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