The Women Who Helped Win the American Revolution - an Editorial Review of "Bella's Tales of History: Remember the Ladies"
- DK Marley
- 16 hours ago
- 6 min read
Book Blurb:
The Untold Stories of the Women Who Helped Win the American Revolution
Warm, thoughtful, and deeply rooted in primary-source history, Remember the Ladies restores the women of the Revolution to their rightful place in the story of America.
When Freddy the Puppy tells his sisters they can't play “Revolution” because the Revolution was just for boys, their wise Momma Bella has a few things to say about that.
Join golden retriever Bella and her puppies Abby, Emma, and Freddy as Bella tells the stories history almost forgot: stories of the remarkable women who helped birth a nation. Warm, witty, and grounded in real history, Remember the Ladies brings the American Revolution to life in a way that will captivate children and parents alike.
MEET THE LADIES WHO CHANGED HISTORY:
The Workers, The Warriors, The Fundraisers, The Persuaders, The Spies, The Defenders, and The Protestors
IDEAL FOR AGES 8–12, 3rd-5th grades PERFECT FOR HOMESCHOOL FAMILIES
Remember the Ladies doesn't just tell great stories — it teaches children how history is made, preserved, and sometimes forgotten. The book's beloved "Storykeeper" theme encourages young readers to value the past, ask hard questions, and understand that every person's story matters.
Parents and teachers praise the series for its historical accuracy and its warm, character-driven storytelling that makes children want to keep reading.
A timely and empowering read as America approaches its 250th anniversary. Young readers will finish this book wanting to become Storykeepers themselves.
Whether you're building a home library, stocking a classroom, or looking for the perfect gift for a curious child, this is American history at its best — honest, joyful, and impossible to put down.
Celebrate America 250 with Bella and these inspiring stories for girls.
Book Buy Link: https://geni.us/IKtL
Author Bio:
Author, Speaker, Educator, and Hobby Historian Deb Evans is the author of fiction books for children. As a Literacy Specialist and Private Tutor teaching children to read for the past 15 years, Deb found that as they developed their reading skills, her students were having trouble finding books that engaged them. Books were either too simplistic (boring) or too complex (not really written for these evolving readers despite what the marketing said). Deb felt challenged to write books for these children.
Bella's Fables was the first book in what became the award-winning Bella's Tales series. In this fun chapter book, Bella, a Golden Retriever put her own spin on classic fables for her three precocious and rambunctious puppies. The short chapters, interesting stories, and relatable puppies made the book a hit. Bella’s Fables won several awards and was enthusiastically received by both children and parents. Bella's Fables was quickly followed by Bella's Fairytales, Bella's Fables Too, Bella's Tales of Jesus, Bella's Proverbs, and Bella's Tales of Christmas. Young readers love Bella and her playful pups and eagerly look forward to Bella's next tales.
In July 2024, Deb launched a sub-series, Bella's Tales of History, for readers ready for the next level of reading, roughly 8-12 year olds. Bella's Tales of History: USA's Founding Documents introduces children to America's Fight for Independence, focusing on the ideas and people behind the Revolution. Children don't even realize how much they're learning because they are so engaged in the stories. Two more history books followed with more to come. 2026 is America's 250th birthday, so it's the perfect time to introduce your children to these stories.
Deb has expanded her book universe by writing books outside of Bella's Tales, including Dexter the Book Dragon and Fiona, a sweet kitten who has trouble focusing.
A creative multipreneur, Deb Evans also writes books for grownups. She lives in Cypress Texas, just northwest of Houston with her husband. They are empty-nesters and live with their cat and three dogs (not one Golden Retriever in the bunch).
Editorial Review:
Title: Remember the Ladies
Author: Deb Evans
Rating: 4.4
Deb Evans’ “Remember the Ladies” a riveting children’s historical book published on the cusp of America’s 250th anniversary, intervenes directly in a long-standing historiographical problem- the systematic erasure of women’s contributions from popular memory of the Revolution. Through the deceptively simple framing device of a golden retriever named Bella recounting true stories to her three puppies, the book undertakes a sophisticated educational mission, challenging the exclusionary logic that the young male protagonist, Freddy, initially voices about the Revolution being just for boys.
