This book is about a fourteen-year-old indentured servant named Rachel Marsh who finds herself changing as she meets many people, including young Matthew Kilroy, a British private in the 29th regiment who is not very easy to get along with.

Rachel confides this to Abigail Adams, who comforts her and gives her money to go buy books at Henry Knox's bookstore.

While coming back from the bakery, the sentry outside the Adams house, Private Matthew Kilroy, challenges Rachel.

In a starred review, Booklist's Chris Sherman highlighted how "Rinaldi provides a vivid picture of colonial life and the pre-Revolutionary War period, including the disagreements among various American factions and the frightening actions of mobs and British retaliation".

[2] On behalf of the Historical Novel Society, Wendy A. Zollo discussed how "Rinaldi writes in a compelling and colorful fashion without drawing on dramatics", and noted that "the Boston Massacre and its consequences are presented in an evenly flowing and captivating way that should keep a young reader’s attention".

[3] Multiple reviewers commented on the book's relevance to the time it was published, which could make it a valuable conversation starter.

Publishers Weekly wrote, "Historical events aren't as neat and tidy as they appear in history books, nor are they dissimilar from modern happenings (i.e., the Rodney King case), as Rinaldi [...] ably demonstrates in this painstakingly researched tale".

[1] Considering a classroom environment, Publishers Weekly added that "how Rachel acts according to her newly awakened social conscience and sense of self-worth makes for engrossing and educational reading".