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Dear America is a series of historical fiction novels published by Scholastic. The series began in 1996 with Kathryn Lasky's A Journey to the New World until the cancellation in 2004 after Hear My Sorrow. The series was relaunched in the fall of 2010, before ending around January 2014. A Journey to the New World and Hear My Sorrow were also the first and last books in the relaunch.

The series is told through a diary format with each book having a fictional female protagonist. There are a wide variety of topics, including war, immigration, and slavery, as well as well known historical events like the sinking of the Titanic and the Vietnam War. Nine of the books were adapted into short films from 1999 to 2000.

Scholastic released several spin-off series to Dear America, including My Name Is America (1998), The Royal Diaries (1999), and My America (2000). The series also inspired many international series, such as My Story, Dear Canada, My Australian Story, My New Zealand Story, and Mon Histoire.

Background and topics[]

Jean Feiwel, editor in chief of Scholastic at the time, created Dear America in 1996.[1][2] Scholastic invited several authors to help launch the series, including Kristiana Gregory.[3] Each book in Dear America is told through diary format and focuses on fictional female protagonists during various time periods in America. The time periods range from the landing at Plymouth Rock in 1620 to the Vietnam War in 1968. Other topics in the series include slavery, immigration, the American Revolution, several wars (including the American Civil War, World War I, and World War II), and the Great Depression. Hardcovers of the earlier books have a ribbon inserted to be used as bookmark, but are not included in later editions.

Dear America was relaunched in 2010 with a new look. Several of the original books were reissued, while new authors were brought on to write new books.

List of books[]

Original[]

Cover No. Title Author Published ISBN
Journey-to-the-New-World 1 A Journey to the New World Kathryn Lasky September 1996[4] 9780590502146
Winter-of-Red-Snow 2 The Winter of Red Snow Kristiana Gregory September 1996[5] 9780439555074
When-Will-This 3 When Will This Cruel War Be Over? Barry Denenberg September 1996[6] 9780439555173
Picture-of-Freedom 4 A Picture of Freedom Patricia C. McKissack March 1997[7] 9780439555012
Across-the-Wide 5 Across the Wide and Lonesome Prairie Kristiana Gregory March 1997[8] 9780590226516
So-Far-From-Home 6 So Far from Home Barry Denenberg October 1997[9] 9780439555067
Soul-Rise-and-Fly 7 I Thought My Soul Would Rise and Fly Joyce Hansen October 1997[10] 9780590849135
West-to-a-Land-of-Plenty 8 West to a Land of Plenty Jim Murphy March 1998[11] 9780590738880
Dreams-Golden-Country 9 Dreams in the Golden Country Kathryn Lasky March 1998[12] 9780439445634
Standing-in-the-Light 10 Standing in the Light Mary Pope Osborne September 1998[13] 9780590134620
Voyage-on-the-Great-Titanic 11 Voyage on the Great Titanic Ellen Emerson White September 1998 9780590962736
Line-in-the-Sand 12 A Line in the Sand Sherry Garland September 1998[14] 9780590394666
Heart-Is-on-the-Ground 13 My Heart Is on the Ground Ann Rinaldi April 1999[15] 9780590149228
Great-Railroad-Race 14 The Great Railroad Race Kristiana Gregory April 1999[16] 9780590109918
Girl-Chased-Away-Sorrow 15 The Girl Who Chased Away Sorrow Ann Turner September 1999[17] 9780590972161
Light-in-the-Storm 16 A Light in the Storm Karen Hesse September 1999[18] 9780590567336
Color-Me-Dark 17 Color Me Dark Patricia C. McKissack April 2000[19] 9780439529112
Coal-Miner's-Bride 18 A Coal Miner's Bride Susan Campbell Bartoletti July 2000[20] 9780439445610
My-Secret-War 19 My Secret War Mary Pope Osbourne September 2000[21] 9780590687157
One-Eye-Laughing 20 One Eye Laughing, the Other Weeping Barry Denenberg October 2000[22] 9780439095181
Valley-of-the-Moon 21 Valley of the Moon Sherry Garland April 2001[23] 9780606228107
Seeds-of-Hope 22 Seeds of Hope Kristiana Gregory June 2001[24] 9780590511575
Early-Sunday-Morning 23 Early Sunday Morning Barry Denenberg October 2001[25] 9780439555135
My-Face-to-the-Wind 24 My Face to the Wind Jim Murphy October 2001[26] 9780590438100
Christmas-After-All 25 Christmas After All Kathryn Lasky November 2001[27] 9780439219433
Time-for-Courage 26 A Time for Courage Kathryn Lasky March 2002[28] 9780590511414
Flowers-Gone 27 Where Have All the Flowers Gone? Ellen Emerson White June 2002[29] 9780439148894
Mirror-Mirror 28 Mirror, Mirror on the Wall Barry Denenberg September 2002[30] 9780439194464
Survival-in-the-Storm 29 Survival in the Storm Katelan Janke November 2002[31] 9780439215992
Christmas-Comes-Again 30 When Christmas Comes Again Beth Seidel Levine November 2002[32] 9780439439824
Buffalo-Bones 31 Land of the Buffalo Bones Marion Dane Bauer April 2003[33] 9780439220279
Love-Thy-Neighbor 32 Love Thy Neighbor Ann Turner April 2003[34] 9780439153089
Stars-in-the-Sky 33 All the Stars in the Sky Megan McDonald September 2003[35] 9780439169639
Look-to-the-Hills 34 Look to the Hills Patricia C. McKissack April 2004[36] 9780439210386
Walk-in-Dread 35 I Walk in Dread Lisa Rowe Fraustino October 2004[37] 9780439249737
Hear-My-Sorrow 36 Hear My Sorrow Deborah Hopkinson October 2004[38] 9780439221610

