Dear Diary, 

New story time! Today we are starting our recap of West to a Land of Plenty: The Diary of Theresa Angelino Viscardi. This story takes place in 1883 and follows Theresa and her family as they travel west to the Idaho Territory. The book was written by Jim Murphey (his first Dear America book) and published in 1998. 

The first half of this book mostly takes place on a train, but to avoid our recap being too "railroaded" (SEE WHAT WE DID THERE), we go on lots of tangents talking about the side characters in Theresa's life. There are the friends she left back home, her nosy sister, Netta, and a handsome young man who likes to wave at Theresa from his train car (SWOON!). Full steam ahead!

Yours truly, 

Cate and Jen

RibbonBookClubPod.com

@RibbonBookPod on Facebook and Instagram

Edited by Danny Heck  

Theme music by Ericka Page @theerickapage 

Cover art by Chelsea Tanis @TheTrumpetClub

Research help by Callie Cherry  @_likethefruit

Dear Diary, 

We made another new friend! Added to our collection of National Parks Service Ranger guests is Ranger Sam Mischke from the Reconstruction Era National Historical Park in Beaufort, South Carolina. 

Sam told us the fascinating history of Beaufort's role as a hub for the Union Army and freed African Americans beginning in 1861. We talk about different ideas about how best to bring the country back together after the war and what people groups those plans benefitted most. Ranger Sam also tells us about the community of Beaufort and what it is like being a ranger in the area she grew up in. Tune in for a great conversation! 

Yours Truly, 

Cate and Jen 

RibbonBookClubPod.com

@RibbonBookPod on Facebook and Instagram

Edited by Danny Heck  

Theme music by Ericka Page @theerickapage 

Cover art by Chelsea Tanis @TheTrumpetClub

Research help by Callie Cherry  @_likethefruit

Dear Diary, 

Today we accomplished a true feat by charging through the rest of Patsy's story! Join us as we power through to find out what happens to Patsy and the rest of the freed folk of Davis plantation. 

Will they ever get a teacher? Will Patsy choose her new name? 

Yours Truly, 

Cate and Jen

RibbonBookClubPod.com

@RibbonBookPod on Facebook and Instagram

Edited by Danny Heck  

Theme music by Ericka Page @theerickapage 

Cover art by Chelsea Tanis @TheTrumpetClub

Research help by Callie Cherry  @_likethefruit

Dear Diary, 

This week we are cracking open a new book! I Thought My Soul Would Rise and Fly: The Diary of Patsy, a Freed Girl was written by Joyce Hansen and published in 1997. It was awarded the Coretta Scott King Award in 1998, which recognizes "outstanding books for young adults and children by African Americans that reflect the African American experience."

In this book, we meet Patsy, a 12-year-old girl who uses others' tendency to underestimate her to her advantage. Now that the Civil War has ended, Patsy wonders what freedom means when she still lives and works on a plantation in South Carolina. Does she still have to hide the fact that she can read? Will she and her fellow freed folk get what has been promised? 

Join us as we delve into the history of Reconstruction and discuss this remarkable book. 

Yours Truly,

Cate and Jen 

RibbonBookClubPod.com

@RibbonBookPod on Facebook and Instagram

Edited by Danny Heck  

Theme music by Ericka Page @theerickapage 

Cover art by Chelsea Tanis @TheTrumpetClub

Research help by Callie Cherry  @_likethefruit

Dear Diary, 

We have a special extra treat for you! We are here with a further historical note about the Irish Famine with author, Susan Campbell Bartoletti!

Bartoletti is an author and speaker who does not shy away from tough topics in history. We had her on the show to talk about writing history and historical fiction for young readers. We also had a lot of questions for Susan about her book, Black Potatoes: The Great Irish Famine 1845-1850, which Cate read in preparation for our discussion on So Far From Home. 

Tune in to hear our conversation and the forging of a new friendship! 

Yours Truly, 

Cate and Jen

P.S. We might hear more from Susan Campbell Bartoletti in the future!

