Elizabeth George Speare (1908–1994)

The book is about a young girl who finds herself displaced from Barbados by a death in the family and debts galore. She ends up taking a ship and travels to her distant family in New England, whom she has never even met. Where things are entirely different from her carefree life to a harsh and strict, superstitious town where people can turn on you for the tiniest hint of non-conformity. Who is worth trusting and how do you survive! Can she find love in any of the faces she meets? I loved this book and have read it more than once. A fast and intriguing read for all ages.… (meer)

Louisa Knight Goodreads.com Review:
Age: 10 - 12
Reading Level: 5th - 7th grades

Cleanliness:

Children's Bad Words
Mild Obscenities & Substitutions - 5 Incidents: demmed, golly
Scatological Terms - 2 Incidents: bl**dy (This is used biologically to describe blood flow but has been noted as this word is offensive in some cultures.)

Religious & Supernatural - 3 Incidents: A Native American speaks ritualistically to a fish and later to a bear after he kills them. An Indian Religious story told in response to a Bible story. The Indian says that he goes to find his "manitou," meaning spirit. (Indian coming of age ritual).

Romance Related - 1 Incident: Indians are mentioned a few times as being "half-naked," wearing only breechclothes.

Attitudes/Disobedience - 2 Incidents: A boy lies to a stranger saying his father would be back "anytime now" when in fact his father is away for months. (Lies for safety reasons). "The boy glowered at his grandfather, but he did not dare to speak again. With a black scowl, he stalked out of the cabin." To avoid offending his Indian friend, Matt lies about the character Friday not being a slave to Crusoe when he reads him the story. "When the Indian got that disdainful look in his eyes, Matt hated him." Later in the same paragraph, however, it describes how although they still don't like each other, they are no longer enemies.

Conversation Topics - 5 Incidents: A boy wonders if he actually could shoot a man, "even a criminal". The main characters read Robinson Crusoe together and a section of the story they read says," One of the captives they mercilessly slaughtered. The fire was set blazing for a cannibal feast." A pipe and smoking are mentioned a few times. Racism: "My grandmother hate all white men." His father had always "forbidden him to gamble."

Parent Takeaway
There is some racism throughout the story (from the Indians side), but as the two boys spend a summer together, this is overcome and a close friendship is formed. When winter is setting and it doesn't seem that Matt's father will ever return, the Indians tell Matt they will take care of him, but he must leave with them to a far away land. In the end, Matt decides he can't let his father down but must keep the house and land secure for if/when he does return.… (meer)