A Buss From Lafayette
Dorothea Jensen has written a warm,
funny, coming-of-age novel about a 19th century teenage girl who lives on a farm in
Hopkinton, New Hampshire. Set in June 1825 as the Town and its inhabitants prepare
for General Lafayette’s Farewell Tour visit, the story begins on June 21 and ends 6
days later, the day that Lafayette pays Hopkinton (and Clara) a call. A lot
happens in that fateful week; and we see Clara morph from a precocious,
rambunctious, somewhat petulant 14-year old into a wiser, more mature young
adult.
Jensen sketches her characters with
short but believable strokes. Clara, her aunt/stepmother, Priscilla, her
brother, Joss, the boy Dickon and her cousin, Hetty, are vividly and
sympathetically portrayed. Lafayette is, well, Lafayette, charming and oh so
French. Jensen also paints what appears to be an authentic portrait of life in
1825 New Hampshire as well as the Nation’s response to Lafayette’s final visit
to his adoptive land.
The story has a number of twists and
turns, but the plot is resolved in a satisfying, wholly heart-warming
dénouement. Though A Kiss From Lafayette
is billed as a young adult novel, it is truly a tale for adults of all ages.
-
Alan R. Hoffman, President, American Friends of Lafayette; President, Massachusetts
Lafayette Society; translator, Lafayette in America in 1824 and 1825, by Auguste Levasseur.A
I think my girls will really enjoy this book when they're older. Thx for the review!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely sounds interesting! Thanks for sharing with #KidLitBlogHop!
ReplyDeleteI would like to read more YA novels. A Kiss From Lafayette sounds like a wonderful book! It's a pleasure to connect with you on the Kid Lit Blog Hop!
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