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[]
Relaunch[]
Collections[]
Cover | No. | Title | Contains | Published | ISBN |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
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 | |
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 | |
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 | |
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 | |
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 | |
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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Dear America Third Annual Student Writing Contest: The Winning Entries | Various | September 2000[64] | 0439249988 | |
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[]
- Dear America: Friend to Friend: a 2000 PC game based on six books from the series.
- Madame Alexander Dear America Collection: a collection of four dolls released in 1999.
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[]
References[]
- ↑ https://authorlink.com/news-and-views/news/scholastic-publisher-jean-feiwel-to-receivecurtis-benjamin-award-for-creativity-2/
- ↑ https://www.sfgate.com/books/article/dear-america-diaries-give-kids-a-feel-for-2898759.php
- ↑ https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/articles/teaching-content/kristiana-gregory-interview-transcript/ (archive)
- ↑ https://www.amazon.com/Journey-New-World-Remember-Mayflower/dp/059050214X/
- ↑ https://www.amazon.com/Winter-Red-Snow-Revolutionary-Pennsylvania/dp/0590226533/
- ↑ https://www.amazon.com/When-Will-This-Cruel-Over/dp/0590228625/
- ↑ https://www.amazon.com/Picture-Freedom-Belmont-Plantation-Virginia/dp/0590259881/
- ↑ https://www.amazon.com/Across-Wide-Lonesome-Prairie-Campbell/dp/0590226517/
- ↑ https://www.amazon.com/So-Far-Home-Driscoll-Massachusetts/dp/0590926675/
- ↑ https://www.amazon.com/Thought-Soul-Would-Rise-Fly/dp/0590849131/
- ↑ https://www.amazon.com/West-Land-Plenty-Angelino-Territory/dp/0590738887/
- ↑ https://www.amazon.com/Dreams-Golden-Country-Zipporah-Immigrant/dp/0590029738/
- ↑ https://www.amazon.com/Standing-Light-Catharine-Delaware-Pennsylvania/dp/0590134620/
- ↑ https://www.amazon.com/Line-Sand-Lucinda-Lawrence-Gonzales/dp/0590394665/
- ↑ https://www.amazon.com/My-Heart-Ground-Carlisle-Pennsylvania/dp/0590149229/
- ↑ https://www.amazon.com/Great-Railroad-Race-Territory-America/dp/059010991X/
- ↑ https://www.amazon.com/Girl-Who-Chased-Away-Sorrow/dp/0590972162/
- ↑ https://www.amazon.com/Light-Storm-Amelia-Martin-America/dp/0590567330/
- ↑ https://www.amazon.com/Color-Me-Dark-Migration-America/dp/0590511599/
- ↑ https://www.amazon.com/Coal-Miners-Bride-Kaminska-America/dp/0439053862/
- ↑ https://www.amazon.com/My-Secret-War-Madeline-America/dp/0590687158/
- ↑ https://www.amazon.com/One-Eye-Laughing-Other-Weeping/dp/0439095182/
- ↑ https://www.amazon.com/Valley-Moon-Diary-Rosalia-Milagros/dp/0439088208/
- ↑ https://www.amazon.com/Seeds-Hope-Fairchild-California-Territory/dp/0590511572/
- ↑ https://www.amazon.com/Early-Sunday-Morning-Billows-America/dp/0439328748/
- ↑ https://www.amazon.com/My-Face-Wind-Prairie-Nebraska/dp/0590438107/
- ↑ https://www.amazon.com/Christmas-After-All-Depression-Indianapolis/dp/0439219434/
- ↑ https://www.amazon.com/Time-Courage-Suffragette-Kathleen-Washington/dp/0590511416/
