Dorene Stamper has written a fine book for middle schoolers and beyond. Jeanetta Lynn Parker and the Birth of a Nation is a great work of historical fiction combined with fantasy that makes the time travel almost believable. If you are familiar with the Magic Tree House Series, this book takes that concept and really bumps it up for readers beyond the elementary grades and those that enjoy learning about history through other channels than history books. This book will be enjoyed by tweens through adults.

The content is not all fluff by any means. This book deals with the reality of what it took for a nation to be born, and readers must face the cold, hard facts that people died and whole families lost their lives, and read how this affected those left behind to continue the fight for our nation. Ms. Stamper does a great job of tying in the fantasy of the time travel and making the connections happen between different historical time periods.

Readers will fall in love with the main character, Jeanetta Lynn Parker, her cousin Serenity Stewart, and their wonderful "Auntie" who introduces them to the Society of Time Travelers. The society members find that when asked to travel back in time, a mission will be given to them, and they must do what they can to accomplish the mission, but are not allowed to do anything that would change the course of history.

Ms. Stamper, through her series of Jeanetta Lynn Parker books, is on a mission of her own, and that is to introduce a generation of readers to the very important history of the United States of America in a fun and exciting way. Ms. Stamper has been writing for many years, but in this her first book, the reader will find himself/herself asking for more and more books to appear in the series.

From: Dorene J. Stamper
Sent: Saturday, May 24, 2008 12:55 PM

Cast of Characters in ..... Birth Of a Nation

Main Characters:
Jeanetta Lynn Parker

Supporting Cast:

Father: William Parker
Mother: Virginia Parker
Cousin: Serenity Stewart
Uncle: Mr. Erwin Stewart
Aunt: Mrs. Lydia Stewart
Aunt: Mrs. Vernetta Hunnicutt (Auntie) Who is also a witch.
Parker’s Cook: Lucy
Jake: Mr. Parker’s Hired Hand who helps run Parker's Mercantile.

Other Witches and Warlock members of the Society of Time Travelers:

Baron Michael von Schlehenried
Lady Cynthia Lynn von Schlehenried
Sir William
Witch Ester
Lady Martha, the Head of the Society of Time Travelers

Evil Warlock:
Sir Bantam

Members of the Sons of Liberty:

Dr. Warren
Paul Revere
Mr. Joseph Wright, husband to Susanna, father to William, Elizabeth, Margaret and Sarah, uncle to Robert.

Male Characters:

16-year old Master William Wright, son of Mr. Joseph Wright
17-year old Master Robert Wright, the nephew of Mr. Joseph Wright
William (Vie) Wright, The deceased brother to Joseph Wright.
Pastor Brown, The Pastor to the church the Wrights attend.

Female Characters:

Charity Wright, The sister of Joseph and Vie Wright.
Susanna Wright, Wife of Mr. Joseph Wright

Wright Daughters:

Margaret Wright: She is 16-years old. Margaret is a very attractive young lady of sixteen, the eldest of the Wright daughters, with dark
brown hair and eyes, and a mind of her own who also enjoys the same type of books as Serenity. And since turning 16 feels she has now
become a full grown lady.

Elizabeth Wright: She is 13-years old. Elizabeth is a perky little lady with light brown hair and green eyes, and has always tried to act
older than her years.

Sarah Wright: Their six-year-old daughter, with bouncing blond ringlet curls and dancing bright, blue eyes that sparkled when she talked.

The Wright Servants and Hired Hands:

Frank, A man from Wales, in his late 30s, dark complected and somewhat educated. Foreman who helps Mr. Wright in maintaining the
plantation to run smoothly.

Tad, A strong young man of 6'3" in height and weighing at least 240-pounds, who’s mother had told him long ago, there was nothing he
could not pick up or hold down.

Sal, A handsome Irish man with red hair, who sings to them all with his beautiful baritone voice. He is also a master on getting Yule Logs
to ignite faster, bringing on a brilliant blaze.

Jim, Another man from Wales, who sticks to himself most of the time.

Tom Brent, Who plays the fiddle better than anyone in Boston.

Richard and Martin, Both play guitars, and will at times play with Tom Brent.

Timothy, A non-educated man in his late 20s, who has a wife and children. At the celebration his shadow was spotted as of not having a
head. This meant that he would die within the year.

Mary, Head of the kitchen staff.

The Young Boys
Those Who Shot The Balls: causing their own Death, and that of their families.

Frank and Allen Martin. Brothers.
Mr. and Mrs. Martin, Parents of Frank and Allen.
Benjamin Clark
Mr. and Mrs. Clark, Parents of Benjamin
Ted, The man who bought coffins for the Martin family

~~~~~~~~~~~~

So far these are the only characters I can remember, up to and including chapter 22. If I have forgotten anyone will you please let me know.

Well, I'm back to working on chapter 22. I just wanted to have a list in front of me so I will not cross over someone that should be included.

Thanks, Dorene