• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Peanut Blossom
  • Start Here
  • Recipes
  • Book Club
  • Cookbooks
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
menu icon
go to homepage
  • ABOUT
  • RECIPES
  • HOLIDAYS
  • BOOK CLUB
  • COOKBOOKS
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • ABOUT
    • RECIPES
    • HOLIDAYS
    • BOOK CLUB
    • COOKBOOKS
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home » Blog » Book Club

    America's First Daughter by Stephanie Dray & Laura Kamoie

    Published: Aug 31, 2016 · Modified: Aug 20, 2022 by Tiffany Dahle · This post may contain affiliate links.

    • Share
    • Email Friend!

    Book Club Kit for America's First Daughter by Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie includes book club questions and party menu.

    A copy of America's First Daughter appears on a digital reader tablet screen on a table.

    September brings back to school time for the kids so I thought it would be fun to mix things up a little bit and have a "back to school" themed pick for us moms for this month's book club pick.

    The cover of America's First Daughter caught my eye while I was out shopping and once I read the back I knew it would be the perfect pick.

    Peanut Blossom Book Club

    This book was our official September 2016 pick for the Peanut Blossom Book Club.

    Want to see what we're reading today? Check out our book club book list here.

    • Piles of book club books sit on a set of stairs
      Best Online Book Club for Busy Women

    Want Free Reminders for Each Book?

    Sign up for my book club newsletter right here:

      Built with ConvertKit

      What is America's First Daughter About?

      In a compelling, richly researched novel that draws from thousands of letters and original sources, bestselling authors Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie tell the fascinating, untold story of Thomas Jefferson's eldest daughter, Martha "Patsy" Jefferson Randolph--a woman who kept the secrets of our most enigmatic founding father and shaped an American legacy.

      From her earliest days, Patsy Jefferson knows that though her father loves his family dearly, his devotion to his country runs deeper still. As Thomas Jefferson's oldest daughter, she becomes his helpmate, protector, and constant companion in the wake of her mother's death, traveling with him when he becomes American minister to France.

      It is in Paris, at the glittering court and among the first tumultuous days of revolution, that fifteen-year-old Patsy learns about her father's troubling liaison with Sally Hemings, a slave girl her own age. Meanwhile, Patsy has fallen in love--with her father's protégé William Short, a staunch abolitionist and ambitious diplomat. Torn between love, principles, and the bonds of family, Patsy questions whether she can choose a life as William's wife and still be a devoted daughter.

      Her choice will follow her in the years to come, to Virginia farmland, Monticello, and even the White House. And as scandal, tragedy, and poverty threaten her family, Patsy must decide how much she will sacrifice to protect her father's reputation, in the process defining not just his political legacy, but that of the nation he founded."

      And then go grab a copy of America's First Daughter here.

      America's First Daughter Discussion Questions

      I believe the best book club questions to spark a lively discussion in your group help readers make personal connections to the story.

      You can read about how to write the best book club questions on your own here, but hopefully these will get you started!

      Question 1:

      What did you think of this month's pick? Is it something you would have selected on your own?

      Did you finish or are you scrambling to get to the end still?

      See the online discussion here.

      Question 2:

      Do you read books from the historical fiction genre or was America's First Daughter your first exposure to it?

      How does this book compare to others you've enjoyed?

      See the online discussion here.

      Question 3:

      Did you ever pause your reading to look up additional facts about the story online? Which elements particularly piqued your curiosity?

      If you didn't do additional research, did you feel there was enough information in the book to satisfy you?

      See the online discussion here.

      Question 4:

      I was thrilled to discover several portraits of the book's main characters while I was researching additional information on the facts from America's First Daughter.

      Official portraits from a gallery of each of the main characters.

      I especially love the ones of Patsy and Sally because it shows just how beautiful the two young women were.

      Is this how you imagined the characters?

      See the online discussion here.

      Question 5:

      Have you ever visited Monticello?

      I am desperate to go and see it in person.

      The authors of the book described their own visit to both Monticello and Tuckahoe in the author's notes at the end of the book.

      I laughed imagining their glee in seeing William Short's shaving kit that had a chocolate pot.

      See the online discussion here.

      Question 6:

      This week we saw the opening of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.

      One moment during this momentous occasion was this embrace between Michelle Obama and George Bush.

      The museum features an exhibition on slavery that covers the American Revolution time period.

      This isn't so much a question as an open-ended opportunity to share your thoughts on this timely event

      See the online discussion here.

      Question 7:

      Did Jefferson's relationship with Sally through the years surprise you?

      Would Sally have left Jefferson if she had her freedom or do you think by the end she might have chosen to stay? Were his feelings returned?

      See the online discussion here.

      Question 8:

      I found it difficult to read about the limited choices women had during this time period especially when it came to dealing with unhealthy marriages.

      Was there a particular relationship in the story that frustrated you more than the others? Which one and why?

      See the online discussion here.

