionary era. Read on for a selection of related titles found in our collection.
- The Age of Phillis by Honorée Fanonne Jeffers (also available on Hoopla) - Phillis Wheatley was an accomplished enslaved poet who published a book of her work just prior to the start of the American Revolution. Wheatley faced many challenges in her lifetime while living in Boston. Jeffers imagines what her life may have been like through poetry and verse.
- Bellewether by Susanna Kearsley (also available on Hoopla) - Charley is the present-day curator of Long Island’s Wilde House Museum. Lydia Wilde was the daughter who resided in the house with her family during the 1700s. When her father reluctantly took in a French prisoner during the French and Indian War, a forbidden love developed between the prisoner and Lydia. Legend has it that tragedy ended their love, leading to present-day ghost stories and local legends. But is there more to the actual story? When strange things start happening at the museum, Charley will have to unravel the mystery of it all.
- Carrying Independence by Karen A. Chase (also available on Hoopla) - Nathaniel is tasked with getting the last few signatures on the Declaration of Independence. The journey will be dangerous and not without risk. Along the way, Nathaniel will learn about both himself and those around him.
- The General’s Cook by Ramin Ganeshram - A book about willpower, love, and longing that chronicles the story of Hercules, the enslaved chef of General George Washington. Well-known for his abilities in the kitchen, Hercules’ talents were legendary in Philadelphia and beyond. Author Ramin Ganeshram, a chef himself, includes modern-day adaptations of some of the recipes Hercules may have prepared.
- My Dear Hamilton by Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie (also available on Hoopla) - My Dear Hamilton explores the love and lives of Eliza and Alexander Hamilton. A must-read for fans of Hamilton the musical.
- My Name is Resolute by Nancy E. Turner - Resolute Catherine Eugenia Talbot was born in Jamaica, where her father was the chief officer of a sugar mill. In 1729, her life is thrown into chaos as she and her siblings find themselves captured by pirates and sold into slavery. She undergoes several changes in a short span of time, serving as an indentured servant to a Puritan family in Massachusetts, where she is taught the trade of weaving, and is then brought to a convent in Montreal. Weaving ultimately becomes a huge part in Resolute’s life. It bears witness to her courage, heartbreak, and strength as she makes her way back to Massachusetts to play a pivotal role in the American Revolution.
- Someone Knows My Name by Lawrence Hill (also available on Hoopla) - A retrospective of sorts that chronicles Aminata Diallo’s life as an enslaved person in South Carolina during the American Revolution. A story that explores the power and pull of home alongside the brutality of slavery.
- The Story of Land and Sea by Katy Simpson Smith (also available on Hoopla) - Three generations of a family are intertwined with love, duty, and the allure of the sea. When fever comes to Beaufort in the years after the Revolution, the widowed John is faced with difficult decisions regarding his daughter Tabitha and her health. Alternating narratives also give the reader glimpses of Tabitha’s grandfather, Asa, and her mother, Helen.
- This Here Is Love by Princess Joy L. Perry - Set in the years between Jamestown’s founding and the Revolution, This Here Is Love features the perspectives of multiple characters, including enslaved and indentured persons. Perry weaves a compelling portrait of historically marginalized people whose own histories may not have been documented. Virginia’s own Northampton County (Eastern Shore) and the Elizabeth City Shire Colony serve as the backdrop for this narrative about love and the choices we must make.
- The Trial and Execution of the Traitor George Washington by Charles Rosenberg - What would have happened if George Washington was taken from the front lines of fighting during the American Revolution and brought to London on charges of treason? Rosenberg explores that alternate premise in this reimagined historical fiction novel.