Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-arc of By the Light of Fireflies by Jenni L. Walsh.

This book follows the tale of War Hero Sybil Ludington as she helps her father fight for the independence of America. Not being American I hadn't heard of Sybil Ludington before and once I had finished the book I did look up to see if she was a real person, which she is, and so this was really a delightful way to learn about a historical figure not always mentioned.

This book was definitely written for a younger audience and while I enjoyed it I think it would hit home more for a younger female to read it. Overall it was an enjoyable quick read that was entertaining and educational as long as you didn't take everything written as true fact. I think it would be a great book to introduce the War for Independence or to read alongside a unit on this time as well.

Have you ever heard the tale of Sybil Ludington? A brave young lady who followed her heart to help her father do the unthinkable. Her father asks Sybil and her sister for help with his role in the Revolution. Little does she know how invested she and how integral she will become to the Rebels cause. When she makes a mistake will it mean life or death for her family and friends? Will she be able to not only help her father but protect her family as well.

This is such a fun book and it is amazing to read a story about a lost hero of the Revolution. The fact that she is so young and is able to do so much is a true testament for her love for her family and the cause. This is a perfect book if you are looking for a strong female hero for anyone who enjoys reading about the Revolutionary War. Love the message of bravery and how even through everything Sybil faces she is able to come closer to her family.

Thank you to Wyatt-Mackenzie Publishing and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy.

By the Light of Fireflies is a highly recommended book for all ages (not just middle grade) and for so many reasons! It explores love of country, love of family, loyalty, friendship, and so much more. Though this book is filled with adventure and danger, I was moved to tears several times by such a remarkable story and the relationships between the characters. I hope you give this book a try and spread the word, it is truly a special book about an incredible American heroine who deserves to not be forgotten.

Thank you to Wyatt-Mackenzie Publishing and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of By the Light of Fireflies!

This is a truly amazing middle-grade historical fiction novel about Revolutionary War hero Sybil Ludington. It tells the story of young Sybil growing up in a Patriot family at the start of the Revolutionary War and gives a harrowing account of her historic ride to rouse the local militia to fight against the British. It also paints a beautiful portrait of her relationship with her family, especially her father, Colonel Ludington, and her sister, Rebecca. The story is beautifully told, and the characters all had so much depth to them. The author also incorporates a small element of magical realism, the appearance of fireflies at crucial moments in the story, to add to the enchantment and beauty of the story. I loved the way the author portrayed such strong female characters and showed how even young girls can be instrumental in major world events. I think it is so important for young girls to have such strong role models!!

This is an amazing book for all ages, middle grade and up, to read and enjoy! Highly recommend!!

I was excited to read a story about a girl hero of the Revolutionary War. There isn't a lot of information about Sybil Ludington, beyond that she rode to alert her father's militia on a ride that was twice as long as Paul Revere's. So the author had to do quite a lot to flesh out this story.

I felt that Sybil's age wasn't clear throughout the story - she is a teenager for most of the book, but she feels more like a 12-year-old in her speech and mannerisms. Also, this is more of a horse book than I was expecting and unfortunately, horses are not my thing. However, I bet that the horse element will really appeal to some middle-grade readers! I also really liked how Sybil and her sister helped their father run his spy ring. The coding was really interesting. It would be fun, while reading this story, to invent your own secret code and pass coded messages back and forth!

Overall, I think this would be a nice extra to add to your Revolutionary War studies, particularly if you have a child who loves horses!

this was a beautifully done children's novel, it was a well written and a fun read. I enjoyed learning about Sybil Ludington and enjoyed reading this.

If you haven't heard of Sybil Ludington yet, this is your chance. At the age of sixteen, she rode her horse forty miles in a circuit to help muster the Patriots in neighboring villages. Her ride was three times the length of Paul Revere's ride AND she never got captured. I had heard bits and pieces about her over the years and was so glad to see this book was coming out. It is historical fiction, but based on facts with some magical realism (fireflies) to up the enchantment level. Sybil's father was Colonel Henry Ludington. When General George Washington asked Colonel Ludington to assist him by putting together a spy ring, Ludington recruited his two oldest daughters (tweens) to work for him. He started by having them write with their eyes closed to learn to use invisible ink. In addition to the exciting spy bits, there is much here about family love and sibling support. It was such a treat to spend time with Sybil and her family. I will definitely be recommending this book to middle grade readers at my library.

Thank you to Wyatt-McKenzie Publishing and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

This was my first book by Jenni Walsh and now I need to read everything she has written! The story immediately drew me in. By the light of Fireflies is about Sybil Ludington, the often unknown hero of the Revolution.