      Question 9:

      Do you think Patsy would have had a happier life if she had married William Short rather than go back to America with her father?

      Or would it have been equally difficult but in other ways?

      See the online discussion here.

      Question 10:

      Watching Jefferson's rise to President and the political endeavors of the Randolphs and William Short highlighted that our country has had political conflict among candidates and voters from the very beginning.

      Did you see any similarities to their elections and what we are going through today?

      See the online discussion here.

      Question 11:

      In what ways did Patsy shape her father’s legacy? In what ways did she shape our own?

      In what ways is she America’s First Daughter?

      See the online discussion here.

      Book Club Party Menu

      For the book club party menu, why not have a menu inspired by "As American as apple pie" or a sweet cherry pie?

      • A square piece of apple pie has a fork taking a bite.
        Make-Ahead Apple Slab Pie
      • A cherry slab pie sits in a metal baking pan and has heart-shaped cut outs for the top crust.
        Easy Cherry Pie {With Frozen Cherries}

      You May Also Enjoy

      If you enjoyed this book, you'd likely enjoy these other fun book club picks from through the years:

      • A copy of The Accidental Empress sits on a table.
        The Accidental Empress by Allison Pataki
      • A copy of Beneath a Scarlet Sky sits on a table.
        Beneath a Scarlet Sky by Mark Sullivan
      • A collage of 4 photos of historical fiction books about the American Revolution
        Best Historical Fiction About the American Revolution
      • A collage of 4 photos of the best time travel books
        Best Time Travel Books for Book Club

      More Best Book Club Picks

      • A cover of the book What the Wind Knows by Amy Harmon
        What the Wind Knows by Amy Harmon
      • A copy of the book club book The Ex Talk by Rachel Lynn Solomon is on the table.
        The Ex Talk by Rachel Lynn Solomon
      • A book club party at a dinner table next to a photo of a pile of books and two recipe ideas.
        All the Book Club Dinner Ideas You'll Ever Need
      • A copy of The Last Thing He told Me sits on a table.
        The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave

      Reader Interactions

      Trackbacks

      1. The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton - Peanut Blossom says:
        September 28, 2016 at 3:14 pm

        […] and stumbled upon The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton. I hesitated briefly since we just finished another historical fiction book, but this one definitely appears to have a more magical element to […]

        Reply

      Primary Sidebar

      Hi, I'm Tiffany!
      I believe a great family recipe is one that makes everyone at the table happy, not just the kids. I'm the author of two bestselling cookbooks for kids that are chock full of recipes everyone in your family will love. I'm also the hostess of the best online book club for moms.

      More about me →

      What's Trending Now

      • A photo collage shows the variety of recipes that can be made in a bread maker.
        50 Best Bread Machine Recipes
      • A blue baking dish filled with mac and cheese with bread crumb topping. A serving spoon has removed a portion to show the creamy elbow noodles.
        Make Ahead Mac and Cheese
      • An airfryer basket has 7 seasoned chicken tenderloins golden brown and cooked.
        Healthy Chicken Tenderloins in the Air Fryer
      • Two salmon filets are surrounded by fresh green beans in an air fryer basket.
        How to Cook Salmon in Air Fryer

      Popular

      • A freezer-friendly metal pan holds an 8x8-inch apple crisp with crumble topping.
        Freezer Friendly Apple Crisp
      • A stack of the best books for book club in 2023
        Best Book Club Picks 2023
      • A taco salad made with mini frozen tacos.
        10-minute Trader Joe's Meals
      • A young kid's hand is holding a homemade pizza lunchable.
        30 School Lunch Ideas for Kids
      • A collage of easy dinners for busy nights.
        30 Quick Dinners for Busy Nights
      • A photo collages shows several easy dinner ideas kids could make.
        Easy Dinner Ideas for Yo-Yo Nights {You're On Your Own!}
      • A meal train dinner kit featuring supplies for tacos sits in an aluminum tray for delivery.
        30 Clever Meal Train Ideas with Recipes
      • Harry Potter themed snacks are in a platter with a witch hat sitting next to an open copy of a Harry Potter book.
        21 Harry Potter Snacks for Movie Night

      Footer

      As Seen On

      The Taste of Home Logo
      The Pioneer Woman Logo
      The Country Living Logo
      The Buzzfeed logo
      The Good Housekeeping Logo

      About

      As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

      Contact
      Privacy Policy
      Disclaimer

      Favorites

      Bread Recipes
      Soup Recipes
      Quick Dinner Recipes
      Harry Potter Fan Club
      Reading with Kids

      Holidays

      Easter Recipes
      4th of July Recipes
      Catholic Celebrations
      Thanksgiving Recipes
      Christmas Recipes

      Recipes

      Appetizers
      Dinners
      Salads
      Side Dishes
      Desserts
      Brunch
      Homemade Pantry

      ↑ back to top

      Copyright © 2023