Jamestown's American portraits

In 1775 fourteen-year-old Samantha, who should be wearing dresses, knows that in britches she can out-hunt her twin and out-sail her older brother near their James River home, but she wonders if she can use those skills against the British when the American Revolution begins.

After moving from Alabama to Texas in 1836, Jeff Byrd turns fourteen years old while fighting for Texas independence from Mexico and trying to sort out his friends from his enemies after a Hispanic family saves his life when the Mexican Army slaughters its prisoners during the Goliad Massacre.

Fifteen-year-old John Griffith Allen finds himself struggling to survive the violence of the Civil War.

In 1889, after he and his family emigrate from Italy to New York City, fourteen-year-old Tony tries to adjust to becoming an American, while avoiding an Irish gang and befriending photographer and social reformer Jacob Riis.