Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Barbour Publishing Group, 2018
Pages: 256
Rating: Do Not Recommend
Synopsis: Mary Elizabeth Chapman boards the Speedwell in 1620 as a Separatist seeking a better life in the New World. William Lytton embarks on the Mayflower as a carpenter looking for opportunities to succeed - and he may have found one when a man from the Virginia Company offers William a hefty sum to keep a stealth eye on company interests in the new colony. The season is far too late for good sailing and storms rage, but reaching land is not better as food is scarce and people are weak. Will Mary Elizabeth survive to face the spring planting and unknown natives? Will William be branded a traitor and expelled?
Review: In a word, disappointing. This series sounded promising, essentially a family saga through all the key points in American History starting with Mary Elizabeth Chapman who sails on the Mayflower.
The writing in this novel is basic. At one point, an 8yo male character asks what a cooper does. In 1620 coopers would have been ubiquitous and certainly by 8, a boy would know a cooper is a barrel maker.
I don't mind some "fluff" reads, but this novel would have been more appropriate as an introduction to historical fiction for middle grade level reading.
Each novel in this series is written by a different author so I'm going to give the second book a chance before bailing.
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