Finishing Becca: A Story about Peggy Shippen and Benedict Arnold - Hardcover

Book 3 of 16: Great Episodes

Rinaldi, Ann

  • 3.78 out of 5 stars
    1,702 ratings by Goodreads
 
9780152008802: Finishing Becca: A Story about Peggy Shippen and Benedict Arnold
Hardcover
ISBN 10: 0152008802 ISBN 13: 9780152008802
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 1994

Synopsis

Taking on a job for the wealthy Shippen family in the years before the Revolutionary War, young Becca is exposed to deceit and treachery as she witnesses her mistress manipulate General Benedict Arnold into betraying his American forces.

"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.

About the Author

ANN RINALDI is an award-winning author best known for bringing history vividly to life. A self-made writer and newspaper columnist for twenty-one years, Ms. Rinaldi attributes her interest in history to her son, who enlisted her to take part in historical reenactments up and down the East Coast. She lives with her husband in central New Jersey. Visit her online at www.annrinaldi.com.

Reviews

Gr. 7-10. In 1778, 14-year-old Becca Synge goes to work as the personal maid for spoiled society beauty Peggy Shippen. The Britishÿ20are occupying Philadelphia, and the self-absorbed Peggy is seen most often on the arm of dashing Captain Andre. By the time the Britishÿ20decamp, Peggy's father is on the brink of ruin. It's then Peggy meets theÿ20notorious General Benedict Arnold, and the rest is history. According to Becca, who narrates the story, it was Peggy Shippen Arnoldÿ20who was responsible for her husband's betrayal of the Americanÿ20Revolutionary cause. The historical context is sometimes too obvious, and the word nigra, though a historically legitimate term, eventually becomes distracting. But Rinaldi's evocation of the rip-roaring life and devil-be-damned personality of Peggy Shippen, which forms the real core of the story, makes you want to find out more about the people and the history--and that's certainly one of the goals of good historical fiction. Janice Del Negro

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Publisher
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Publication date
1994
Language
English
ISBN 10 
0152008802
ISBN 13 
9780152008802
Binding
Hardcover
Edition number
1
Number of pages
362
Rating
  • 3.78 out of 5 stars
    1,702 ratings by Goodreads

Other Popular Editions of the Same Title

9780152050795: Finishing Becca: A Story about Peggy Shippen and Benedict Arnold – A Middle Grade Historical Novel of Revolutionary War Treason (Great Episodes)

Featured Edition

ISBN 10:  0152050795 ISBN 13:  9780152050795
Publisher: Clarion Books, 2004
Softcover