Scholastic's Dear America series, printed in the USA, brings history to life

During this week when everyone still has the warm fuzzies over all things America, we are pleased to have the opportunity to tell you (or remind you) about a literature series for young people called Dear America. The Scholastic series is a favorite in our household so we were thrilled when we learned that the set of historical fiction celebrating American history is indeed printed in the United States. (A no-brainer, one would think, but not so, as our loyal readers may remember what we found when we went to the American Girl store in NYC.) For fans of the series, we have some exciting news. For those who have never heard of it, we've got the scoop. For anyone who wants a set of their own, we are launching a great giveaway today.

The Dear America Books

Girls, young women actually, finding themselves in the middle of significant moments in history, record their thoughts and experiences in their diaries – this is the concept behind the Dear America series. Written by award winning young adult authors and designed for grades 5-8, the series was published from 1996 to 2004. Due to demand from readers and educators alike, Scholastic reintroduced the series in 2010, gradually rolling out both new titles and classics from the original series. The new, bold artwork shows girls of strength and beauty facing the challenges of the times in which they live.

The Fences Between Us: The Diary of Piper Davis, Seattle Washington, 1941
 gives an eye-witness account of a girl's point of view when a Japanese internment camp is constructed in her town during WWII.

The Winter of Red Snow: The Diary of Abigail Jane Stewart, Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, 1777
 is the story of a girl living nearby when Washington's troops arrived for their famous winter encampment during the Revolutionary War.

With the Might of Angels: The Diary of Dawnie Rae Johnson, Hadley, Virginia, 1954
 takes us into the world of a young girl who suddenly finds herself in the middle of school integration in the dawn of the civil rights movement.

These are some of our favorites. You can find the complete list of currently printed books (as well as new interactive features) on the Scholastic website. There is also an online educators guide loaded with additional resources for teachers and parents. Titles from the original series can often be discovered at school and public libraries. We collect them from any source we can find and they are a treasure we will keep to share with friends and family.  A companion series from boys' perspectives is called My Name is America and a related series for boys and girls in 3rd-4th grade is called My America.

The Giveaway

We are excited to help you start your collection of this wonderful, all-American series. Scholastic is offering a set of four books from the new series. One of our readers will receive a set for FREE with opportunities for multiple daily entries including “Pin It to Win It” options for Pinterest fans. Good luck!

Just click the Do It! button for further instructions on each entry. This giveaway will close at midnight on 7/19. A winner will be randomly selected, verified for correct entry participation, and notified by email. This giveaway is co-hosted by www.justchildrensbooks.com

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Disclosure: USA Love List received this product unconditionally for review purposes. Our opinions are always our own, and we aim to write fair and balanced reviews to promote only the very best of American-made products.

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