From Booklist Gr. 3-5. Part of the My America series， this story is set in 1776 Philadelphia， where nine-year-old Hope records events both large and small in her diary. The greatest worry is for her father， a patriot who has gone on a sea journey and is overdue. Other trials include school， where a nasty schoolmaster makes things difficult， and her brother's running away to become a Tory. The intense political developments of those days are sketched in via brief references to delegates and their work. The war's presence grows too， and by the story's end， Hope and her family must flee Philadelphia to stay at her uncle's farm. Gregory does an effective job of evoking the times; the hard work routinely done by young children may be an eye opener for today's readers. Story-wise， however， kids may be unhappy that the fates of Hope's father and brother are left hanging. Denise WilmsCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved Book Description As tensions rise between the Tories and Patriots， Hope's life in Philadelphia becomes more and more turbulent. Questions loom larger and larger ­ Will Papa ever return from his journey? Has her brother Ethan become a Tory? Finally a letter arrives that clears up the agonizing confusion but still Hope and her mother must leave their cherished home. See all Editorial Reviews