Caleb's Crossing

ByGeraldine Brooks

Release Date: 2011-05-03
Genre: Literary Fiction

Score: 4

From 929 Ratings

Description

A bestselling tale of passion and belief, magic and adventure from the author of The Secret Chord and of March, winner of the Pulitzer Prize.

Bethia Mayfield is a restless and curious young woman growing up in Martha's Vineyard in the 1660s amid a small band of pioneering English Puritans. At age twelve, she meets Caleb, the young son of a chieftain, and the two forge a secret bond that draws each into the alien world of the other. Bethia's father is a Calvinist minister who seeks to convert the native Wampanoag, and Caleb becomes a prize in the contest between old ways and new, eventually becoming the first Native American graduate of Harvard College. Inspired by a true story and narrated by the irresistible Bethia, Caleb’s Crossing brilliantly captures the triumphs and turmoil of two brave, openhearted spirits who risk everything in a search for knowledge at a time of superstition and ignorance.

Reviews

Good
3
By Nuri8945
Overall it was pretty good. Bethia’s life is very interesting and even though I had to read it for school the story was compelling enough that I wanted to know what happened next. Would recommend for anyone who loves historical fiction with a touch of romance.
Wonderful book
5
By Ct1637
A moving account of lives in the 1600s, both native and English
Caleb’s Crossing
5
By 323EL
I love a good historical novel with a strong protagonist. Geraldine Brooks does not disappoint. She fills in the early history of the late 1670’s in Massachusetts with color and vividness. This novel is almost as good as The Wonder Years, another of her wonderful stories.
Gripping, Poignant Tale
4
By MWO 2012
Geraldine Brooks does a masterful job in transporting her readers back to Martha's Vineyard and Cambridge of the 1600's. European Christian dominance over the native populations, with the prejudice and subjugation is the subtext here.

The fictional young woman narrator, Bethia, lends a powerful immediacy to the tale. I just wish it would have been written without using quite so much of the old English.

Overall, it is a brilliant work of historical fiction. Highly recommended
Caleb's Crossing
4
By Mamatu
Very well written historical fiction. I appreciate authors who do research as it makes their characters come alive. I found it fun that some of the words used had no definition found when I searched. It helped make the story feel older.
Caleb's crossing
5
By Mindfulshopper
I loved this book. As an African American/Native American woman I was afraid this book would be either too painful to read given the cruel experience of Native people at the hands of the English or too "white washed" and therefore also too painful in the other direction to read. It is neither. I also loved "people of the Book". Ms Brooks has a way of making me feel included in her world that astounds me. Thank you Geraldine Brooks.
Sala