Reading and discussing the people, events, and ideas of the American Revolution.
About the CFLSAR Book Club
The Central Florida Chapter Book Club meets on the third Wednesday of each month from 8:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Members can earn 3 America 250 points by attending, and participants do not have to have read the book to attend.
2026 Reading List
OCTOBER
Valcour: The 1776 Campaign That Saved the Cause of Liberty — Jack Kelly
This book tells the story of the little-known 1776 campaign on Lake Champlain, where American forces under Benedict Arnold fought to slow the British advance from Canada. Although the battle itself was a tactical defeat, the resistance at Valcour Island helped buy crucial time for the American cause and shaped the course of the Revolution.
NOVEMBER
The Battle of White Plains: Washington and Howe in Westchester — Stephen Paul DeVillo
This book examines the 1776 Battle of White Plains and places it within the larger New York campaign between George Washington and British General William Howe. It highlights the military action, the local geography, and the impact of the battle on both the army and the surrounding civilian population.
DECEMBER
The Indispensables: The Diverse Soldier-Mariners Who Shaped the Country — Patrick K. O’Donnell
This work shines a light on the overlooked Marblehead regiment, a remarkable group of soldiers and mariners from diverse backgrounds who played a critical role in the American Revolution. Their seamanship, discipline, and courage helped Washington’s army survive some of its darkest moments, including the famous crossing of the Delaware.
JANUARY
The Enemy Harassed: Washington’s New Jersey Campaign of 1777 — Jim Stempel
This book explores Washington’s New Jersey campaign after the victories at Trenton and Princeton, showing how persistent pressure kept British forces off balance. It presents the campaign as a turning point that restored American confidence and demonstrated Washington’s growing skill as a battlefield commander.
FEBRUARY
Victory or Death: The Battles of Trenton and Princeton — Mark Maloy
Focusing on two of the most famous early battles of the Revolution, this book recounts Washington’s daring winter campaign and the dramatic victories that followed. It shows how the triumphs at Trenton and Princeton revived the Patriot cause and transformed the morale of the Continental Army.
MARCH
Dark and Bloody Ground: The American Revolution Along the Southern Frontier — Richard Blackmon
This book shifts attention to the violent and often overlooked conflict along the southern frontier during the Revolutionary War. It explores the conflict among Patriots, Loyalists, Native nations, and settlers, showing how brutal frontier warfare shaped the Revolution in the South.
Join the discussion! You do not have to be an expert, and you do not have to have read or finished the book. Join us for fellowship, discussion, and Revolutionary War history.
