THE WINTER OF RED SNOW
SUMMARY
This book takes place in
Pennsylvania year 1777 at the time of the revolutionary war. It is Abigail Jane
Stewart’s diary, a 12-year-old girl living at that time. She had her parents,
older sister Elisabeth, her younger sister Sally and her youngest newborn
brother “John Edward Stewart.” Their mother has had nine children so far, the
three girls Elisabeth, Abigail, and Sally and six boys now. All boys excluding
Johnny (as they call him) haven’t made it through their first winter. Many
soldiers willingly came to Pennsylvania to fight the Redcoats (whom were the
English). The majority of the soldiers didn’t have shoes, proper clothes, and
thousands of soldiers died from several different diseases. They camped at
Valley Forge without their leader “General Washington” who stayed at a much
better setting than the soldiers. If you would like to know the events that
happen in this book such as if Johnny survives, if the Redcoats win and what
happens at the end of this whole story, read the book.
HISTORICAL SETTING
The historical setting is the
revolutionary war.
RESEARCH/COMPARISON
Children in The Revolutionary
War: ABC Clio
Children did not go to war, yet
the war affected most of their lives. Men were going to war (who could be
parents), soldiers were coming to town and the lives of these children were
being disrupted. Parents went to war while some didn’t return. People couldn’t
afford things; keep track of their farming, and businesses. Children had to be
mature and act as adults in this situation. They had to help out their mothers
and do their best for their families.
COMPARISON
This is article about children
during the revolutionary war is similar to the main character in the book who
is still a young child watching everything that is happening to her country’s
people, men and soldiers who have come to fight. Now with her new younger
brother in the family she helps her mum out as well as her sisters Sally and
Elisabeth.
EFFECT ON CHARACTERS
The revolutionary war has had a
big effect on the characters. The main character “Abby” and her siblings worry
about what is going to happen, about the poor soldiers who die from diseases,
lack of food, and lack of clothes for warmth. The children sew clothes for the
soldiers and help cook food for them sometimes.
Quote
as proof:
“She plans to sew a coat and,
on the inside collar, embroider her name, Elisabeth
Ann Stewart, so that the soldier who wears it will remember her and come to
see her” (Pg.9) This quote shows how she decided to sew a coat for one of the
soldiers.
MAIN CHARACTERS
Abigail Jane Stewart:
She is the main character in
this book, which is her diary. She is very thoughtful and generous/kind. She is
thoughtful for making a warm sweater for a soldier who needed it and is kind
for doing Mr. Washington’s laundry. She also becomes braver throughout the book
while dealing with the very cold weather and the revolutionary war.
Elisabeth:
She is Abby’s sister who tends
to be eager and stubborn but is still kind. She gave away Abby’s coat to a boy
who didn’t need it as much as she did. Abby then became very cold but didn’t
have any coat to put on top of her dress. Elisabeth is also eager because she
ahs this dream of getting married very fat yet she is only fifteen. But she is
kind because she helps her mother a lot with her newborn brother Johnny.
AUTHOR’S CHARACTERIZATION
TECHNIQUES
The author - Kristiana Gregory
– uses the technique of diary entries (since this book is her Abigail’s
journal) in way that it expresses Abby’s thoughts and opinions and what she
suspects, wonders about or notices throughout her writing.
Quote
as proof:
“I noticed General Washington
standing in the doorway. (He is so very much taller than his wife, some say
six-foot-two.) With two hands behind his back he appeared the most relaxed id
ever seen him. He smiled at us. As Mrs. Washington moved busily around the
kitchen, his eyes followed her with tenderness.” (Pg. 52) This quote shows how
she is observing “General Washington” and his mood.
FROM WHAT POINT OF VIEW IS THE
STORY TOLD? HOW DOES THAT POINT OF VIEW HELP DEVELOP THE MAIN CHARACTER?
This story is told from a first
person point of view. The first person point of view helped develop the main
character by showing her analysis, thoughts, opinions and suspicions. For “The
Winter of Red Snow” in particular it helped show whom Abigail actually was and
helped describe and understand her and the other characters very well and in
depth.
WHAT WAS THE THEME OF THE
NOVEL?
The theme of the novel would be
death and victory just for the fact that so many soldiers and brave men died
but America than succeeded at the end while getting their Independence.
REFLECTION
I really enjoyed this book. I
personally love to read books that are either diaries or journals. This book
gives you a good feel of how tuff it was at that time for the soldiers and the
people. It also gives you some background information about the Revolutionary
war and how General Washington differed from his soldiers. I really enjoyed
this book and hope you do too.
VOCAB
- Thimble: a small metal or
plastic cap with a closed end, worn to protect the finger and push the needle
in sewing
- Shad: a herring-like fish that
spends much of its life in the sea. It is an important food fish in many
regions
- Therein: in that specific place
- Ragamuffins: a person,
typically a child, in ragged, dirty, clothes
- Limber: lithe or supple
- Fife: a kind of small shrill
flute used with the drum in military bands
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