Sissy!
by Tom Mach

List Price: $15.95
Pages: 343
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 0974515922
Publisher: Hill Song Press

Tom Mach's award-winning and critically-acclaimed novel Sissy! is a sensitive novel about a young woman torn by the heat of compassion and forgiveness during an incredible era of hatred and violence. In Sissy! "Bleeding" Kansas comes alive and Jessica Radford experiences the horrible events that culminate in the infamous Quantrill raid--a 19th century terrorist attack that killed almost 200 innocent men and children in Lawrence, Kansas. This unusually well-researched Civil War novel shows how young Jessica, disguised as a male solider, braves death as she attempts to avenge the murder of her parents by border ruffians. Delusional and about to kill the wrong man on a Tennessee battlefield, she believes she sees an angel, who stops her from making a tragic mistake.

Sissy! opens in 1857 with an Underground Railroad rescue of a slave girl and ends with the 1863 Quantrill raid. The novel contains touching scenes, such as the death of a young ex-slave named Lazarus in the arms of a prostitute and Jessica's inner struggle over a tumultuous love affair. It talks about unknown heroes who worked through the Underground Railroad...brave women who disguised themselves in order to fight alongside men ...and men like William Quantrill who thought nothing of committing terrorism, killing innocent civilians in a defenseless town. After reading about the heartbreak and tenacity of the men and the courage and sacrifice of these remarkable women in that bygone era, the reader of Sissy! will experience a deeper appreciation of this emotionally-charged era in our nation's history.

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1. Discuss Jessica Radford's fear of the Colt .44 weapon she owned. Is this compatible with her characterization as a free-thinking, independent woman who was not afraid of doing chores men would normally do?

2. How do you think Jessica felt about Matt Lightfoot when she returned home from college? Did that feeling change later, and if so, how?

3. Did you feel the slave girl Nellie showed signs of unusual insight into human character? Explain.

4. Who was Sissy before she became an angel and what lesson did she want to impart to Jessica?

5. How did the experience of the war change Jessica? How did it change Matt?

6. What did you find unusual about the character of Roger Toby? What were the similarities and differences with his twin brother Sam?

7. What event was the singular turning point in Jessica's life? Why?

8. Tinker, Ishmael, Lazarus, and Devin were all black soldiers. Were they essentially the same or quite different from one another? For which of these four did you feel the greatest sympathy? Which one surprised you the most?

9. Of all the characters mentioned in the book, which one did you admire the most, and why?

10. Name two scenes in the book where you were surprised by the sense of compassion a character emoted. Why were you surprised?

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"Mach deftly weaves numerous characters, multiple plots, and an emotionally powerful story to crate a rich tapestry of history and fiction."

—BookWire Reviews

"The heartfelt and absorbing story set in the reality of the times, illustrates morality and courage within the pages of this destined-to-be best-seller trilogy."

—Mindquest Review

"This novel contains every piece of a good story - romances, victories, defeats, heroes, and villains."

—ForeWord Reviews

"Threaded through the plotline is the young girl of the title, who adds an inspirational element to this book that does much to lighten the otherwise dark events. Discussion questions are added at the end of the volume, as are some hints of things to come in the sequel, to be entitled All Parts Together."

—Historical Novels Review