I really enjoyed A Girl Called Samson by Amy Harmon. It is historical fiction based on the remarkable story of Deborah Samson, a young woman who disguised herself as a man and enlisted in the Continental Army during the American Revolution.
Deborah’s life begins with very few choices. After her father leaves the family and her mother can no longer support all of her children, Deborah is sent away as an indentured servant. She grows up smart, determined and constantly frustrated by the limitations placed on women during that time. As the colonies fight for their own independence, Deborah becomes determined to fight for hers as well.
Eventually, she cuts her hair, dresses as a man and enlists in the army under a different name. From there, the book takes you directly into the Revolutionary War, but this is much more than a story about battles. It is about courage, independence, friendship, sacrifice and a woman trying to figure out where she belongs in a world that has already decided what she is allowed to be.
What I especially liked was that the history never felt like a history lesson. Amy Harmon does a wonderful job of bringing the time period to life while keeping you connected to Deborah as a person. There is also a love story woven throughout the book, but it never overwhelms the bigger story of Deborah’s strength and determination. The novel blends historical fiction and romance while following her experiences during the Revolution.
Deborah is one of those characters you find yourself rooting for from the beginning. She is brave, stubborn, imperfect and incredibly resourceful. I also loved knowing that the novel was inspired by a real woman whose story I knew very little about before reading the book. It made me want to learn more about the actual Deborah Samson after I finished.
At just over 400 pages, it is not a short book, but it never felt long to me. There was enough history, adventure and romance to keep me interested throughout, and by the end I felt like I had been on quite a journey with Deborah.
If you enjoy historical fiction—especially stories about strong women whose contributions to history may have been overlooked—I definitely recommend A Girl Called Samson. It was entertaining, emotional and one of those books that stays with you after you finish the last page.
