DEAR AMERICA: Love Thy Neighbor

Love Thy Neighbor was one of only two DAs released in 2003, the penultimate year of the initial run. It doesn't have the ribbon bookmark, which I sorely missed when they took it away. I'll have to try to keep track of when it disappears. Because I care about weird things like that.

Ann Turner only wrote one other book for the series: The Girl Who Chased Away Sorrow. That was one of the bigger name DAs, with the Sarah Nita character even getting to the prototype stage of a Madame Alexander 18" doll.

I enjoyed this book quite a bit, because Revolutionary War stuff is, like, 95% Patriot. It's interesting to see a simple family, who aren't at all bad people, stick by their beliefs in times of war. It's a reminder that not all people on the side you don't agree with are bad. And it's a reminder that even people you agree with can act like massive assholes. (Tarring and feathering, anyone?) The only thing I didn't like was that there was never any sort of clear explanation of what was up with Walter, the oldest brother. He stays behind and seemingly turns Patriot. Does he actually agree with them? Or is he just doing it to marry Prudence's ex-BFF, who he does actually end up with? He tries to get the family to return to Greenmarsh after the war, but they don't want to go back where there are bad memories, but it says nothing of any bad feelings about Walter himself. I just find it odd that no one sees him ever again and Prudence seemingly doesn't speak to her former best friend ever again, even though this girl is married to her brother. It was an odd choice. The war is over. There weren't any bad feelings between Pru and the friend or the family and Walter, so why this distance?

Anyway, if you're interested in this time period, I recommend giving this book the quick read that's all it requires. It's nice to see that different perspective a lot of people likely forget about.