Relaunch[]

Cover No. Title Author Published ISBN
Journey-to-the-New-World-2 1 A Journey to the New World Kathryn Lasky September 2010[39] 9780545238014
Winter-of-Red-Snow-2 2 The Winter of Red Snow Kristiana Gregory September 2010[40] 9780545238021
Fences-Between-Us 3 The Fences Between Us Kirby Larson September 2010[41] 9780545224185
Voyage-on-the-Great-Titanic-2 4 Voyage on the Great Titanic Ellen Emerson White November 2010[42] 9780545238342
Picture-of-Freedom-2 5 A Picture of Freedom Patricia C. McKissack January 2011[43] 9780545242530
Willow-Tree 6 Like the Willow Tree Lois Lowry January 2011[44] 9780545144698
Light-in-the-Storm-2 7 A Light in the Storm Karen Hesse March 2011[45] 9780545242455
When-Will-This-2 8 When Will This Cruel War Be Over? Barry Denenberg April 2011[46] 9780545275989
Cannons-at-Dawn 9 Cannons at Dawn Kristiana Gregory May 2011[47] 9780545213196
Standing-in-the-Light-2 10 Standing in the Light Mary Pope Osborne May 2011[48] 9780545266871
Soul-Rise-and-Fly-2 11 I Thought My Soul Would Rise and Fly Joyce Hansen July 2011[49] 9780545266864
Might-of-Angels 12 With the Might of Angels Andrea Davis Pinkney September 2011[50] 9780545297059
Walk-in-Dread-2 13 I Walk in Dread Lisa Rowe Fraustino September 2011[51] 9780545311656
Behind-the-Masks 14 Behind the Masks Susan Patron January 2012[52] 9780545304375
Across-the-Wide-2 15 Across the Wide and Lonesome Prairie Kristiana Gregory April 2012[53] 9780545350662
Christmas-After-All-2 16 Christmas After All Kathryn Lasky September 2012[54] 9780545381772
Rabbit-Hole 17 Down the Rabbit Hole Susan Campbell Bartoletti March 2013[55] 9780545297011
City-Tossed-and-Broken 18 A City Tossed and Broken Judy Blundell March 2013[56] 9780545310222
Hear-My-Sorrow-2 19 Hear My Sorrow Deborah Hopkinson January 2014[57] eBook only

Collections[]

Cover No. Title Contains Published ISBN
Birth-of-Our-Nation 1 The Birth Of Our Nation A Journey to the New World
Standing in the Light
The Winter of Red Snow
The Journal of Jasper Jonathan Pierce
October 2002[58] 9780439129381
Heading-West 2 Heading West Across the Wide and Lonesome Prairie
The Great Railroad Race
Seeds of Hope
The Journal of Douglas Allen Deeds
October 2002[59] 9780439129411
Coming-to-America 3 Coming to America So Far from Home
A Coal Miner's Bride
Dreams in the Golden Country
The Journal of Otto Peltonen
October 2002[60] 9780439129404
The-Civil-War 4 Nation at War: The Civil War When Will This Cruel War Be Over?
A Light in the Storm
The Journal of James Edmond Pease
October 2002[61] 9780439129398
Seasons-of-Bravery 5 Seasons of Bravery I Thought My Soul Would Rise and Fly
The Girl Who Chased Away Sorrow
A Time for Courage
The Journal of Biddy Owens
October 2002[62] 9780439129428
World-War-II 6 Nation at War: World War II Early Sunday Morning
My Secret War
The Journal of Ben Uchida
The Journal of Scott Pendleton Collins
October 2002[63] 9780439129435

