A Girl Called Samson: A Novel

I loved this book. Harmon's books never let me down. I enjoy that her books take you across time (from historical to contemporary), dig into the paranormal and fantasy realm either a little or lot (Vikings, fantasy worlds, time travel, or ghostly powers), are about teens and adults, and always include some sort of romance. Yet her voice is evocative, poetic, literary, and highly emotional, and you can feel her signature author's voice and style in each book no matter the genre. I have listened to her books as audio books and they are so very well done by the narrators. So engaging. A+ narrators. This one was no different. I loved being dropped into the world of Deborah Samson, a woman ahead of her time, a woman wanting to find her purpose and not be limited by society's norms. I loved the historical elements, too. Bring out the tissues, as in all her books, there are sad parts but I was happy by the ending. p.s. I always read the lower reviews before posting my own. In those handful of negative reviews, people had concerns with the romance being over the top (it was not at all and I dare those folks to read actual hardcore romances and then tell me otherwise - her books are very PG/PG-13), embellishing a historical person (that is why it is called historical fiction after all), and with it not being historically accurate. Ms. Harmon clearly states in the author's note (which I love reading and perhaps those folks should read that note first?) where she found and did her research, the information she found, and how she put her own spin on this woman's story. As readers of fiction, we need to keep this mind. It is fiction after all so if that is kept in mind, it is truly a wonderful story.

There is nothing more that I enjoy reading is a well written historical fiction novel where facts are seamlessly woven into fiction; authors such as Kate Quinn, Martha Hall Kelly, and Amy Harmon are at the top of this type of storytelling. A Girl Called Samson is American Historical Fiction at its best, it is the exceptional story of Deborah Samson born to Puritan parents in Plympton, Massachusetts. As a young girl child her mother bounded her out as an indentured servant to young adult Deborah always desired freedom and adventure. In 1780, five years into War of Independence, freed as an indentured servant, passionate for the cause for freedom, Deborah dresses herself as boy soldier and enlists in the Continental Army as Robert Shurtliff. Amy Harmon brilliantly brings Deborah’s world as a disguised soldier to life as she endures the hardships and effects of war as she daringly and boldly fights for the freedom she believes in as well as for the man she has come to care for and love. Parts of this novel is written in an epistolary format and an ingenious way to allow us to get to know Deborah though her thoughts, worries, fears, and desires for what she wants her life to be. While this story took a bit of time to get going, once hook Amy Harmon had me invest in A Girl Called Samson, her resolve and willpower especially her resilience. I highly recommend this novel – it is emotional, at times tense, at times humorous and just the right amount of romance. Deborah's journey is delightful as she meets many of the famous people that fought for the freedom we enjoy today. As I finished this book I asked myself .. Why this story at this moment in time? Why a female protagonist? Thank you, Amy Harmon for this beautifully written novel. And thank you Deborah Samson for starting that crack in the glass ceiling. “I need to tell my story because it is not just my story. It is Dorothy’s. And Elizabeth’s. And Mrs. Thomas’s. It is my mother’s story and your daughters’ story. We were all there too. We suffered and sacrificed. We fought, even if it was not always on the battlefield. It was our Revolution as well, and yet . . . no one ever asks us.”

I think I have read all of Amy Harmon's novels and enjoyed them all. A Girl Called Samson is historical fiction with an emphasis on socially defined women's roles, the Revolutionary War, and an unnecessary romantic digression. Samson is a real historical figure and one whom I had never known existed. As history, this novel works well up until the ending, when Harmon decides that Deborah's story is not enough on its own. Harmon also makes her a romantic heroine. A Girl Called Samson is the story of Deborah Samson, a young woman who masqueraded as a man to join the revolutionary army. Samson's strength is her sheer determination to succeed, in spite of being a woman. She is determined to play her part in history. She wants a legacy and to be remembered. Samson disguises herself as a man because she longs to fight for the land on which she lives, but she also does so to make a name for herself and prove that women are as strong as men. With her own behavior, Samson proves she was a complex heroine. She wanted to establish that women need not be defined by social and domestic limitations. But, at the same time, she wanted publicity for her war record and for audiences to know who she was and what she had accomplished. Samson's story works well as historical fiction. She is a fascinating woman with a commanding history. Her accomplishments prove that women can be soldiers, even though it takes two hundred years for the military to catch on to this history. Historical fiction works best when it sticks to history. Harmon does not think that Samson';s story succeeds on its own, without the addition of romance and sex. I did enjoy this novel, but in reading about the real history, which is included in the Afterword, readers learn that Samson's story was rewritten for A Girl Called Samson. Samson deserves the truth. The above comments are my own opinion. Readers will learn a great deal about Samson and celebrate her strengths. A Girl Called Samson is a novel to read and enjoy, but it is also a mix of history and fiction. Knowing the truth is important. Read the Afterword at the end of the novel.

Very interesting story about a young girl who is sent into indentured servitude but eventually makes her way in life by masquerading as a young boy and joining the army during the Revolutionary War. Very well written and so enthralling that it is hard to put down. The characters seem to be so real and easy to visualize.

