[cs_content][cs_section parallax=”false” style=”margin: 0px;padding: 45px 0px;”][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][x_accordion][x_accordion_item title=”Book Info” open=”false”]Title: Last In A Long Line of Rebels
Author: Lisa Lewis Tyre
Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books
Publishing Date: September 29, 2015
Length: 288 pages
Source: Christmas gift
Synopsis: Debut novelist Lisa Lewis Tyre vibrantly brings a small town and its outspoken characters to life, as she explores race and other community issues from both the Civil War and the present day.

Lou might be only twelve, but she’s never been one to take things sitting down. So when her Civil War-era house is about to be condemned, she’s determined to save it—either by getting it deemed a historic landmark or by finding the stash of gold rumored to be hidden nearby during the war. As Lou digs into the past, her eyes are opened when she finds that her ancestors ran the gamut of slave owners, renegades, thieves and abolitionists. Meanwhile, some incidents in her town show her that many Civil War era prejudices still survive and that the past can keep repeating itself if we let it. Digging into her past shows Lou that it’s never too late to fight injustice, and she starts to see the real value of understanding and exploring her roots. [/x_accordion_item][/x_accordion][cs_text]I loved Lisa Lewis Tyre’s debut novel, Last in a Long Line of Rebels. It’s such a funny summertime read, perfect for this time of year. My aunt gave me a copy of the book as a Christmas gift since she knew the author. (I know, I’m so late reading this! But hey, my procrastination paid off, because the start of my summer vacation was a great time to read the setting of this story.)

This is a middle grade story about twelve-year-old Lou who is praying for an exciting summer vacation. When she and her friends begin to uncover the mysteries of her 175-year-old house, they end up on a thrilling goose chase for Civil War gold! (Umm can my summer please be that fun?!)

Right away I was swept up in the setting: a hilarious small Tennessee town based upon the author’s own experiences as a child. Its history and people were so fun (and reminded me of my own crazy Southern family – ha!) Lou’s family was well-meaning and lovable, and I fell right into place with them; it was so easy to be drawn into the story.

Lou’s home plays a major role in the story, and was so fascinating. It had been in her family since the 1860s and when it is condemned, she decides to do everything she can to save it. (Understandably so!) All the descriptions – the secret hiding places used for loot, gold, diaries, slaves – had me craving for a house with rich history such as that myself!

What I most loved were the history tie-ins. When Lou finds her namesake’s Civil War-era diary, she discovers more than she bargained for. I absolutely loved the moral lessons in the story: though Lou’s ancestry held both abolitionists and slave owners, she learned that it was important to remember her history so as not to repeat it.

Mrs. Tyre combined a fun summertime children’s novel with history, race, and prejudice and I was impressed! 🙂

four stars! ★★★★✩

[/cs_text][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][/cs_content]