Ann Rinaldi Books In Order

Publication Order of Brie McQuade Books

Publication Order of Quilt Trilogy Books

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Publication Order of Great Episodes Books

Publication Order of Dear America Books

Publication Order of My Name Is America Books

Ann Rinaldi was a young adult, historical, literature, and fiction author popularly known for her historical fiction books The Last Silk Dress, In My Father’s House, A Break with Charity, and Acquaintance with Darkness.

She wrote over 40 novels, eight of which were notable books by the ALA. Additionally, in 2000 her novel Wolf by the Ears was chosen as one of the best novels preceding 25 years and later selected as one of the best novels preceding 100 years. She was a writer for the Great Episode series, a novel series featuring books set during the American Colonial Era.

Before her death, Ann Rinaldi lived in Somerville, New Jersey, with her husband, who she married in 1960. Before dedicating her time to full-time writing, she worked as an author for a local newspaper columnist. She continued writing for the newspaper even throughout much of her writing career. Her first book, Term Paper, was published in 1979, and prior to this, she had written four unpolished books, which she termed as “terrible.”
Girl in Blue
the girl in blue by Ann Rinaldi is a story of a girl named Sarah who runs away from her home and disguises herself as a man to join the Union Army during the American Civil War. Upon arriving at the camp, she is assigned to help a surgeon named Hammond. She travels to the local town and gathers food for the injured and sick military men. After spending a while in the camp, she experiences her first battle.

Sarah tries to survive through the battle without firing a single shot or killing anyone but eventually forced to defend herself and shoots a man who later dies. She survives the battle without any injuries, but unfortunately, her identity is soon unraveled by a general, and she is assigned to other tasks.

She is given the role of a spy disguised as a maid for a woman working undercover for the Confederate Army. The woman had a daughter who later became a very close friend to Sarah. The two become so close that the daughter gives Sarah a riddle that, when solved, reveals where her mother’s diary is hidden.

Sarah soon cracks the puzzle and finds the diary under the stairs. As she turns the pages, Sarah can discover how the woman got the messages, but her stay in the woman’s house is short-lived when she falls ill. But soon, a chance encounter with an investigator drags her into a web of intrigue, mystery, and romance. Sarah’s feat is put into the test like never before.

Although the Girl in Blue is a novel that narrates fictional events, it’s wise to say that some of the encounters in this book are things that happened to most soldiers in real life. The story pulls you in immediately and allows you to understand and experience what some spies and soldiers had to do to serve.

As a reader, you can hear our heroine’s thoughts as she experiences her days trying to hide her real identity as a woman. During this time, you can understand and experience some of the fear and emotions she feels. Throughout the story, Sarah becomes more vulnerable and emotional because of her relationships with the people she encounters in the military.

Since the book is set in the 1860s, you are bound to come across some older language that may confuse the younger reader, but that’s not overly done. You should expect some bits of violence since this is a war story, but it doesn’t have too much violence. We watch as Sarah grows into a stronger and more intelligent woman in a time when women were considered less equal to men.

Time Enough for Drums
Ann Rinaldi is an author whose legacy has become a household name in the young adult historical fiction space, and Time Enough for Drums is one of her most acclaimed YA books.

The book is set in 1775, and we meet a teenage girl named Jemima Emerson. she is a headstrong 15-year-old, and while she’s not a bad girl, she is simply a person who doesn’t think before acting, and her tutor Mr. John Reid is determined in transforming her into a responsible lady, but she resists with everything she has.

But war has a way of making a person mature up. Jemima’s brother, Daniel, accomplishes the commission under General Washington. Her father sacrifices everything to supply the army while her mom drafts an essay under a penname that is known across the American colonies. Jemima’s boyfriend, her younger brother, and their servants all leave their homes to fight the war. Her sister relocates and marries a British soldier. All these events around Jem’s have consequences, and soon the dangers of war come starring directly to Jemima’s hometown along with the settling British Army. Meanwhile, the tutor Jemima despises becomes more than he seems.

Time Enough for Drums is a fantastic coming-of-age narrative set during the American revolution. There are different forces at work, so many changes, many players, and so much at stake. It is fascinating to see that Ann Rinaldi did a fantastic job showcasing how all these factors immensely affected Jemima’s family. And the theme of independence is well communicated at both personal and national levels.

The author’s biggest strength is the cast of solid characters she created. The main character, Jem, is a complex girl living in such a tough time, while John Reid is her ideal counterpoint. The interactions between the two will keep you turning pages, even when the least expected happens. The bond between these two characters is strong and serves to highlight the evilness of war. Even in the midst of war, love thrives and beats all the odds.

This novel falls under the young adult category but is highly recommended for readers above the age of 12 years. It is all-encompassing, reminding us that war is terrible and the details in the book are better left for an older audience.