American Rebels

How the Hancock, Adams, and Quincy Families Fanned the Flames of Revolution

By: Nina Sankovitch

Narrated by: Suzie Althens

Nina Sankovitch’s American Rebels explores, for the first time, the intertwined lives of the Hancock, Quincy, and Adams families, and the role each person played in sparking the American Revolution.

Before they were central figures in American history, John Hancock, John Adams, Josiah Quincy Junior, Abigail Smith Adams, and Dorothy Quincy Hancock had forged intimate connections during their childhood in Braintree, Massachusetts. Raised as loyal British subjects who quickly saw the need to rebel, their collaborations against the Crown and Parliament were formed years before the revolution and became stronger during the period of rising taxes and increasing British troop presence in Boston. Together, the families witnessed the horrors of the Boston Massacre, the Battles of Lexington and Concord, and Bunker Hill; the trials and tribulations of the Siege of Boston; meetings of the Continental Congress; transatlantic missions for peace and their abysmal failures; and the final steps that led to the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

American Rebels explores how the desire for independence cut across class lines, binding people together as well as dividing them - rebels versus loyalists - as they pursued commonly held goals of opportunity, liberty, and stability. Nina Sankovitch's new audiobook is a fresh history of our revolution that makes listeners look more closely at Massachusetts and the small town of Braintree when they think about the story of America’s early years.

A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin's Press

©2020 Nina Sankovitch (P)2020 Macmillan Audio

I appreciated this bird's eye view.

The narrator did a great job. My favorite parts were all of Josiah Quincy, jr.'s quotes. I may need to find a hard copy of the book in order to write them down. I also really appreciated the information on the men's wives. Abigail Adams especially was impressive. The information on Adams' and Jefferson's attempt to census slavery in the Declaration of Independence was a welcome addition to the end. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants a personal background to the beginnings of the United States of America. To think that so many of the Founders came from the same town is a testament to the importance of instilling good values into not just our own families but our communities.

Great listen on American history

I need to listen again. Lots of information. I want to plan a trip to Boston!

I loved this book!

Being a lifelong Bostonian I started this book with expectations of a rehash of events I was already familiar with. I was so wrong. It showed me that there were so many crucial events and personalities that are normally omitted or glossed over when learning of the period leading up to the revolution. John Hancock and Josiah Quincy Junior are now my favorite founding fathers!

This was well researched, written, and expertly narrated. Should be a requirement in our schools!

Bravo! Bravo! Remarkable story telling rooted in research.

Absolutely love this book. Without a doubt one of my all time favorites. Sankovitch weaves compelling history of the Founders (both men and women) into a richly researched novel that is impossible to put down until the final page. Must read for anyone in search of lessons on character and honor.

DAR Book Club Book

Not as good as some DAR book club picks, but not as bad as some others. I read a lot on this time time period, but I did learn much about John Hancock and family. For that I’m grateful. The narrator irritated me with her breathy, whispery voice that emphasized each and every sentence of the book as if it alone were the most important sentence.

Should be titled "Bainbridge Rebels"

I made it through over half of this book before I simply could not stand it any more. The narration is terrible. My drive to work is exactly 6 minutes and this narration succeeds in almost putting me to sleep before I can arrive. The subject is not the problem as I am a revolutionary war fan. I was born in 1976 (Bicentennial year) and named after Samuel Adams and George Washington. Althens narrates this book the way you would read a EULOGY. In a sad and slow, almost hushed tone at times, occasionally sounding like she will burst into tears. It is very strange and I am not sure she is aware of it. This did not bother me at the beginning as most history books start with a lot of dry facts, but as she got further into the narration it became unbearable. At the times you would expect to hear excitement or intrigue in her voice, there was no change.
Yes, the story can be a bit dry. I would applaud Sankovitch however, for incorporating the lives and activities of the women in these families into the story as I found it valuable and somewhat unique. I did not, however, expect to find the whole matter of the Revolutionary War focused only on these families from Bainbridge. The scope of this book is incredibly narrow. That may have been the intention of this writing, but to me it was completely unexpected for a title "American Rebels". As mentioned in my title to this review, if the book had been named "Bainbridge Rebels" I think I could have given her story 5/5 stars. I was a bit surprised to see Sankovitch treat The Sons of Liberty along with Samuel Adams as a side show. "Don't look over there, or anywhere else for that matter, keep focused hear on Bainbridge," she seemed to say. To be honest, I was shocked to have Samuel Adams a side show in a book called American Rebels. Hello?, Samuel Adams is the FATHER of the "American rebellion." So again, if you would like a very in depth stroll through Bainbridge, a period piece, along with its prominent families during the period leading up to the American revolution then you may really enjoy this book.

Ok Story. Whipered Narration

I found the story mostly interesting and was enlightened on several characters, but especially about John Hancock, so I endured the narration. But this audio-book could've been recorded in a library without the narrator receiving a single, "Shhh!" My mind began to drift and I couldn't help but wonder what would happen to the narrator in life if she ever found herself in a situation that required a yell? If she yelled, "fire" in a crowded theater would anyone try to leave? etc etc. I noticed the she has done some mental health titles, which probably works for her, she sounds like I would imagine a therapist might.