This entry in the My America series is the third of Hope’s Revolutionary War Diaries; for readers of the first two volumes, this will provide a satisfying conclusion, but readers new to the series will be able to pick up the plot easily. Hope’s diary relates the major events of the Revolutionary War from December 1777 through July 1778, but from the perspective of an 11 year-old girl, these happenings are only roughly sketched in. The more elaborate and interesting part of Hope’s story is the daily routine of life in occupied Philadelphia for Hope’s household, quartering Redcoat soldiers and trying to maintain a semblance of normalcy. The details are at times unpleasant (Hope returns many times to a discussion of the fleas and lice with which the British soldiers are infested) but have the ring of historical accuracy. Large type and short daily entries will make this a good choice for developing readers, and while the target audience is clearly girls, little boys will find enough gruesome imagery (amputated hands and descriptions of toilet arrangements) to satisfy them as well, if they can get past the pink cover. Suitable for grades 2-5, and valuable as both a work of fiction and a supplement to history lessons. ( )