A Buss from Lafayette

Teens

synopsis

Synopsis

CAN ONE LITTLE KISS FROM A WORLD FAMOUS HERO OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION CHANGE EVERYTHING? Now available in print, digital, and audio editions. ***************************************************************** 1st Place Winner (Young Adults) Red City Review Book Awards; 1st Place Winner (Historical Fiction) Purple Dragonfly Book Awards; Gold Medalist (Middle School/Historical Fiction) Literary Classics Award; Bronze Medalist (Juvenile/Young Adult Fiction) eLit Awards; Finalist, (Historical Fiction) Red City Book Awards; Quarter Finalist (Middle Grade) Booklife Prize. Also named on the Grateful American Kids website as one of the best history book for kids to read. ***************************************************************** Clever young Clara Hargraves has a couple of big problems: a new stepmother, formerly her old maid schoolteacher aunt, who keeps trying to make Clara behave like a lady; and red hair, which means she is constantly teased, especially by an older boy, Dickon, and her beautiful cousin, Hetty. During the last week of June, 1825, Clara's small New Hampshire town is buzzing about the upcoming visit to the state by the Revolutionary War hero, General Lafayette. Could an unexpected playful kiss from a charming, world-famous Frenchman change Clara's life forever?

bio

Author Biography

Dorothea Jensen is proud to be one of a very few people who has boarded a pirate ship and attacked a Viking vessel manned by real Vikings wearing horns and furs. She was born in Boston, but grew up in Chillicothe, Illinois, site of the Viking adventure. She then earned a BA in English from Carleton College and an MA in Secondary Education from the University of New Mexico. She has served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in South America, taught middle and high school English, tutored refugees in ESL, written grant proposals for various arts organizations, written a play performed in Noh style, and raised three children. Her first historical novel for young readers, THE RIDDLE OF PENNCROFT FARM, has been used in classrooms for many years as an enrichment resource for kids studying the American Revolution. Her next novel, A BUSS FROM LAFAYETTE, is set in 1825 in the small town in New Hampshire where she has lived since 1991. Dorothea also writes modern Christmas stories in verse. Modeled on the 19th century classic poem, "A Visit from St. Nicholas", these award-winning Santa's Izzy Elves story poems feature decidedly 21st century elves savvy in modern technology.

website

Author Insight

Visiting a "Sister" Tavern

Recently I had the opportunity to eat dinner at a restaurant in Massachusetts that was moved piecemeal from my New Hampshire town nearly a century ago. This was the Wiggins Tavern, originally built in 1786 in Hopkinton, NH as an inn/restaurant/bar, which were then called "Taverns". The scene selected for this "bubble" describes the interior of the Perkins Tavern, which was across the town common from the Wiggins establishment at the time of Lafayette's visit. I decided to set this midsummer dance in Perkins Tavern only because its owner, Brinsley or Bimsley Perkins was quite a colorful character. It was great fun to step inside an interior that was doubtless quite similar to the one I imagined. Or not. Check out my blog to find out! https://dorotheajensen.blogspot.com/2019/10/i-love-stepping-inside-history.html

Book Excerpt

A Buss from Lafayette

“You have been a witcracker, Miss Clara Hargraves, ever since you were a little bit of a thing. I can still see you now, giggling away at some foolishness or other with your red locks peeking out from under your little pudding cap. You know, I have always thought your hair absolutely glows with good humor.”

I curtsied at this pleasing compliment. We then moved past the captain into what was being called “the ballroom” that evening—although it was really just the large dining room at the back of the tavern. It did look particularly grand that evening. Many candles lit up the walls, covered with elegant gold-striped paper, and the tall windows, framed by ivory damask draperies, reflected their glow. Nearly all of the dining tables had been removed to make space for dancing, and the chairs moved to line the walls.

I expected I would soon be one of the “wallflowers” sitting by those very walls, despite Dickon’s stammered request for a dance.

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Dorothea Graham Jensen

A Buss from Lafayette

Synopsis

Author Biography

Author Insight

Visiting a "Sister" Tavern

Book Excerpt

A Buss from Lafayette

Comment on this Bubble