“Finally, they collapsed in front of Bella, exhausted and panting. “Where is Freddy?” Bella asked. “He’s playing with the goats,” said Abby, wrinkling her nose. “He said they are playing Revolution, and we can’t play,” Emma said with a frown. “Now he says the Revolution is just for boys.” “You’ve been play-acting the Revolution together for weeks,” she said. “Yes,” Abby said. “But Freddy says there were no girls in the Revolution, so we can’t play.” “Well,” she said, “Freddy is wrong. Girls played an important part in the
American Revolution.”
This brief exchange stages the central problem that the entire book exists to correct, that the widespread cultural assumption that the American Revolution was an exclusively male affair. Freddy’s declaration is an honest reflection of what he has absorbed from incomplete histories, and in that sense he represents the uninformed reader, while Abby and Emma voice the quiet frustration of those erased from the record. Evans has framed historical erasure in a playground setting, making an abstract injustice feel personal and urgent while inviting curiosity through Bella, a character who feels like a trustworthy storyteller, and one with calm authority. The reader strongly senses that the choice to remember the ladies is an act of courage, imagination, and moral clarity.
“He looked up. “I’m sorry Abby and Emma… I’m sorry that I didn’t let you play with me,” he said. “I just didn’t know that women did so many important things during the war.” “Why don’t you go play now,” Bella said. “I imagine you can think of lots of new scenes to act out!” “Yes, Momma!” the puppies shouted, bouncing around each other. “I want to be Deborah Sampson!” Emma shouted. “I’ll be Anna Maria Lane!” Abby said as she jumped on Freddy and knocked them both to the ground. “And you, Freddy?” Bella asked. “Who do you want to be in the game?” “George Washington!” Freddy barked. His sisters giggled. Even Bella tried to hide a giggle.”
This moment marks the emotional and thematic turning point of the entire book. Up to this scene, Freddy has been the primary obstacle to inclusive play, but here, it’s clear that Bella’s stories such as of Deborah Sampson fighting disguised as a man, have done their work. Readers see him experience a shift in understanding.
“We have so many more stories to play act now… with lots of great parts for Abby and Emma.” “We are proud to be ladies!” Abby added. “Remember,” Bella said. “History belongs to those who remember it and tell the story. “Storytelling gives history its heartbeat. “Storykeepers remember.” She paused and looked at each of her puppies with the kind of pride that all mothers have for their children. “You’re the Storykeepers now.”
Here, readers realize that Freddy’s transformation is complete, especially when he offers gratitude and explicitly says there are “lots of great parts for Abby and Emma.” The possessive “we” replaces the exclusive “I” which feels like not merely a change of opinion but a change of character. Emma and Abby claim their own agency, asserting their place, and as a result, transforming what could have been a footnote in history into a source of identity and strength. Even as Bella passes the torch, elevating her puppies from listeners to custodians, you get the sense that she wants the same to happen to every reader. It is a proud moment that accurately frames historical knowledge as a gift, not a burden.
The book succeeds in providing emotional grounding especially through the puppies’ reactions- gasps, questions, tail wags, which strongly come out as proxies for the child reader’s responses. Readers will find themselves appreciating Evans’ adoption of a warm, conversational style as well as her use of animal characters. These characters create a safe emotional distance particularly as they discuss serious themes including slavery, death and sexism. Evans’ brilliance also shines in her use of cliffhangers and deliberate interjections which end up serving as natural pacing breaks, allowing the reader to breathe. The emotional pacing is also well managed and heavy stories are followed by lighter ones. The use of sound words and animal-specific verbs such as “barked,” “wagged,” “twitched,” “sniffled” is noticeably thoughtful, and keeps the frame lively.
Deb Evans’ “Remember the Ladies” is a unique children’s book about the American Revolution, and unlike others in the genre that focus on the battles and famous men, it fills a glaring gap, introducing dozens of women whose contributions were essential but were rarely taught. It implicitly invites your child to become a Storykeeper too, transforming reading from passive consumption into active responsibility. It is a perfect read-aloud, and will leave a lasting impression on the parent who reads along, especially one seeking an accessible, warm-hearted introduction to the women of the American Revolution.
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