Tom Ratliff Stories

TomOnyms@comcast.net

25 Broad Street

Plainville, CT 06062

860-747-1577 or 860-874-4169

Upper Elementary and Middle School Curriculum Materials

for Newspaper Programs and Classroom Teachers 

(Drawn by Miranda Norris)

Historical Fiction

TomOnyms features original historical fiction written by author Tom Ratliff. Tom is a teacher by training, and is the co-author of the Matty Trescott novels—a six-book series set in the Civil War era. He has written non-fiction books for Scholastic Books, the National Geographic Society, and Salariya Books in London, as well as narratives for graphic novels for Barron's Educational Series. Tom's serialized stories have been published in around the country, as well as the Hartford Courant and the Day of New London. Each story is set against the backdrop of an event or historical era, and each provides a blend of historical fact, social history, and strong characters. Stories include teacher's guides, illustrations, and historical background and maps as needed.

 

 Artemis: Huntress of the Seas

"Artemis: Huntress of the Seas" is a whaling adventure story. Young Becky Meade stows away on a whaling ship hoping to get to California to find her brother Tom. Set in the 1850s "golden age" of American whaling, the story relates a realistic picture of what life was like on a whaling vessel, and illustrates the dangers of this important, but little known era of American history.

 Twelve Chapters: Currently Available

The Drinking Gourd

"The Drinking Gourd" is an action story of the Underground Railroad, set in the Canal Era of pre-Civil War Connecticut. Young Jeremiah Cady lives with his aunt and uncle, who operate a lock on the Farmington Canal. When Jeremiah discovers intruders one hot June evening, he is faced with some difficult decisions.

Fifteen chapters: Currently Available

Fair Wind of Liberty: The British Attack on New London and Groton

"Fair Wind of Liberty" tells the story of the British attack on New London, Connecticut, in September of 1781. Told through the eyes of several members of the Cutler family, this fictionalized account of one of the bloodiest battles of the Revolutionary War describes the value of family and friendship, and the sacrifices made by American patriots.

Sixteen chapters. Currently Available

The Colt Fire

 "The Colt Fire" is a fictionalized account of the fire that destroyed the Colt Armory in Hartford in February, 1864. Illustrated by Stacey Peterson.

Nineteen chapters

 

 

Pony Express Rider

It is April of 1860 and Kansas is in the grip of a terrible drought. Young Henry Trescott leaves home to ride for the Pony Express, hoping to earn enough money to save his family's farm. He intends to stay away for a month or two, but his adventures take him a thousand miles from home and he is gone for several months. 

Fifteen chapters. Released March 2008

 

Henry and Bill

A continuation of Pony Express Rider, Henry and Bill tells the story of Henry's adventures at the Red Buttes Pony Express station, and reintroduces the Sally Duncan and her family as they struggle to reach California amid the dangers of the Oregon Trail. Henry and Bill completes the saga of Henry's quest as a Pony Express rider, and can be read as a second installment or as a stand-alone story.

Fifteen Chapters

Blue Creek Farm

Blue Creek Farm is a serialized version of the Carroll Thomas novel by the same name. The time frame is 1860 to 1863, and the story follows the life of young Matty Trescott as she grows up amid the violence of Civil War-era Kansas. The story is actually in two parts and can be purchased individually or as an extended or year-long serial. 

Thirty-one chapters. Released March 2010

Life on the Farm

Life on the Farm is a series of monthly letters describing life on a Connecticut farm in 1875 - 1876. Each installment provides details of growing up on a farm, as told by eleven-year-old Elizabeth Harris, one of seven children. The series is set up as pen-pal letters, providing students with the opportunity to write letters to the "pen-pal," as well as create graphic organizers and other visual aids to compare life then and now.   

Twelve Installments. June 2010

 

Coming Soon:

Blizzard! - a story of the Blizzard of 1888.

Moving West - adventure story of a families struggles to move to Wisconsin Territory in the 1840s.

 

 

    

 

             Contact Tom at tomOnyms@comcast.net for rates and a sample contract

© 2006 by Tom Ratliff

TomOnyms®

Return to Tom's Page.

Return to Matty Trescott Home Page.

Last Updated: 02/25/10