Independent Dames: What You Never Knew About Women and Girls of the American Revolution by Laurie Halse Anderson

Independent Dames by Laurie Halse Anderson is a very fascinating book about women during the American Revolution. It was very interesting and I learned a lot of facts about women during the Revolution that I never knew before. During this time period women acted as spies, snuck into the army to fight, boycotted the acts made by the British, tended the wounded soldiers, supported their husbands, sewed clothes and helped smuggle supplies to the army. My favorite story in the book was about a lady whose house was being surrounded by British soldiers. With the help of her children they began to fire at the soldiers so much that the soldiers thought part of the American army was in the house. When the British soldiers continued to attack she stepped out on her porch waving a sword in the air and daring the soldiers to keep attacking. I think this story and others in the book give the real meaning to you go girl! Also included in this nonfiction book is a brief timeline of the war. This is a fast read with pictures to help keep the reader entertained. It is a book well worth reading to get a greater appreciation for the trials and sacrifices women went through and still go through during times of war.