Storyteller

STORYTELLER

By:  Patricia Reilly Giff

FIRST SENTENCE

“School’s over; the weekend’s here.”

SUMMARY
from goodreads

While staying with her aunt, Elizabeth finds something remarkable: a drawing. It hangs on the wall, a portrait of her ancestor, Eliza, known as Zee. She looks like Elizabeth.
The girls’ lives intertwine as Elizabeth’s present-day story alternates with Zee’s, which takes place during the American Revolution. Zee is dreamy, and hopeful for the future—until the Revolution tears apart her family and her community in upstate New York. Left on her own, she struggles to survive and to follow her father and brother into battle.

Zee’s story has been waiting to be rediscovered by the right person. As Elizabeth learns about Zee, and walks where Zee once walked and battles raged, the past becomes as vivid and real as the present.

In this beautifully crafted, affecting novel from beloved author Patricia Reilly Giff, the lives of two girls reflect one another as each finds her own inner strengths.

REVIEW

Storyteller presents historical fiction in a new way.  There are both a historical and a modern story being told.  The historical story centers on Eliza (aka Zee), who lived in the time of the American Revolution.  The modern story is about Elizabeth, who is sent to live with her Aunt Libby when her own father travels overseas for work. 

I liked that each girl gets to tell her point-of-view in alternating chapters.  Patricia Reilly Giff has a way of making her characters jump out of the scene and into your  head.  I enjoyed Zee’s chapters the most.  It’s partly because I really (as in REALLY) like to read about the American Revolution – but it’s also because Zee’s scenes were so beautifully written.  It’s as though I were right there with her while her world was being turned upside down.

It turns out that Elizabeth and Zee have much in common.  Much more than you would expect.  Although they lived in different times, both girls were finding their voice under difficult circumstances.  I would love to find out about my ancestors too.  I wonder if there is a girl in my family’s past who shares some traits with me.  This book really got me thinking.

Even if you think historical fiction is not your thing, I recommend Storyteller because of the beautiful writing and characters. 

RATING

5        Plot

5        Characters

4        Attention Grabbing

4        Girlie Meter

4        Ending

22      TOTAL

5        STARS