I adored Sybil’s relationship with Johnny Whittaker and how she called him by his full name, and the way she loved her horse Star, and even the evolving relationship with her sister Rebecca, her co-spy. This is a delightful and quick read. It gives us a peek into history, all with a touch of the magic of fireflies.

This story was inspirational, magical and powerful-I can’t recommend it enough!

I really loved this story, and even more so when I learned it was based on a real historical figure, Sybil Ludington. Although there is very little documentation or details known, the author was able to incorporate what she could find and historical details from other people to create her fictional Sybil Ludington. This is a middle school book, but I really enjoyed getting to know this girl who was unusual for her time. Her midnight ride was absolutely thrilling and it had my heart beating faster. I have never heard of this woman, but I'm glad this author wrote this book the share her story. While she is often known as the female Paul Revere, as the author points out, he should have been called the male Sybil Ludington because she rode her ride alone (he started his ride with two other people), she was half his age, and she traveled 3x's the distance. And she did it without being captured. But she was also female, which probably explains why there wasn't much said about her ride. Whether this story is 90% true, 75% true, 50% true, or even 10% true, I hope it inspires the imaginations of many young girls who are told they can't do something because they're "only" girls.

I received an advance review copy from NetGalley for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy in return for an honest review.

I'm a fan of the historical fiction fantasy genre (historical fantasy maybe?!?) I enjoyed getting to learn the story of Sybil Ludington and I found the author's note at the end of the book particularly interesting as the author shared what is true and what was imagined for the sake of telling the story.

Sybil is the oldest in her family, but as a girl in the 1700's she has limited options. Until her father asks her to take on a challenging task.

I think this book is a great way to introduce students to a lesser known Revolutionary War hero.

It's 1777 and sixteen year old Sybil Ludington is frustrated because being female, means that choices about her future are very limited. Everyone expects her to be a farmer's wife like her mother but Sybil knows that future will not make her happy. She wants to have adventures like her hero, Paul Revere.

But even though she has been patrolling her family's property for years and has helped her father, a revolutionary general, run a spy ring, she still isn't allowed off the farm by herself. Then one night her father receives intelligence that British troops are advancing. The men in his command are spread out across the Connecticut countryside tending their farms. Someone has to make the 40 mile ride at night, in the rain to sound the warning. When no one else can go, Sybil is asked to make the ride.

This book isn't just a well-researched historical fiction, there is also a bit of magical realism.
This book explores timeless themes like family relationships & courage while giving the reader a peek into the world of a young girl growing up during the Revolutionary war. I think this book will appeal to a variety of readers and I look forward to recommending it.

It's very cool to see Sybil Ludington get her due of the important role she played in US history in this middle grade historical fiction.

I like this historical fantasy fiction genre. I've had an easy ready chapter book about Sybil Luddington in my leveled book library for awhile, so I was excited to read this fuller story that kids will definitely connect with. The talk about the times, the setting of the times, it will make a great addition to upper elementary classroom libraries and a great family read aloud.

Sybil Ludington is the daughter of a farmer and, born in 1761, she is destined to become nothing more than a farmer’s wife. But Sybil dreams of bigger things, especially when her father shares exciting stories about the brave men who are fighting for her country’s independence. In Ludington family lore, fireflies have appeared at important moments to signal both opportunity and danger. When fireflies lead Sybil to an orphaned horse, the course of both her own future and that of the United States is forever altered.

Based on the true life of Sybil Ludington, this historical fiction novel deftly combines the limited information available about Sybil’s brave actions with the magic of fireflies. The author has carefully researched the time in which Sybil lived, and facts about the American Revolutionary War are woven into the fabric of this story, educating readers while entertaining them. Concise chapters and expert pacing keep the story moving forward as Sybil’s tale unfolds.

As the oldest of her many siblings, Sybil has a great deal of responsibility around the farm, but she dreams of more. Even though it is atypical of the time period, circumstances arise that permit Sybil the opportunity to act in ways usually only boys are allowed to do. Sybil’s bravery and intensity are compelling, especially as she finds herself thinking far ahead of the time she was born into. Rich relationships with friends and family round out the story, and readers will be magnetically drawn to each of the primary characters in this novel.

An author’s note at the end of the book details what is true and what has been fabricated for the sake of fictional storytelling. Though relatively little is known about Sybil Ludington’s life, painstaking care was given to ensure as much of her truth was included in the novel as possible. Beautifully executed, this story will have readers on the edges of their seats, curious to learn more about this unexpected heroine and the time in which she lived. This is a highly recommended addition to historical fiction collections for middle grade readers.

