The Midwife's Revolt by Jodi Daynard Review

**I won this book as part of a Facebook contest on the author's page.**
What would you do when you are faced with some of the harshest conditions?  How far would you go?  Does the end truly justify the means?  The answer for Lizzie Boylston and friends is you do what you must.  The Midwife's Revolt by Jodi Daynard follows Lizzie Boylston over a period of years during the Revolutionary War. 

Lizzie is a midwife during the 1770s, who's husband is killed in the first few chapters of the book.  While grieving she becomes close to Abigail Adams, wife of John Adams, and her new apprentice, Martha Miller.  The story follows the friendship of these women and their hardships during the war.  They struggle with drought, disease, hunger, and the constant worry that the war will come to their home.  Daynard weaves a realistic tale of what it was like to live during that time and give us an insight into how much of a struggle it must have been.
About half way through the book, Lizzie decides to take it upon herself to become a spy for the Cause.  She dresses as a man and rides off to taverns to try to gather information that may be of use.  During this time, she suspects people close to her of being a spy for the other side which causes her turmoil that the author does a good job of guiding the reader to feel what Lizzie feels.  When I first read the description of this book, I would have thought she would be recruited by someone into becoming a spy (a la Alias), but she really does take it upon herself to become a spy much to the dismay of her friends. 
Overall, this is a book of friendship in the harshest conditions.  I was brought back to the founding days of the United States and the uncertain times that the people had to go through.  Lizzie tells us her story as if she were telling her tale to a friend or grandchild.  I did enjoyed the way the book was written because it made the reader closer to the hardship. 
This book inspired me to find out more information on Abigail Adams and I am always in favor of a book that motivates you to learn more about a topic.  I think Daynard did an amazing job on her research, both into midwifery and what it was like to live back then.