Book Series · 20 Books

Dear America Books

In order from When Will This Cruel War Be Over? to Voyage on the Great Titanic.

The Dear America series is a set of 20 chapter books by Kristiana Gregory, published between 1996 and 2026. Written for ages 8–14, most books run about 210 pages.

When Will This Cruel War Be Over?
I Thought My Soul Would Rise and Fly
A Picture of Freedom
Across the Wide and Lonesome Prairie
Voyage on the Great Titanic
Where the story begins

First Book in the Series

When Will This Cruel War Be Over?
Sale price
$1299
Book #1 · Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 1996

When Will This Cruel War Be Over?

A young girl's life unravels as the Civil War engulfs her home, testing her hope and resilience.

176 pages· 20,827 words· Est. 3 hour read
Hardcover
Summary: Emma Simpson's Southern life is upended as the Civil War invades her world. With her father and brother at the front, Emma faces scarcity and loss. As Northern troops advance, even her home is seized. Amidst the chaos, Emma clings to hope, chronicling her struggles in a diary. Will her spirit endure the relentless trials of war?
The complete set

Dear America Series

20 books · Published 1996–2026

Sale price
$1597

A Picture of Freedom

Chapter Book · Ages 8–14 · 1997

A young slave's secret literacy could lead to freedom or danger in 1859.

Sale price
$1095

Standing in the Light

Chapter Book · Ages 9–12 · 1998

A Quaker girl's diary reveals her capture by Lenape Indians.

Sale price
$1095

The Great Railroad Race

Chapter Book · Ages 9–14 · 1999

A young girl chronicles the thrilling railroad construction of 1868.

Color Me Dark

Chapter Book · 2000

A young girl chronicles her family's survival amid racial turmoil and migration in 1919.

Sale price
$1095

My Secret War

Chapter Book · Ages 9–12 · 2000

A girl discovers a German U-boat near her wartime home.

Sale price
$1095

Christmas After All

Chapter Book · Ages 9–14 · 2001

An orphan's arrival transforms a family during the Depression.

Sale price
$1299

The Fences Between Us

Chapter Book · Ages 8–14 · 2010

A girl's life is upended by Pearl Harbor's attack and wartime upheaval.

Sale price
$1299

Like the Willow Tree

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2011

Orphaned by the flu, Lydia faces a new life in a strict Shaker community.

Sale price
$1299

Cannons at Dawn

Chapter Book · Ages 10–14 · 2011

A family faces war's trials, joining the fight for freedom.

Sale price
$674

With the Might of Angels

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2011

A girl faces fierce opposition as she integrates an all-white school in the Civil Rights Era.

Sale price
$958

A Journey to the New World

Chapter Book · Ages 9–12 · 2026

A young girl braves a perilous voyage to a new world, seeking hope and friendship amidst adversity.

Sale price
$958

The Winter of Red Snow

Chapter Book · Ages 9–12 · 2026

A young girl's diary reveals the harsh realities of war at Valley Forge.

Good to know

Common Questions

How many books are in the Dear America series?

There are 20 books in the Dear America series. It began with When Will This Cruel War Be Over? in 1996, and the newest book, Voyage on the Great Titanic, was published in 2026.

What ages are the Dear America books best for?

The series is best for ages 8–14, based on the age ranges of the individual books.

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