This was a very interesting historical fiction about a heroic Patriot during the Revolutionary War. This Patriot knew the dangers of getting caught by the Loyalists/British but persisted nonetheless. This Patriot was not the famously known Paul Revere but little know and equally heroic Sybil Ludington. She was the eldest of Colonel Henry Ludington and his wife’s twelve children.

When General George Washington asked Sybil’s father to create a spy ring, he enlisted the help of his two oldest children, Sybil and Rebecca, since they knew how to read and write. They learned spy codes and then decoded these messages for their father and others. These messages were deliver by other Patriot spies such as Enoch Crosby.

After a large army of British soldiers laid siege to Danbury, Colonel Ludington’s militia of four hundred men were needed as soon as possible. But there was a major problem. They had gone back to their homes and were spread out all over the countryside. They needed a rider to spread this urgent message to gather and march south. Since the Colonel was needed to lead the troops, Sybil bravely volunteered. So sixteen year old Sybil rode, but unlike Paul Revere, she traveled forty miles alone through the dark rainy nighttime woods. Revere, almost twice Sybil’s age when he took his famous ride was accompanied by two other men for part of his journey. Sybil’s ride was also three times the distance. Most importantly for Sybil, she was never captured, unlike her idol.

This was a well written and quick read with many tense scenes such as the near capture of Colonel Ludington and the dangers Sybil faced during that all important night ride. The magic of the fireflies also added nicely to the story.

This book is highly recommended for middle school classrooms and libraries. Over the years, Sybil Ludington has gained some recognition for her heroic feat. Hopefully, this book will add to that recognition even more and perhaps empower children to believe that they too can make a difference when called upon.

An ARC was given for an honest review.

I really, really wanted to enjoy this book more that I did. It was fine, but I had high expectations. As a student of history, especially colonial and revolutionary war era, I was stoked to see a novel of any kind about Sybil Ludington. Ludington was an amazing young woman that history nearly forgot. I hope children will love reading this story and be inclined to learn more about the real-life heroine, I will certainly press this books into the hands of the children in my life with that hope. My biggest frustration actually came from the fireflies. I felt it cheapened a story that was already quite exciting to add in an element of magic and the fantastical. Sybit Ludington was extraordinary all on her own, she didn't need magical fireflies to help her be brave. Overall, this was a good introduction to Ludington, but I think I need something a little more substantial next time - middle grade or adult.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

In this fictionalized account of events during the Revolutionary War, young Sybil Ludington’s father is a Loyalist who joins the patriot cause in the battle for independence from English rule. When her father is tasked by George Washington to form a spy network, Sybil and her sister Rebecca learn how to decode secret messages and fire weapons. When the militia suddenly needs to mobilize, Sybil is the only one who can ride to gather the men. As she makes a nighttime ride in the style of Paul Revere, will she be able to avoid the dangers along the way? Find out in this engaging work of historical fiction, perfect fir middle grade students.

Okay, lots of thoughts... First, I'm glad I kept reading. The first 25 pages didn't hook me. The writing was more telling than showing, and the characters seemed too modern. Also, the characters seemed juvenile for their ages; I kept picturing Sybil and Rebecca as 10-12 year-olds instead of teenagers. But, like I tell my students, you have to give a book 50 pages before deciding to abandon it, so I kept reading.

Somewhere around pg75 I stopped paying attention to the writing style and got hooked by the story. Probably around the time we move from backstory/set up to main action. This book is clear that it is heavily fictionalized (due to lack of historical documentation), but it's based on a real 16 year old who rode an even more extensive ride than Paul Revere, and the author did a lot of research to make it as historically accurate as she could. In the end, a solid three stars.

Note- subplot involving fireflies that appear and communicate with her at just the right moments

Thanks Netgally for the ARC! All opinions are my own.

I had never heard of Sybil Ludington before and found the story so fascinating. I couldn't help but root for her and am grateful to have been introduced to such a brave member of our history. It was well written and a quick read and I highly recommend it for middle-grade readers.

This was a sweet short tale of Sybil Ludington, the 16 year-old that rode to warn people that the British troops were coming, like the famous Paul Revere and his two companions but she did it alone for 40 miles in the dead of the night in the rain. I would love a movie about her. It's such a good story. Simple but shows how one person can make a difference if people believe in that person. She also saved her father by pretending her large family with 6 almost 7 siblings were a Patriot armed group when a group of British Loyalists were going to attack their home. It's a great story. Very quick read.