Or Give Me Death
By: Ann Rinaldi
Historical Fiction
Is there a secret behind Patrick Henry's famous speech? Patrick Henry traveled through the American colonies, advocating for independence. In his absence, his family in Virginia had some hardships of their own. Sara, Henry's wife becomes mentally ill and tries to kill her youngest son by drowning. Patrick Henry's oldest daughter, Patsy, inevitably has to confine her and the only place seems to be the family cellar.
Sara claims to have the gift of sight and one frightful night, she shares with her middle daughter which of her five children will inherit her terrible illness. Anne is terrified to disclose the real persons name for fear that Patsy will drive them to early insanity. Anne bravely decides that she will tell everyone she is the one who will inherit the illness and suffers years of harsh treatment from her sister, Patsy, in hopes of saving her.
After four years of confinement, Anne hears her mother and father talking in the cellar. Her mother is frantic and begging her husband. As Patsy listens closely she hears her mother say "give me my freedom or let me go to my death!" Anne is later haunted by these very words when she hears them in her father's famous speech. Life is blistering to a head and Anne struggles with the decision of keeping her secret or telling the truth about the illness. While Patrick Henry crusaded through the Revolutionary War, his family waged a war of their own. (review by Della McGinley)
Rinaldi, Ann, Or Give Me Death, Orlando FL, Harper Court, 2003
ISBN: 0-15-205076-0
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