RibbonBookClubPod.com

@RibbonBookPod on Facebook and Instagram

Edited by Danny Heck  

Theme music by Ericka Page @theerickapage 

Cover art by Chelsea Tanis @TheTrumpetClub

Research help by Callie Cherry  @_likethefruit

Dear Diary, 

This week we got to talk to Ranger Aubrey Brown who works at the Lowell National Historic Park! Aside from becoming instant best friends, we also learned a lot about the real history of Lowell, Massachusetts, and the textile mills that made it famous. 

Tune in to hear about how the city of Lowell was planned, how textile mills worked hard to recruit young women, and how those young women worked hard while pursuing their other passions. 

Yours Truly, 

Cate and Jen 

RibbonBookClubPod.com

@RibbonBookPod on Facebook and Instagram

Edited by Danny Heck  

Theme music by Ericka Page @theerickapage 

Cover art by Chelsea Tanis @TheTrumpetClub

Research help by Callie Cherry  @_likethefruit

Dear Diary, 

On to the second half of our discussion of So Far From Home: The Diary of Mary Driscoll, an Irish Mill Girl! This time, we finally make it to Lowell and the mills! 

Mary catches on quickly to her work in the mills. Thanks, in part, to her new friend, Annie. And aren't they just great gal pals? But life in the mills is hard work. Accidents happen, the hours are long, and the cotton fibers get everywhere. Will Mary join in with the Yankee girls to fight for better working conditions? Or does her responsibility to save money for her family get in the way? Tune in to find out! 

Yours Truly, 

Cate and Jen

RibbonBookClubPod.com

@RibbonBookPod on Facebook and Instagram

Edited by Danny Heck  

Theme music by Ericka Page @theerickapage 

Cover art by Chelsea Tanis @TheTrumpetClub

Research help by Callie Cherry  @_likethefruit

Dear Diary, 

It's new book time! And this one is a fan favorite. We're reading So Far From Home: The Diary of Mary Driscoll, an Irish Mill Girl. This is the second book in the series by Barry Denenberg and it was published in 1997. 

The story begins in Skibbereen, Ireland where Mary Driscoll lives with her Ma and Da. Ireland is in the depths of the potato famine, with Skibbereen being hit particularly hard. But hope is on the horizon. Mary is headed to America to find work in the textile mills and hopefully save enough money to bring the rest of the family over in time. But first, she must survive a treacherous journey across the ocean. 

Join us as we discuss Mary's journey to America and get really passionate about the horrors of the Irish potato famine. 

Yours Truly, 

Cate and Jen

RibbonBookClubPod.com

@RibbonBookPod on Facebook and Instagram

Edited by Danny Heck  

Theme music by Ericka Page @theerickapage 

Cover art by Chelsea Tanis @TheTrumpetClub

Research help by Callie Cherry  @_likethefruit

Dear Diary, 

We got to talk to an old friend of Jen's, Chris Carey about his work at the Whitman Mission National Historic Site! Chris had some great facts to share about life on the Oregon Trail and some fresh insight into the story of the Whitman Mission. Chris also had a surprise choose-your-own-adventure game at the end of our conversation! Oregon Trail TTRPG (tabletop role-playing game) anyone? 

Yours Truly, 

Cate and Jen

RibbonBookClubPod.com

@RibbonBookPod on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter

Edited by Danny Heck  

Theme music by Ericka Page @theerickapage 

Cover art by Chelsea Tanis @TheTrumpetClub

Research help by Callie Cherry  @_likethefruit

Dear Diary, 

It's the second half of our recap of Across the Wide and Lonesome Prairie: The Oregon Trail Diary of Hattie Campbell! We get to find out what happens to the Campbells and their wagon train as it continues along the trail. 

Will Hattie ever get a straight answer about what marriage is like? Will Wade ask Hattie to dance? Will the klepto Mrs. Kenker ever get caught? Tune in to find out! 

Yours Truly, 

Cate and Jen 

RibbonBookClubPod.com

@RibbonBookPod on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter

Edited by Danny Heck  

Theme music by Ericka Page @theerickapage 

Cover art by Chelsea Tanis @TheTrumpetClub

Research help by Callie Cherry  @_likethefruit