Time Enough for Drums

By Ann Rinaldi

Sixteen-year-old Jem struggles to maintain the status quo at home in Trenton, New Jersey, when the family men join the war for independence.

There are signs of rebellion in the Emerson household several years before the actual American Revolution hits in 1776! Brought up in a relatively liberal household, Jemima Emerson is quite a challenge for her tutor, John Reid, who is known as a Tory with strong ties to England. How could Jem's parents be friends with a man who opposes American freedom? Jem longs for freedom on every level, in the home and her homeland--and John represents the forces that restrict her.

Jem and her family soon find themselves fighting for freedom in whatever ways they can in the Revolutionary War. Before long, Jem discovers that there is much more to Mr. Reid than she ever imagined. Her feelings about him change when Jem realizes that John shares her love of freedom--and will risk his life to defend it.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
• Release date: Mar 16, 2011
• ISBN: 9780307786869

Ann Rinaldi

ANN RINALDI is an award-winning author best known for bringing history vividly to life. A self-made writer and newspaper columnist for twenty-one years, Ms. Rinaldi attributes her interest in history to her son, who enlisted her to take part in historical reenactments up and down the East Coast. She lives with her husband in central New Jersey. 

Reviews for Time Enough for Drums

[khaibarton · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I read this book every year at least one, if has always been a favorite of mine. I first found it in my middle school teachers library and ...."forgot" to give it back. I cannot wait to read this book to my kids one day!

[empress8411 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Outspoken and head-strong, Jemima "Jem" Emerson is caught at the edge of the great events that shaped our America. With her refined sister is married to a British captain, her tutor a hated Tory, her older brother an officer in the Continental Army, and her youngest brother burning to fight the British, Jem's family struggles to navigate the turbulent storms at the beginning of the American War of Independence. Jem herself is caught between childhood and womanhood - forced to relinquish her wild ways, to learn, to grow, to leave her sheltered life and move into her place in the world. She does that with honesty, courage, naivety, and no small amount of sass - which makes her an endearing character. The contrast of her character with that of her sister, her Quaker friend, and her tutor create a tension in the story that adds nicely to a fast-paced plot and excellent twists. The story remains accurate to the history of the early war. Taking place in Trenton, where several major battles took place, Jem survives these, but not without cost. As she confronts canon fire, occupying British officers, prejudice, and love, she learns about herself and the cost of becoming an adult. The main theme of the book is courage, and the hard lesson that doing the right thing doesn't always lead to happiness. Sometimes, it leads to pain and loss. But we should always have the courage to do the right thing, even knowing what it will cost us. Jem learns this from watching those around her sacrifice, and when the time comes for her to make that choice, she does so, even with a trembling heart.I recommend this book highly to anyone interested in Young Adult or Historical Fiction. This would be a good book for middle-school children, as there are a plethora of topics for discussion in the story.

[et.carole · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is one of those sweet Revolutionary romances that I read three or four times, simply because I was in eigth grade and didn't know any better. But it's a very sweet book, all the same.

[brainella · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

As YA books go, this is pretty good. The Emerson family of Trenton NJ are supporters of the patriots and are seeking liberty from King George III and England. Throughout the war there is death, grief, lack of resources, and enormous growth by Jemima, the young daughter. This is a great book for YAs to learn of the basics of the Revolutionary War.

[booksandwine · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Time Enough For Drums is a fairly predictable book from the back cover. You know Jem is going to fall for a Tory. It's not the destination that's important though, it's the journey. This book was lovely and a quaint historical fiction book which would be appropriate for the younger teen set.

[crimson_idealist · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Summary: Jemima doesn't like her Tory tutor, but there's more to him than she knows.Evaluation: This is one of my favorite historical fiction books. Rinaldi takes a historical time and lets her readers experience it through the eyes of a character who seems very real. She thinks and acts like a normal teenager. The only difference is the time period. And it's very well done.

[bellameggie · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

one of my first novels that could be classified as historical fiction. i thought i was SOOOO grown up because i was reading "romance". this is a great book for anyone but i read it at a perfect time in my life when i was too old for the american girls but too young for very many other historical fiction novels. it is one of my favorite ya books & will i will probably always have a copy.