Anna Sunday

I love the questions of who is enemy and who is friendand how can the human spirit survive in times of tragedy and war that Keehn explores in this story. Anna is a feisty young girl who embarks on a mission with her younger brother Jed to find her father who is wounded in Winchester, Virgina in the Civil War and bring him home to Pennsylvania. Much of the humor woven into this story comes from their transportation, Sampson, a huge plow horse who responds only to Bible verses.These two young people who are caught in the sweep and heartbreak of the war are strongly portrayed with all the interplay of brother/sister antagonism and love. Jed is "rutchety, " sees the world as good or evil and mostly disagrees with Anna's opinions on just about everything. Anna is strongly appealing, a intrepid makeshift dentist and hopeful baker of apple dumplings which she just knows will make her father recover from his wounds. Even though they meet people from both sides of the conflict and experience the horrors of the war especially when they are imprisoned in Castle Thunder with other refugees,ultimately, Anna and her story glow with quiet strength of character and hope. I recommend this book highly, not only for young people, but for adults.

Sally Keehn has done it again!Set during the Civil War,using meticulous research,an vibrant voice, and a compelling plot, she takes us on a journey with Anna and her brother Jed in search of Pa who is reported to be dying, in the house of the enemy - a she-devil from Winchester Va. Will Sampson, their horse, who only responds to Bible commands, get them there in time? Will they survive the sutler who has his eye on Sampson? Will Anna's disguise be discovered? Who are the real enemies after all? Anna Sunday is such a riveting read, that I stayed up half the night to finish it. I am now lending it out to my friends. There is a waiting list! Anna Sunday is a must-have for schools, libraries and personal collections!

Just as she did with I AM REGINA, Keehn has taken a slice of history and brought it vibrantly alive through her young heroine. Anna Sunday is a perfect hero, someone all of us can relate to. Can you imagine setting off with your younger brother and a horse who obeys only Bible commands to rescue your injured father? Can you imagine doing it during the Civil War? Of course you can! Anna Sunday is the brave one in all of us. We can all relate to her--and learn some history along the way. Did I mention it's a funny book, at times, and a poignant one, too? I don't want to give anything away, so let me just say: Buy it for your child, but read it first! You will love it. Destined to become a classic, along with Regina.

ANNA SUNDAY is a gem! I love that this book doesn't glorify war. I love that the characters must confront their prejudices--about the enemy, about women's roles--and grow beyond them. Not only is Anna's story compelling, but it is told with such a sure and true voice. It's beautifully written and paced, and the characters are well-drawn and memorable. And the author subtly invites her young (and older) readers to examine (or re-examine) tough, complex questions. "Oh why must everything be so complicated? Why can't everybody just have the good sense to stop fighting, go home, raise pigs and...and go barefoot...?" Is war ever justified? Are there things worth fighting for, or killing or dying for? Are there times when doing something wrong (like stealing) might be right or less wrong because of the reason behind it(to take shoes to the shoeless with bleeding feet)? Can we learn to love our enemies by standing in their shoes?There are so many other big and little things that I love about ANNA SUNDAY. The kind of man Pa is. The kind of woman Katherine is. The idea of putting one foot in front of the other, of keeping on no matter what. The "Thumbelina" references and her transformation from pretty Thumbelina to brave Thumbelina. The recurring symbols/metaphors of feet/shoes/injured feet/shoelessness. Geodes. The recipes! For shoefly pie and apple dumplings and even niter! The sayings: "Hot fires make strong bricks" and " Root, hog, or die." Dear Samson. The Bible verse device is brilliant--funny and fresh! The homage to "The Battle Hymn." And most of all, Anna, who believes in "impossible things like kindness and fairy-tale princes."I love that many young people will read this book and be nourished by it. Well-done, Sally Keehn!