Related books[]

Cover Title Author Published ISBN
Third-Annual-Contest Dear America Third Annual Student Writing Contest: The Winning Entries Various September 2000[64] 0439249988
Teaching-with-Dear-America-Books Teaching with Dear America Books Jeanette Sanderson January 2001[65] 9780439105477

Media[]

Television[]

Main article: Dear America (film series)

In 1999 and 2000, nine short films based on the Dear America series aired on HBO's Family Channel, along with three films based on The Royal Diaries. Some of the films were released on video cassette and are now available for purchase on streaming services.

Stage plays[]

A Light in the Storm, Dreams in the Golden Country, and Color Me Dark were adapted into stage plays from 2002 to 2005. Each play was performed at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts before going on tour.[66] A script for Across the Wide and Lonesome Prairie was also produced.[67]

Other[]

Website[]

Main article: Dear America: The Official Web Site

A website for Dear America was likely created sometime around its launch in 1996. It served primarily as a way to promote the series, its spin-offs, and other media. The website also encouraged a high level for fan interaction, which included the Dear America Writing Contest. Currently, the website is no longer accessible in its original or revamped forms. Scholastic still hosts a web page, "Teach Dear America," which is specifically for teachers.[68]

Awards[]

  • Jefferson Cup Award, Virginia Library Association (1996)[69][70]

References[]

