Read with Sharon - July 2023

A Girl Called Samson - Amy Harmon

I love Amy Harmon’s writing! By allowing the circumstances of historical events to guide the story, she isn’t locked into a specific genre. She has this fabulous way of blending suspense and romance in her novels that I find thoroughly entertaining.

Amy’s newest release, A Girl Called Samson, delves into the true-life story of Deborah Sampson, an American hero who disguised herself as a man to fight in the Revolutionary War. With its patriotic themes, I thought it would be a perfect fit for my July pick. Although Amy takes the usual liberties in the fictional writing of real events, her book is filled with meticulous historical detail of the Revolution and colonial life. Although the story starts a tad slow, you’ll soon find yourself unable to put the book down and deeply immersed in Deborah’s story.

Author Amy Harmon will be joining us this month for our book club discussion. We will meet on Thursday, July 20 at 7:00 pm EDT.

Until then, I hope you enjoy reading A Girl Called Samson.

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Reviews

Inspired by a true story, “A Girl Called Samson” is a fictionalize account of Revolutionary War soldier Deborah Sampson Gannett written by Amy Harmon. You read that correctly, Deborah was a soldier in the war for American independence from England. This review contains mild spoilers, which I’ve worked to keep at a minimum.

https://www.bookbrowse.com/bb_briefs/detail/index.cfm/ezine_preview_numbehttps://leighanned.medium.com/book-review-a-girl-called-samson-af4250a6c084r/16823/the-ways-we-hide

From New York Times bestselling author Amy Harmon comes the saga of a young woman who dares to chart her own destiny in life and love during the American Revolutionary War.

In 1760, Deborah Samson is born to Puritan parents in Plympton, Massachusetts. When her father abandons the family and her mother is unable to support them, Deborah is bound out as an indentured servant. From that moment on, she yearns for a life of liberation and adventure.

https://goodeyreads.com/2023/07/04/book-review-a-girl-called-samson-by-amy-harmon/

A Girl Called Samson - Amy Harmon

Book Club Questions

THE CHARACTER’S JOURNEY

  1. Did you like Deborah?
  2. Deborah did a very good job of pretending to be a man. Why do you think she was able to do that?

THE STORY PLOT

  1. There were a few strong supporting characters. Who was your favorite?
  2. The author mixed fact with fiction. Did you learn anything you did not know?

THE ENDING

  1. Did it work for you? What would you have changed?
  2. What do you think is the author’s message to readers of A Girl Called Samson?
  3. What did you take away from the book?
  4. Are you left with any questions?

SYMBOLISM AND FORESHADOWING

  1. Did you notice any symbolism?
  2. What foreshadowing did you notice? 

THE WRITING

  1. Use one adjective to describe the writing itself.
  2. What would you change if you could rewrite A Girl Called Samson?

DEFINING CHARACTERISTIC

  1. What did you love most about the book?
  2. Did the book change any views/opinions that you have?

A Girl Called Samson - Amy Harmon