[.ca] A Ride Into Morning: The Story of Tempe Wick (ISBN 0152046836)

A Mutiny is Imminent:
Fourteen-year-old Mary Cooper, having been disowned by her staunchly Loyalist wealthy family for instead being a Patriot, is forced to go live in rural New Jersey with her beautiful yet still quite preoccupied---and now with a newly-acquired even hotter temper than ever before---twenty-one-year-old cousin Temperance "Tempe" Wick, and Tempe's aging mother, Mary Wick. While Mary enjoys her life with Tempe and Aunt Mary much more than her previous life, where, after her parents discovered her Patriot activities, sent her to live with her maniacal with power Tory brother, who confined Mary to the stiflingly hot attic, living near the Patriot encampments magazine is very dangerous business indeed. The cold winter is spoken to perhaps be even more brutal and bitingly frigid than even the winter of 1777, at the camp of Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. The soldiers are not pleased with General Anthony Wayne's---whom Mary has developed quite a crush for---strict leadership, even though the man is trying his hardest to keep his colonist troops safe at all costs throughout the war. Whispers of mutiny abound. In hearing from her two teenage friends from the Patriot army, David Hamilton Morris and Jeremiah Levering, Mary hears word that a rebellious young man named Billy Bowzar---whom Mary secretly knows that Tempe is well-acquainted with and has been meeting with often---has been stirring up the bloody thoughts of mutiny in the already disgruntled soldiers' minds. Everyone in the area knows about the urgently whispered rumors of mutiny, though no one speaks it aloud. Then, Tempe is faced with an extremely difficult decision given to her by Billy Bowzar. If Tempe gives her precious white stallion, Colonel, said to be the strongest, sleekest, fastest, most valuable horse in all of New Jersey to Billy Bowzar for the mutiny effort, then Bowzar will make sure the Wick family farm is protected during the nighttime mutiny. If Tempe does not surrender Colonel to the mutineers... Bowzar malevolently admits to her that he can then no longer guarantee her safety during the violent mutiny if Colonel is not surrendered. Mary becomes frightened even more now than before, and begs Tempe not to give Colonel over to Bowzar. Together, Tempe and Mary have devised a foolproof plan. Later, General Wayne tries his hardest to keep his cool and be able to take responsibility and action for when the actual mutiny occurs. And occur it does. Based upon the historical New Jersey legend about Tempe Wick, the spirited young colonist girl that hid her beloved, precious horse in her house in order to protect him from the rebelling Patriot soldiers participating in the violent mutiny happening just outside the gates, Ann Rinaldi has written a satisfactory novel about New Jersey farm life living near the soldiers' encampments during the American Revolution; though this historical fiction novel is not quite up to Ann Rinaldi's usual par. The book is rather lengthy, and the action drags somewhat. Mary is a likable character, but her adoring crush on General Wayne is annoyingly childish, uncommon for a girl of fourteen. Tempe, however, is not very likable at all. She is portrayed as foolish, selfish, and her hot temper is often frustrating throughout the course of the novel. Still, the legend which the story is based off of makes it a more interesting read. Recommended.

WOW! DON'T MISS OUT ON THIS 1!:
This is one of the BEST Rinaldi books I've ever read! It's about fourteen year-old Mary Cooper. She goes to live with her cousin Tempe Wick, who despises her more than anything. Throught the book, you learn of Mary's life with her cousin, up until the point when the "mutiny raid" occurs. Mary witnesses the frightening scene, as well as helps Tempe save her beautiful horse, Colonel, from Billy Bowzar. I loved this book SO MUCH! If anyone passes this book by, they'll be missing out! It's filled with suspense, adventure, and a little bit of romance! The PERFECT BOOK! Great job Ann!

OK, but definatly not Rinaladi's best:
I read this book. It was written fairly well but it took to long for anything to happen. I found this book boring. It is definatly not the best historical fiction I have ever read. I don't highly recomend this book.

Loved it 9 years ago, love it today!!!:
I first read this book when I was in 3rd grade. It was the first real novel I read and it got me addicted to historical fiction! A Ride into Morning is just as exciting every time you read it. Ann Rinaldi does a fantastic job of grabbing the reader from the very beggining. Mary is a believable character, and you sympathize with her, but also Tempe. Read the book, you wont regret it!

LAFFY TAFFY AGAIN!! THIS BOOK WAS GOOD TOO:
If you guys haven't figured it out Ann Rinaldi is my favorite author. (Check out my reviews for Time Enough for the Drums and the Last Silk Dress) Anyways this book was GOOD, it had some action, some romance, (though not as good as time enough for the drums) it was still good. Its about a girl named, well I can't remember her name, I think it was mary, but I don't like the name Mary so we are going to call her Madelyn. She is staying w/ her cousin Tempe, and Madelyn is like head over heals, wait they didn't have heals then! Head over moccasin for this general, and ya da ya da ya da. JUST READ IT!