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Cara Skinner is a certified elementary special education teacher who taught for Goose Creek Consolidated Independent School District for nine years and continues to tutor and substitute teach for the district. She credits her grandmother and father for igniting her life-long passion for Texas history. Her goal is to share that passion and knowledge with students and all history lovers through her writing.
Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite
General Houston's Little Spy: A Texas Revolution Story is a young adult historical fiction novel written by Cara Skinner. Samantha Russell was born in 1819. Her parents had a large family and Samantha was the middle child. They had a good life working the family farm on the banks of the Nolichucky River in Eastern Tennessee. When Samantha wasn't doing chores or going to school, she was out having fun with her best friend, Danny Autry, who was two years older than she. They'd hunt and explore the woods, and figure out ways to avoid the long church services on Sunday. As they grew up, their relationship became more than friendly, and their parents realized the two would get married and start a life together. Danny had heard about the opportunities for people who wanted their own land in Texas, and he was determined to move there. Both his and Sam's parents opposed the move, but the two left at night and arrived some days later in Texas.
Cara Skinner's young adult historical novel, General Houston's Little Spy: A Texas Revolution Story, is a poignant and well-researched coming of age story about a young woman whose life is forever changed by the battle of the Alamo. Skinner's heroine learns to do the things that a young girl at that time and place is expected to do, but she retains the option of determining for herself the correct course of action depending upon the circumstances. I found the account of how her family's farm functioned to be a fascinating look back into agricultural history and the community spirit that bound and supported the settlers and their descendants, as seen from the perspective of a young girl. Sam's account of the battle of the Alamo is stark and unadorned and is a marvelous historical introduction to Texas history for young readers. Skinner’s list of references also supplies a number of unique and useful books and articles. General Houston's Little Spy: A Texas Revolution Story is highly recommended.
