Reading Recommendations

Do you enjoy reading books about our signers, the founding fathers, or the Revolutionary War? Are you always looking for books to add to your “to-read” list? If so, this page is for you! We have listed below all of the book recommendations from President General Nancy Wark’s monthly e-blasts and recommendations we have received from members. The webmaster has created a DSDI Book Club on the Goodreads site that includes a shelf for the adult recommendations and a shelf for the children recommendations.

If you would like to be added as a member to the DSDI Book Club on Goodreads, go to the club’s page on Goodreads (linked in the above paragraph) and request to join, or send an email to [email protected].

Do you have a book you would like to recommend? Send it to [email protected].

Emailed recommendations from fellow members

The British are Coming by Rick Atkinson (recommended by Assistant Treasurer Mid Ramsey)

The Rebellion of Jane Clarke by Sally Cabot Gunning (Sawtucket #3) (recommended by Webmaster Stacey Bohning)

President General’s e-blast recommendations

February 2025

America’s Greatest Library: An Illustrated History of the Library of Congress by John Y. Cole

For our younger members: Thomas Jefferson Builds a Library by Barb Rosenstock, John O’Brien (Illustrator)

January 2025

Lafayette in the Somewhat United States by Sarah Vowell

For our younger members: America the Beautiful – Celebrating America’s History, Landmarks, Parks, Artists, Food, Maps, and More! by Cholena Rose Dare

December 2024

Our President General occasionally receives emails from the public through the contact page on our website. Recently, two authors reached out with books they have written that they felt our members might be interested in and asked that they be shared with our membership.

Thomas Annely: A story Inspired by Real People and Real Events by Fred and Mary Marzocchi
From the author: “In this gripping tale of loyalty and courage, the author has woven facts with fiction to bring this story of a remarkable young British gunsmith, Thomas Annely, to life.”

Bathsheba Spooner: A Revolutionary Murder Conspiracy by Andrew Noone
Dear Mrs. Wark —
Would the DSDI like to learn more about my book? It details the most sensational crime of the Revolution. The title character, when five months pregnant, was hanged alongside her three British and American accomplices. Spooner, John Adams’ second cousin, was the first woman executed in the new U.S., the inspiration behind the nation’s premier murder case. Acting Gov. John Hancock organized the trial, which was prosecuted by Robert Treat Paine. (Future Supreme Court Chief Justice William Cushing presided; Jefferson’s attorney-general Levi Lincoln served as defense attorney).

Named #1 new release, US Revolution, at Amazon, Jonathan Cohn of the Huffington Post calls the book “…meticulously researched, elegantly told…”; Prof. Emeritus Alan Rogers (Boston College) writes “…a provocatively and deeply researched volume…a powerful, well-told story.” I have (or will have) given over one hundred podcasts and readings in several states, to dozens of historical/hereditary societies and libraries, as for the DAR, SAR and Society of the Cincinnati, 250 anniversary organizations, Plymouth, Worcester and Cape Cod Genealogical Societies, and Boston’s Old North Church, at locations including Concord, Salem, Lexington, and NYC. Having sold nearly 2,000 copies (and now an audiobook), it’s offered by shops and libraries nationwide, among them Freedom Trail, Harvard Bookstore, Saratoga County History Center, Boston Tea Party Museum, and the American Antiquarian and Massachusetts Historical Societies.

I hope to share this vital history with your fellow descendants.
Thank you
Andrew Noone
[email protected]
508-769-3220

For our younger readers: She Fought, Too: Stories of Revolutionary War Heroines by Tara Ross, Kate E. Cooper (Illustrations)

November 2024

America’s Hidden History: Untold Tales Of The First Pilgrims, Fighting Women, And Forgotten Founders Who Shaped A Nation by Kenneth C. Davis

For our younger members: Who Was Abigail Adams? by True Kelley, Who Hq, John O’Brien (Illustrator)

October 2024

The Road To Guilford Courthouse: The American Revolution In The Carolinas by John Buchanan

For our younger members: A Revolutionary Field Trip: Poems Of Colonial America by Susan Katz

September 2024

Answering Liberty’s Call: Anna Stone’s Daring Ride to Valley Forge: A Novel  by Tracy Lawson

For our younger members: The Biggest (and Best) Flag That Ever Flew by Rebecca C. Jones

August/July 2024

As we are getting ready for our Fall meeting in Rhode Island, these two books might be fun summer reading books. Some of you may come early for our meeting or stay later and add a side trip to visit the Breakers and the other Mansions. Rhode Island is filled with many great places to visit.

Murder at the Breakers by Alyssa Maxwell

For our younger members: R is for Rhode Island Red by Mark R. Allio

June 2024

Washington’s Marines: The Origins of the Corps and the American Revolution, 1775-1777 by Jason Q. Bohm

For our younger readers: Memorial Day for Kids, Editor Natalie De Marco 

May 2024

These book recommendations are from the Brinker sisters, Ellen and Marianne.

