The Fifth of March: A Story of the Boston Massacre

Reader reviewed by Kittygirl

Fourteen-year-old Rachel Marsh is an indentured servant living in Boston in 1770. She serves John and Abigail Adams as a nursemaid for their two children. As tensions between the colonists and the newly sent British soldiers rises, Rachel struggles to find a place of her own in the changing world around her. Confused by the concept of becoming a plain American, Rachel is reluctant to have anything to do with the British private that stands guard outside the Adams house every night. However, soon she starts to get to know the solider, Private Matthew Kilroy, despite the persecution of the British soldiers. When the Boston Massacre arrives, Matthew is involved and Rachel must decide where her true Place lies.

Ann Rinaldi is one of the best writers of the historical fiction genre. Her characters are very real, and she uses a lot of dialogue rather than descriptions to set the historical scene. One of the things about books concerning major historical events is that you already know the ending in many cases. For example, when you read a book on the Titanic, you know the boat is going to sink. So even though I already knew how the book was going to end, it was very enjoyable. Rinaldis writing turns major historical figures into regular people who the reader is able to understand and related to. The book also contains a little romance for those who like it, but not so much that readers who dont like love stories will lose interest. A great way to read about a more obscure (but still very important) event in American history.