A Voice for Kanzas (Books From A to Z)

This one is a good Middle Grade Historical Fiction.  Click on the cover image to read my review.

Book Synopsis:  Lucy Catherine Thomkins was looking for poetry when she slipped the booklet from Papa’s coat pocket and discovered Information for Kanzas Immigrants. Just another political paper, nothing a thirteen-year-old poet would be interested in. But before dinner is over that night, Lucy becomes one those immigrants. She feels as out of place in 1855 Kansas Territory as the sky-blue silk gown she has worn for the journey from Pennsylvania, and she seeks her own purpose in this strange place. Papa is committed to the cause of abolitionism, and Mamma is committed to the success of the family’s general store. Even her brother, ten-year-old Joseph, seems to embrace this new life, despite the threats of the Border Ruffians who harass the citizens of Lawrence. When Lucy discovers that her best friend’s family is working with the Underground Railroad, Lucy must make a decision which could have dangerous consequences for herself and her family. She must decide just what she stands for, and she must find her own true voice to express herself in a time and place where a young girl’s voice is seldom valued.

About the Author:   Debra McArthur grew up in Springfield, Missouri, where her high school experience included church activities, choir, drum and bugle corps, and the kind of drama and angst that make a person really glad to grow up. 


She earned B.A. and M.A. degrees in English from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, and an M.F.A. in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Hamline University. She has written eight nonfiction books for young readers. A Voice for Kanzas is Debra’s first novel. 


Debra lives with her husband in Kansas City, MO. She teaches college along the bluffs of the Missouri River, and she is still collecting nouns that describe her: student, teacher, wife, mother, reader, writer, Irish dancer, marathon runner.
Goodreads            Website         

Book Review: A Voice for Kanzas by Debra McArthur

A Voice for Kanzas by Debra McArthur
Publisher: Kane Miller
Publication Date:  March 1st, 2012
ISBN:  978-1-61067-044-9
Genre:  Young Adult / Middle Grade historical fiction
Author Links:  Goodreads        Blog

Book Synopsis:  Lucy Catherine Thomkins was looking for poetry when she slipped the booklet from Papa’s coat pocket and discovered Information for Kanzas Immigrants. Just another political paper, nothing a thirteen-year-old poet would be interested in. But before dinner is over that night, Lucy becomes one those immigrants. She feels as out of place in 1855 Kansas Territory as the sky-blue silk gown she has worn for the journey from Pennsylvania, and she seeks her own purpose in this strange place. Papa is committed to the cause of abolitionism, and Mamma is committed to the success of the family’s general store. Even her brother, ten-year-old Joseph, seems to embrace this new life, despite the threats of the Border Ruffians who harass the citizens of Lawrence. When Lucy discovers that her best friend’s family is working with the Underground Railroad, Lucy must make a decision which could have dangerous consequences for herself and her family. She must decide just what she stands for, and she must find her own true voice to express herself in a time and place where a young girl’s voice is seldom valued.

My thoughts:  Lucy, a young aspiring poet, was uprooted from her home in Pennsylvania when her family emigrated to the Kanzas Territory.  She had to build a new life, new friends, new school, a whole new life.  She now had to face challenges that were she was protected from in her old life.  She was now more directly involved in the Free States movement and the Underground Railroad - or as called in this story - the Liberty Line.  Every decision she made had an impact on others she loved.


I found A Voice for Kanzas to be very moving.  I could not imagine being so young and having to face all the challenges that were thrown at Lucy.  All Lucy wanted was to write poetry, not travel as a immigrant, but she did not realize just what a new role that poetry would have in her new life.  Her old teacher gave her a journal to continue her writing.  Her new teacher told her she needed to find her voice.  By the end of the book, Lucy did in deed find her voice.  


Lucy, a 13 year old girl, is probably one of the strongest child characters I have read in quite some time.  You see her growing throughout the the story. She goes from being an innocent to becoming a very responsible, informed, courageous young lady.  She helps her family with their new family store, and with her new best friend, assists those that travel the Liberty Line to freedom.  You witness her changes and her grown through her poetry that is strategically placed throughout the book.


The book provides a unique look at the time period leading up to the Civil War.  So much content presented in a non-challenging way about pro-slavery and the free states endevour, enable readers to learn without much effort. 


I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves historical fiction, and especially to classroom teachers for its content. 

W.....W.....W...... Wednesday (14)

W....W....W.... Wednesdays is a weekly meme hosted by Should Be Reading.  To take part in this feature, you answer 3 questions in a blog post:

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you’ll read next?  

What are you currently reading?  I am reading two books right now.  The first one is Darkhouse by Karina Halle.  A book about ghost hunters.  A switch up from the typical paranormal story.

The second one is A Voice of Kanzas by Debra McArthur.  I won this one as a Member Giveaway on LibraryThing.  It is a middle grade historical fiction and I LOVE it!!!  This one is right up my alley.  

What did you recently finish reading?  I recently read Shayla Witherwood: A Half-Faerie Tale by Tamra Torero.  If you like faerie (or fairy) stories, you will enjoy this one.  You can check out my review by clicking on the book cover.  

What do you think you'll read next?  I plan to read At Season's End by Eric Hendershot.  This one is part of yet another Cedar Fort blog tour.  They are a great publisher and offer some wonderful titles of a variety of genres.  You'll want to stop by and visit my stop along the hop on Saturday!




Share your W..W..W..Wednesday link below in the comments, & I will be sure to stop by.  I'm always looking for more titles. 

Teaser Tuesday 12

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB @Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
•  BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My Teaser:

Lucy let the wet cloth drip onto her shoes.  She would be in the line for hanging if the Ruffians knew she was helping the Liberty Line.  "Governor Reeder won't let them do that, will he, Mr. Brown?"

-------A Voice for Kanzas by Debra McArthur

Book Blurb:  Lucy Catherine Thomkins was looking for poetry when she slipped the booklet from Papa’s coat pocket and discovered Information for Kanzas Immigrants. Just another political paper, nothing a thirteen-year-old poet would be interested in. But before dinner is over that night, Lucy becomes one those immigrants. She feels as out of place in 1855 Kansas Territory as the sky-blue silk gown she has worn for the journey from Pennsylvania, and she seeks her own purpose in this strange place. Papa is committed to the cause of abolitionism, and Mamma is committed to the success of the family’s general store. Even her brother, ten-year-old Joseph, seems to embrace this new life, despite the threats of the Border Ruffians who harass the citizens of Lawrence. When Lucy discovers that her best friend’s family is working with the Underground Railroad, Lucy must make a decision which could have dangerous consequences for herself and her family. She must decide just what she stands for, and she must find her own true voice to express herself in a time and place where a young girl’s voice is seldom valued.