The Swamp Fox: How Francis Marion Saved the American Revolution by John Oller

For our younger readers: The First Spy Master: George Washington and The Culper Ring by Kathryn Scarborough 

April 2024

Women Who Would Be Free by Michael William Young

For younger readers: Revolutionary Prudence Wright by Beth Anderson, Illustrations by Susan Reagan

March 2024

This book recommendation comes from South Carolina Governor Robin Rawl, hostess of our Charleston meeting in April. The book is written by Carl Borick, our Friday night speaker.  

A Gallant Defense: The Siege of Charleston, 1780 by Carl Borick

February 2024

American Creation: Triumphs and Tragedies at the Founding of the Republic by Joseph J. Ellis

For younger readers: Leave it to Abigail!: The Revolutionary Life of Abigail Adams by Barb Rosenstock (author), Elizabeth Baddeley (illustrator)

January 2024

Those Turbulent Sons of Freedom: Ethan Allen’s Green Mountain Boys and the American Revolution by Christopher S. Wren

For younger readers: Patience Wright: American Sculptor and the Revolutionary Spy by Pegi Deitz Shea, Bethanne Andersen (Illustrations)

December 2023

This month’s book recommendations come from Massachusetts Governor Ellen Brinker.

The Revolutionary: Samuel Adams by Stacy Schiff

For younger readers: Patriots, Redcoats and Spies (1) (American Revolutionary War Adventures) by Robert J. Skead

Submarines, Secrets and Daring Rescue (2) (American Revolutionary War Adventures) by Robert J. Skead

Links to Liberty: Defending the Great Chain at West Point (3) (American Revolutionary War Adventures) by Robert J. Skead

November 2023

Washington’s Immortals: The Untold Story of an Elite Regiment Who Changed the Course of the Revolution by Patrick K. O’Donnell

For younger readers: The Pilgrims’ First Thanksgiving by Ann McGovern (Author), Elroy Freem (Illustrator)

October 2023

The Indispensables: The Diverse Soldier-Mariners who shaped the country, formed the Navy, and rowed Washington across the Delaware by Patrick K. O’Donnell

For younger readers: Henry and the Cannons: An Extraordinary True Story of the American Revolution by Don Brown

September 2023

Hero of Two Worlds: The Marquis de Lafayette in the Age of Revolution by Mike Duncan

For younger readers: Paul Revere’s Ride: The Landlord’s Tale by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

August 2023

Washington’s Marines by Jason Q. Bohm

For younger readers: Independent Dames by Laurie Halse Anderson

July 2023

Founding Gardeners: The Revolutionary Generation, Nature, And The Shaping Of The American Nation by Andrea Wulf

For younger readers: A Revolutionary Field Trip: Poems Of Colonial America by Susan Katz

June 2023

Ten Tea parties: Patriotic Protests That History Forgot by Joseph Cummins

For younger readers: Celebrate America: A Guide to America’s Greatest Symbols

May 2023

Glory, Passion and Principle: The story of eight remarkable women at the core of the American Revolution by Melissa Lukeman Bohrer

For younger readers: Paul Revere’s Ride: The Landlord’s Tale by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Charles Santory (Illustror).

April 2023

The American Revolution in the Southern Colonies by David Lee Russell

For younger readers: Cloaked in Courage: Uncovering Deborah Sampson Patriot Soldier by Beth Anderson

March 2023

Spies, Patriots, and Traitors: American Intelligence in the Revolutionary War by Kenneth A. Daigler

For younger readers: Heroes of the Revolution by David A Adler

February 2023

The Revolutionary: Samuel Adams by Stacy Schiff

For younger readers: Patriots, Redcoats and Spies by Robert J. Skead, Robert A. Skead

January 2023

The Jamestown Brides by Jennifer Potter

For younger readers: Liberty or Death: The American Revolution: 1763-1783 by Betsy Maestro, Giulio Maestro (Illustrator)

December 2022

The Drillmaster at Valley Forge: The Baron de Steuben and the Making of the American Army by Paul Lockhart

For younger readers: Gingerbread for Liberty!: How a German baker helped win the American Revolution by Mara Rockliff

November 2022

American Rebels: How the Hancock, Adams and Quincy Families Fanned the Flames of the Revolution by Nina Sankovitch.

For younger readers: Let it Begin Here!: Lexington and Concord: First Battle of the American Revolution by Dennis Brindell Fradin

October 2022

Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation by Joseph J. Ellis

For younger readers: Celebrate America: A Guide to America’s Greatest Symbols by Jill Kalz

September 2022

John Adams by David McCullough

For younger readers: Eliza: The Story of Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton by Margaret McNamara

August 2022

The Drillmaster of Valley Forge: The Baron de Steuben and the Making of the American Army by Paul Lockhart

For younger readers: Sybil Ludington: Revolutionary War Rider by Karen Romano Young

July 2022

The Founders’ Fortunes–How money shaped the Birth of America by Willard Sterne Randall

For younger readers: Now & Ben: The Modern Inventions of Benjamin Franklin by Gene Barretta