A Girl Called Samson: A Novel

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!

Wow. Words cannot describe how much this book moved me. Knowing it’s based (loosely) on a true story makes it all the better. I absolutely love the resolve and resilience of the female main character and found myself feeling proud of her as well as emotional at all that she experienced. While the mild romance added was not true to history the rest of her story is and for that she is truly admirable. I found myself unable to put the book down even over other books that are more popular that I’m currently reading. So to say that I would recommend others to read it would be an understatement. I’m now going to have to buy my “shelf trophy” of this book since I read it with KU.

Based on a true story and events, this book tells the story of a young girl rWho fought through the societal limitations for women at the time to change the course of her life. The author did a great job of character development and setting during the revolutionary era.

A Girl Called Samson is yet another triumphant historical work of fiction by the talented Amy Harmon. Taking a real-life heroine in one Deborah Samson (also known as Sampson) and giving her the spotlight she deserved and would have undoubtedly shied away from to an extent, I am truly in awe of this remarkable woman's story. Harmon does a wonderful job of bringing Deborah's world to her readers. A journey simply unbelievable to even those closest to her, it's an adventure that will truly shock and astound you. Once again showing just how resilient the human spirit can be when faced with adversity.I can't tell you how enamored I am with Deborah. That she could tackle any task put in front of her. That she revered the Almighty while oft-times questioning why as a woman she wasn't allowed to be more than was expected of her. The fact that she decided to go 'under cover' and present herself as a young soldier floored me in the very best way. Getting to be witness to her historic venture into the unknown. How she managed to fool every authoritative figure. How they admired her tenacity, her bravery and how she literally became a hero in every sense of the word, whether she wanted to be one or not. A life well-lived but perhaps not the one she had envisioned or thought predestined. But it was one that is simply incredible.Harmon takes us through all the ups and downs of her young life, which is a part I thoroughly enjoyed. From her time with the Thomas family to her decision to join the military, those moments of feeling as if she actually belonged somewhere after what transpired with her birth family warmed my heart. Not to mention all that the Rev. Conant did for her spirit.The use of letters throughout this book was very clever on Harmon's part as we get to know Deborah through her thoughts of worry and fear of what her life will become if she doesn't try and rid herself of everyone's expectations. Those inner thoughts are what carry this book and provide Deborah's true sense of self, whether she was the woman servant for the Thomas family or the newly-created Robert Shurtliff as part of the American Revolution.The book goes forth at a steady pace with much detail presented to fully glean just what happened during this volatile time in American history. I found some to be a bit tedious midway through my read as the book felt more like a biography than a work of fiction. But the latter quarter or so picked up and was once again more about relationships with others than just Deborah's secret and somewhat solitary life as a soldier. I will say her cleverness at staying hidden and remaining one of the boys was almost incomprehensible. The fact that she pulled off this stunt was as magical as her childhood breeches once were.Whether she is Deborah Samson or Private Robert Shurtliff, this person is a soul like no other. A pioneer who is an inspiration to everyone who says 'it can't be done'. The added bonus of a fictional romance added a very tender quality to this book, showing Deborah she truly could be loved when the early abandonment of her mother told her otherwise. Her beloved is a wonder in his own right and their pairing was both beautiful and sacred.Overall, I will admit that Harmon combined real events with a fictional flavor quite well. Familiar names are dropped here and there who provided a bit of disbelief for our heroine that she was actually rubbing elbows with the most powerful of men. That she mattered and that she was able to be a part of history while giving her all no matter the circumstance. I still can't even fathom all she endured and how she managed to keep her identity a secret for so long. It is that extraordinary.Living in Massachusetts has definitely sparked my interest in researching this woman a bit more and I'm hoping to visit some of the places mentioned as well as Deborah's final resting place. Amy Harmon continues to bring history to life with these well-written works of fiction and A Girl Called Samson is one not to be missed. That life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are never far from Deborah's thoughts is a testament to her will to survive and the perfect reminder to all of us that we can accomplish more than we think. That in itself is one stunning message.4.5 stars!

What an entertaining and informative novel! Deborah Samson was an inspirational character and way ahead of her time in beliefs in equality. She dreamed big, took action, and still lived in the moment. All of the characters were well developed. I enjoyed the book very much & highly recommend!

Yes, it’s about a feminist woman in a time before feminism but it’s for all people who have desires that are different than those surrounding them and have the hope that their desires will be realized.This male enjoyed it thoroughly!

This was recommended to me because I like historical fiction. The story is robust with interesting characters. The weight of the civil war is felt without being trite or cliche. Would recommend to anyone.

Very different story than I was expecting. Samson was a force to be reckoned with. She endured a lot for her freedom to express herself. Very admirable character.

I do not usually rush to read historical novels written by women. (Tsk!Tsk!). As this one seemed a little out of the ordinary I began reading and am glad I did. It is skilfully woven around historical fact and very absorbing. I saved the author’s note until the end which made my enjoyment of the novel even greater as I then researched some of the historical figures mentioned in the text. I expect that you will enjoy this tale as I did.

Based on a true story, this historical romance really pulled on my heart strings!Deborah is a tenacious woman, born at a time where she had no freedom as an individual due to her status and gender. Abandoned by her family for a 'better life' of servitude, when she turns 18 she is expected to wed and be a house wife for the rest of her years, replacing the family she worked for with a husband.Rejecting society’s expectations of her, Deborah embarks on a journey of relentless suffering and periods of joy and belonging during conflict which to her is everything she dreamt of and more.The portrayal of this story was very compelling and kept me right there with Deborah as she experienced childhood, life as a soldier and womanhood on her own terms.I highly recommend this book to anyone really as it has so many themes and areas of depth. There are comments on gender, historical references, warfare, romance and comradery as well as conflict and drama. A very well written book that I am really glad I read via a Book club. I felt there was a little bit of a drag towards the middle of the book but as we read it in sections this possibly added to this.Reading the authors notes at the back and hearing how she researched and developed the story from the real Deborah Samson honestly had me shed a tear to think of the element of truth within this. Women in history are so often overlooked so I am grateful this story is out there and being shared.

J'ai adoré Deborah. Cette femme que l'on va suivre tout au long de sa vie extraordinaire. C'est une battante et une révolutionnaire. Une femme au coeur de lion. Je recommande chaudement. A lire et relire. Merci Amy.

Amy harmon is one of a kind, i loved this book so much!! Best read of this year till now...she never disapoints

I love all of Amy Harmon's books.She doesn't just write historical fiction stories, she writes life-changing stories.WOW! This book is an unbelievably fascinating and gripping story.It's even more fascinating to know that the main characters in this book are real people who actually experienced all of this or almost all of it since part of the story is of course fiction.This book begins in 1770.Deborah, the main character of this story is 10 years old.Her life has never been easy and at the age of 10 the whole ordeal of being forced to be a servant and thus the feeling of not being free began.What began when she was ten years old has shaped her and her whole life. She has imagined what it would be like if she were free and could do what she wanted, which of course was unthinkable for women at that time.As the American colonies began to fight for independence, Deborah is 21 years old and can't handle the unfairness that only men can be soldiers and enlisted in Continental Army disguises as a man.And so Private Robert Shurtliff aka Samson was born.Yes, it's also a beautiful and unique love story that begins after Samson has been in the army for over a year.Yes, it's an incredibly spellbinding story, as is the whole life of Samson and Deborah.I love this book.I love all the characters.I love this real, raw and authentic emotional story.I love that I've learned ones again so much from this book.