Farewell to the Island
Grade 4-6-Mary O'Shea, first introduced in Once on This Island (HarperCollins, 1995), leaves Michilmackinac in 1816 to visit her sister and brother-in-law in London. En route, she meets the dashing and handsome James Lindsay, a midshipman and painter on the ship who is really a duke. They fall in love, and Mary is torn between marrying him and beginning a new life in England, or returning to America to her father and the island farm she has loved all her life. Strong feelings for one's family heritage are clearly evoked through the heroine's first-person narrative. Mary is an independent and courageous character, especially on her voyage to England, where she proves herself to be an excellent sailor. Vivid descriptions of Michilmackinac and its simple beauty juxtaposed with crowded, cosmopolitan England create a strong sense of both locales. Mary's hard-working existence on her farm is also juxtaposed with the rigors of tradition and proper behavior in English society. Adventure, romance, and history blend nicely to create a well-rounded story that cries for yet another sequel.Janet Gillen, Great Neck Public Library, NYCopyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.