Brooks who also wrote “Year of Wonders” and “March” has taken a little known piece of history and woven together a rich and inspiring tale. The novel is written from the perspective of Bethia Mayfield a minister’s daughter who begins as a young puritan woman growing up in a small village. She has a chance meeting with Caleb who is the son of a Native American chieftain. The two become fast friends despite the many differences in backgrounds and beliefs. Bethia’s father takes on Caleb as a sort of project where he educates him. Caleb rises through the ranks of early American society while Bethia becomes an indentured housekeeper working to help support her brothers education. This was a wonderful story which read like non-fiction. This would make a wonderful book to recommend to non-fiction readers who are looking for fiction.
