Give Me Liberty
Grade 5-8&ndash;Thirteen-year-old indentured servant Nathaniel Dunn arrives in Williamsburg in 1774 to work for the local carriage maker. As the royal governor and the kings loyalists attempt to control the colonists more tightly, it becomes apparent that there will be no peaceful resolution to the tension. Through his friendship with an elderly schoolmaster, Nathaniel is exposed to music, philosophy, and the political ideas of the day. While his inclination is to keep to himself and avoid trouble, he cannot help but be caught up in the events around him. One of his fellow servants is full of patriotic fervor and draws Nathaniel into the protests. The carriage maker, a staunch loyalist, becomes increasingly volatile as his business dwindles in the face of rising tension. In the end, Nathaniel must determine what he believes in and act accordingly. Elliotts engaging and highly readable novel is well researched and sprinkled liberally with renowned patriots of the period. Readers come away not only with an accurate glimpse into 18th-century life, but also with a better understanding of how the colonies cooperated. Particularly noteworthy is the way in which Elliott handles the paradox of colonial Americans fighting for their independence from England yet clinging to the practice of enslaving other human beings. She does not provide pat answers, and Nathaniels inability to reconcile what he sees around him promises to provoke thoughtful discussion. A rich and robust piece of historical literature.&ndash;Kim Dare, Fairfax County Public Schools, VACopyright &copy; Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.--This text refers to theHardcoveredition.