Not sure how I came across this book - I have a spider-web approach to finding books I think I'd like to read. Sometimes it comes from Amazon book lists, sometimes from annual lists of books to read, not often enough from friends who are reading (yes, that's you - a thinly veiled request for contributions to my blog).
Geraldine Brooks won a Pulitzer for one of her earlier books, and she lives on Martha's Vineyard. The historical fact that this historical fiction is built around is this: a young son of a chieftain from the island became the first Native American to graduate from Harvard in the 1660s.
The story is told by Bethia - other reviewers have said it would be more aptly titled "Bethia's Crossing". My favorite part of the book happens in the first few chapters when she is a young girl exploring Martha's Vineyard, sneaking to learn lessons taught to her brother, and learning the island's secrets from Caleb.
I don't know if this is a plot spoiler, but I do think it's important to know that Bethia experiences death of loved ones over and over again. It got a bit predictable rather than sad.
Usually it's easy for me to say I liked or didn't like a book. I kept going on this one even though I wanted to stop. Cathy Heiser told me it was a universal thumbs up from her book club so I kept reading. I think the real evidence is that I wanted to stop reading it, but didn't. So I guess I liked some of it, but it wasn't a favorite. How's that for an ambivalent review?
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