In 1770, at age 10, Deborah Samson was already on her own. As the book opens, Reverend Sylvanus Conant is taking her away on horseback from the abusive widow Thatcher who cared for her after her father abandoned her and her mother left. He delivered her to the home of deacon Jeremiah Thomas, his wife Susanna, and their 10 sons. Deborah is a very inquisitive and headstrong girl, who wants nothing more than to learn new things and explore the world. She had a special bond with Reverend Thomas, and he offered for his niece Elizabeth to be her tutor by writing letters back-and-forth. Elizabeth’s husband was John Paterson, a lawyer and later, a well respected brigadier general in the Revolutionary War. Deborah also wrote letters to Mr. Paterson, and he wrote back to her over a period of many years. As the colonists became increasingly agitated under the rule of Great Britain, the country was headed for war. Deborah saw the Thomas boys, one by one, enlisting in the conflict, and she decided that she must be part of it. And so begins the remarkable true story of how Deborah Samson concealed her womanhood and became a fully accepted soldier, and eventually aide de camp to one of the youngest generals in the Revolutionary War. She was a woman of remarkable faith with an unwavering dedication to her country and the cause. The author brings the reader right onto the battlefield with Deborah, describing in great detail what she saw and experienced during this formative time in American history. An effortless read, a fascinating biography, and highly recommended!

After Deborah Samson's father abandoned her family, she is forced into indentured servitude and is bound to another family. Her independent thinking nature and desire for freedom pushes her to enlist to serve in the Continental Army under a male identity. She must hide her real gender and identity while she tirelessly serves in the military. Deborah's single goal in life from that point is to help win the war, until a past connection leads to a love that puts all of that in danger. BRAVO Amy Harmon! I was entranced with Deborah Samson's story. It was not until I read the acknowledgements at the end of the book that I realized Deborah Samson's story was real. She was a real figure in history and I was amazed that I had not heard of her before, considering what she was able to do. I loved her character in the book. She was someone who did not want her freedom stifled and she would do anything to have choices in her life. Deborah character was a force to be reckoned with. For some reason, I didn't see Deborah's love story coming. Once I realized what road the story was going down, I could not read fast enough. I couldn't put this book down - I stayed up late reading until I couldn't keep my eyes open anymore. Samson's hidden identity made for an interesting forbidden love story. Although I know that her real life story didn't pan out how it did in the book, I couldn't help but be captivated by the romance that developed. As always, Amy Harmon's writing is exemplary in this book. It's clear that she thoroughly researched the American Revolution and the real life figures who were featured in this book. She wove their stories together masterfully, with beautiful prose and layered meanings. Harmon is one of my all-time favorite writers and this book reinforced that she is unlike any other. This book is going to stay with me for a while. It's a MUST-READ historical fiction novel with a romance at the center. Steam level: 🔥🔥 ⚠️: war, death of a loved one, gruesome injury, mention of miscarriage

The American Revolution is an area I’ve done a lot of work in for the past dozen years as a serious amateur genealogist. I found this book to be absolutely brilliant in its ability to bring today’s reader into the late 18th century, including daily life, education, and the hardships of the Revolutionary War (RW), and does so in clear and compelling prose. A great read. The RW did have significant carnage. This is a fact that may not be front of mind today. Many of us who trace and celebrate our RW ancestors are doing so simply because they were the ones who lived and had children, or who already had children at the time of the war and (being older) may have served in a less intense environment. She brings this perspective to life, that of the 16 year old RW Private on the front lines. And most of all, Deborah Samson… what a story. Great historical fiction should bring the person and her world to life by filling in thoughts and conversations and small events, and having the person brush shoulders with contemporary figures. Why not? Where this book went astray for me was in the utterly ahistorical romance. Others have commented, so I’ll just make the feminist comment that this romance while honoring one woman erased aspects of another historical woman. And I’ll make the genealogical comment that the story really messed with the descendants of important historical figures. Especially ironic since a main character was a founding member of a male-line RW lineage society. I felt this revisionism was unnecessary. I’m not mad at it, just sad that the author compromised what is otherwise a stellar work. The first quarter of the 21st century has brought to the fore a lot of conflict about the historical record, and a lot of confusion and emotion. For example, the number of Fake George Washington quotes on the internet is scarey. A lot of people use this “information” for today’s political agendas. So I guess I’m just allergic to historical inaccuracies if they seem kind of gratuitous. I mean, not all of us have to end up with Prince Charming to make our stories worthwhile. Nevertheless, I would consider reading this author again for her very compelling prose and her ability to immerse us in a historical era.

Deborah Samson was born into servitude in the 1700s. (Note, not all indentured persons were of color.) By age 10 she was indentured to the Thomas family who had ten boys. Rob, as she was called by the boys, could do anything and everything the boys could, often times better than them (especially when wearing her magic breeches). When the Revolutionary War broke out, one by one the boys enlisted. By age 23, Deborah too, knew she needed to do her part. After failing once to join the fight, she perfected a look as a 16 year old boy, changed her name to Robert Shurtliff, and became a force to reckon, fighting along side the men in battle. A promotion as an aide to General John Patterson would bring Deborah face-to-face with her childhood penpal from years past. The problem was, she was falling in love with him and he thought she was a boy. This is a sweet story of a difficult time and a serious matter. The reader cannot help but root for Samson/Shurtliff and chuckle at her/his stubbornness while holding their breath in hopes that everyone makes it out alive. This is war, of course they don’t. Author Amy Harmon has taken great liberties with this historical fiction, but has woven in what truth she could based on the records available. Samson cannot be taken at face value for accuracy, but Harmon is upfront about that in the book which lends to her credibility. As a reader knowing, it is our job to just go with it. And A Girl Called Samson is a good one to just read and enjoy while learning enough about the war to pique interest. Well done Amy Harmon.