  1. https://authorlink.com/news-and-views/news/scholastic-publisher-jean-feiwel-to-receivecurtis-benjamin-award-for-creativity-2/
  2. https://www.sfgate.com/books/article/dear-america-diaries-give-kids-a-feel-for-2898759.php
  3. https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/articles/teaching-content/kristiana-gregory-interview-transcript/ (archive)
  4. https://www.amazon.com/Journey-New-World-Remember-Mayflower/dp/059050214X/
  5. https://www.amazon.com/Winter-Red-Snow-Revolutionary-Pennsylvania/dp/0590226533/
  6. https://www.amazon.com/When-Will-This-Cruel-Over/dp/0590228625/
  7. https://www.amazon.com/Picture-Freedom-Belmont-Plantation-Virginia/dp/0590259881/
  8. https://www.amazon.com/Across-Wide-Lonesome-Prairie-Campbell/dp/0590226517/
  9. https://www.amazon.com/So-Far-Home-Driscoll-Massachusetts/dp/0590926675/
  10. https://www.amazon.com/Thought-Soul-Would-Rise-Fly/dp/0590849131/
  11. https://www.amazon.com/West-Land-Plenty-Angelino-Territory/dp/0590738887/
  12. https://www.amazon.com/Dreams-Golden-Country-Zipporah-Immigrant/dp/0590029738/
  13. https://www.amazon.com/Standing-Light-Catharine-Delaware-Pennsylvania/dp/0590134620/
  14. https://www.amazon.com/Line-Sand-Lucinda-Lawrence-Gonzales/dp/0590394665/
  15. https://www.amazon.com/My-Heart-Ground-Carlisle-Pennsylvania/dp/0590149229/
  16. https://www.amazon.com/Great-Railroad-Race-Territory-America/dp/059010991X/
  17. https://www.amazon.com/Girl-Who-Chased-Away-Sorrow/dp/0590972162/
  18. https://www.amazon.com/Light-Storm-Amelia-Martin-America/dp/0590567330/
  19. https://www.amazon.com/Color-Me-Dark-Migration-America/dp/0590511599/
  20. https://www.amazon.com/Coal-Miners-Bride-Kaminska-America/dp/0439053862/
  21. https://www.amazon.com/My-Secret-War-Madeline-America/dp/0590687158/
  22. https://www.amazon.com/One-Eye-Laughing-Other-Weeping/dp/0439095182/
  23. https://www.amazon.com/Valley-Moon-Diary-Rosalia-Milagros/dp/0439088208/
  24. https://www.amazon.com/Seeds-Hope-Fairchild-California-Territory/dp/0590511572/
  25. https://www.amazon.com/Early-Sunday-Morning-Billows-America/dp/0439328748/
  26. https://www.amazon.com/My-Face-Wind-Prairie-Nebraska/dp/0590438107/
  27. https://www.amazon.com/Christmas-After-All-Depression-Indianapolis/dp/0439219434/
  28. https://www.amazon.com/Time-Courage-Suffragette-Kathleen-Washington/dp/0590511416/
  29. https://www.amazon.com/Where-Have-All-Flowers-Gone/dp/0439148898/
  30. https://www.amazon.com/Mirror-Wall-Brennan-Perkins-America/dp/0439194466/
  31. https://www.amazon.com/Survival-Storm-Edwards-Dalhart-America/dp/0439215994/
  32. https://www.amazon.com/When-Christmas-Comes-Again-Spencer/dp/0439439825/
  33. https://www.amazon.com/Land-Buffalo-Bones-Elizabeth-Minnesota/dp/0439220270/
  34. https://www.amazon.com/Love-Thy-Neighbor-Prudence-Emerson/dp/0439153085/
  35. https://www.amazon.com/All-Stars-Sky-Santa-Florrie/dp/0439169631/
  36. https://www.amazon.com/Look-Hills-Lozette-Moreau-America/dp/0439210380/
  37. https://www.amazon.com/Walk-Dread-Deliverance-Trembly-Massachusetts/dp/0439249732/
  38. https://www.amazon.com/Hear-My-Sorrow-Shirtwaist-America/dp/0439221617/
  39. https://www.amazon.com/Dear-America-Journey-New-World/dp/0545238013/
  40. https://www.amazon.com/Dear-America-Winter-Red-Snow/dp/0545238021/
  41. https://www.amazon.com/Dear-America-Fences-Between-Us/dp/0545224187/
  42. https://www.amazon.com/Dear-America-Voyage-Great-Titanic/dp/054523834X/
  43. https://www.amazon.com/Dear-America-Patricia-C-McKissack/dp/0545242533/
  44. https://www.amazon.com/Dear-America-Like-Willow-Tree/dp/0545144698/
  45. https://www.amazon.com/Dear-America-Light-Karen-Hesse/dp/0545242452/
  46. https://www.amazon.com/Dear-America-When-Will-Cruel/dp/0545275989/
  47. https://www.amazon.com/Dear-America-Cannons-at-Dawn/dp/0545213193/
  48. https://www.amazon.com/Dear-America-Mary-Pope-Osborne/dp/0545266874/
  49. https://www.amazon.com/Dear-America-Thought-Would-Library/dp/0545280907/
  50. https://www.amazon.com/Dear-America-Andrea-Davis-Pinkney/dp/0545297052/
  51. https://www.amazon.com/Dear-America-I-Walk-Dread/dp/0545311659/
  52. https://www.amazon.com/Dear-America-Behind-Susan-Patron/dp/0545304377/
  53. https://www.amazon.com/Dear-America-Across-Lonesome-Prairie/dp/0545350662/
  54. https://www.amazon.com/Dear-America-Christmas-After-All/dp/0545381770/
  55. https://www.amazon.com/Dear-America-Down-Rabbit-Hole/dp/054529701X/
  56. https://www.amazon.com/Dear-America-City-Tossed-Broken/dp/0545310229/
  57. https://www.amazon.com/Dear-America-Hear-My-Sorrow-ebook/dp/B00FQHLRNQ/
  58. https://www.amazon.com/Birth-Nation-Dear-America-Boxset/dp/0439129389/
  59. https://www.amazon.com/Heading-West-Dear-America-Boxset/dp/0439129419/
  60. https://www.amazon.com/Coming-America-Dear-Boxset/dp/0439129400/
  61. https://www.amazon.com/Nation-At-War-America-Boxset/dp/0439129397/
  62. https://www.amazon.com/Seasons-Bravery-Dear-America-Boxset/dp/0439129427/
  63. https://www.amazon.com/Nation-At-War-America-Boxset/dp/0439129435/
  64. https://www.amazon.com/Dear-America-Student-Writing-Contest/dp/0439249988
  65. https://www.amazon.com/Teaching-Dear-America-Books-Grades/dp/0439105471
  66. https://www.kennedy-center.org/education/performances-and-programs/in-your-community/tya-on-tour/production-history/
  67. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/2001/03/22/childrens-book-series-will-take-kennedy-center-stage/3477f9d5-5008-4ebf-9db1-714e27b7780c/
  68. https://www.scholastic.com/teachdearamerica/index.htm
  69. https://www.vla.org/jefferson-cup-winners-before-2010
  70. http://www.scholastic.com/dearamerica/parentteacher/praise/index.htm

See also[]

Resources:
File:Dear America Checklist.pdf


External links[]

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