- ↑ https://www.amazon.com/Where-Have-All-Flowers-Gone/dp/0439148898/
- ↑ https://www.amazon.com/Mirror-Wall-Brennan-Perkins-America/dp/0439194466/
- ↑ https://www.amazon.com/Survival-Storm-Edwards-Dalhart-America/dp/0439215994/
- ↑ https://www.amazon.com/When-Christmas-Comes-Again-Spencer/dp/0439439825/
- ↑ https://www.amazon.com/Land-Buffalo-Bones-Elizabeth-Minnesota/dp/0439220270/
- ↑ https://www.amazon.com/Love-Thy-Neighbor-Prudence-Emerson/dp/0439153085/
- ↑ https://www.amazon.com/All-Stars-Sky-Santa-Florrie/dp/0439169631/
- ↑ https://www.amazon.com/Look-Hills-Lozette-Moreau-America/dp/0439210380/
- ↑ https://www.amazon.com/Walk-Dread-Deliverance-Trembly-Massachusetts/dp/0439249732/
- ↑ https://www.amazon.com/Hear-My-Sorrow-Shirtwaist-America/dp/0439221617/
- ↑ https://www.amazon.com/Dear-America-Journey-New-World/dp/0545238013/
- ↑ https://www.amazon.com/Dear-America-Winter-Red-Snow/dp/0545238021/
- ↑ https://www.amazon.com/Dear-America-Fences-Between-Us/dp/0545224187/
- ↑ https://www.amazon.com/Dear-America-Voyage-Great-Titanic/dp/054523834X/
- ↑ https://www.amazon.com/Dear-America-Patricia-C-McKissack/dp/0545242533/
- ↑ https://www.amazon.com/Dear-America-Like-Willow-Tree/dp/0545144698/
- ↑ https://www.amazon.com/Dear-America-Light-Karen-Hesse/dp/0545242452/
- ↑ https://www.amazon.com/Dear-America-When-Will-Cruel/dp/0545275989/
- ↑ https://www.amazon.com/Dear-America-Cannons-at-Dawn/dp/0545213193/
- ↑ https://www.amazon.com/Dear-America-Mary-Pope-Osborne/dp/0545266874/
- ↑ https://www.amazon.com/Dear-America-Thought-Would-Library/dp/0545280907/
- ↑ https://www.amazon.com/Dear-America-Andrea-Davis-Pinkney/dp/0545297052/
- ↑ https://www.amazon.com/Dear-America-I-Walk-Dread/dp/0545311659/
- ↑ https://www.amazon.com/Dear-America-Behind-Susan-Patron/dp/0545304377/
- ↑ https://www.amazon.com/Dear-America-Across-Lonesome-Prairie/dp/0545350662/
- ↑ https://www.amazon.com/Dear-America-Christmas-After-All/dp/0545381770/
- ↑ https://www.amazon.com/Dear-America-Down-Rabbit-Hole/dp/054529701X/
- ↑ https://www.amazon.com/Dear-America-City-Tossed-Broken/dp/0545310229/
- ↑ https://www.amazon.com/Dear-America-Hear-My-Sorrow-ebook/dp/B00FQHLRNQ/
- ↑ https://www.amazon.com/Birth-Nation-Dear-America-Boxset/dp/0439129389/
- ↑ https://www.amazon.com/Heading-West-Dear-America-Boxset/dp/0439129419/
- ↑ https://www.amazon.com/Coming-America-Dear-Boxset/dp/0439129400/
- ↑ https://www.amazon.com/Nation-At-War-America-Boxset/dp/0439129397/
- ↑ https://www.amazon.com/Seasons-Bravery-Dear-America-Boxset/dp/0439129427/
- ↑ https://www.amazon.com/Nation-At-War-America-Boxset/dp/0439129435/
- ↑ https://www.amazon.com/Dear-America-Student-Writing-Contest/dp/0439249988
- ↑ https://www.amazon.com/Teaching-Dear-America-Books-Grades/dp/0439105471
- ↑ https://www.kennedy-center.org/education/performances-and-programs/in-your-community/tya-on-tour/production-history/
- ↑ https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/2001/03/22/childrens-book-series-will-take-kennedy-center-stage/3477f9d5-5008-4ebf-9db1-714e27b7780c/
- ↑ https://www.scholastic.com/teachdearamerica/index.htm
- ↑ https://www.vla.org/jefferson-cup-winners-before-2010
- ↑ http://www.scholastic.com/dearamerica/parentteacher/praise/index.htm
See also[]
Series and spin-offs | ||
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