“An absorbing historical adventure with a unique and colorful setting…The novel can be read for its exciting plot and sympathetic characters, but readers will also sense its underlying theme of courage.” Booklist
Description
In London in 1735, eleven-year-old Forrest Harper is living with his family in the Tower of London. There he helps his father tend the ravens and guard the prisoners. Still, life is lonely. When vicious Scottish Rebels are captured, Forrest is delighted. Perhaps now he can prove his courage and impress the local bullies who torment him. His happiness is short-lived, though, when the Harpers are only given custody of Maddy, a Scottish Rebel’s daughter, for a rebel in a dress will surely make Forrest a laughingstock.
As the days pass, Maddy’s beauty and warmth and her touching stories of life in Scotland seal a friendship between them. But when she is slated for execution, Forrest is faced with a horrifying choice: commit treason and help her escape, or obey the law and allow his innocent friend to be executed.
Praise
“An absorbing historical adventure with a unique and colorful setting…The novel can be read for its exciting plot and sympathetic characters, but readers will also sense its underlying theme of courage.” Booklist
“Vance’s characterizations are amazingly realistic. The story provides wonderful facts about the era, surroundings, and daily lives of characters from various economical strata. The action is fast-paced with surprises around every corner.” Kliatt
“Suspense, excitement, and interesting characters…[The] message of judging people on their own merits and not on the basis of stereotypes comes across strongly.” School Library Journal
“Historical fiction with all of the danger, excitement, heroism, and adventure that attracts young boys—and many young girls—and helps make them life-long lovers of literature.” Faith & Family
Details
| Language | English |
|---|---|
| Release Day | Feb 28, 2005 |
| Release Date | March 1, 2005 |
| Release Date Machine | 1109635200 |
| Imprint | Blackstone Publishing |
| Provider | Blackstone Publishing |
| Categories | Children's Books, Growing Up & Facts of Life, History, Children/YA, Children 8-12, Fiction - All, Fiction - Child |
Author Bio
Elvira Woodruff is the author of many popular novels. Her books have won numerous awards and honors. The hundreds of letters from children that she receives each year keep her excited about writing. She lives in Martin’s Creek, Pennsylvania, where she keeps a garden that is filled with morning glories.
Narrator Bio
Simon Vance (a.k.a. Robert Whitfield) is an award-winning actor and narrator. He has earned more than fifty Earphones Awards and won the prestigious Audie Award for best narration thirteen times. He was named Booklist’s very first Voice of Choice in 2008 and has been named an AudioFile Golden Voice as well as an AudioFile Best Voice of 2009. He has narrated more than eight hundred audiobooks over almost thirty years, beginning when he was a radio newsreader for the BBC in London. He is also an actor who has appeared on both stage and television.
Overview
In London in 1735, eleven-year-old Forrest Harper is living with his family in the Tower of London. There he helps his father tend the ravens and guard the prisoners. Still, life is lonely. When vicious Scottish Rebels are captured, Forrest is delighted. Perhaps now he can prove his courage and impress the local bullies who torment him. His happiness is short-lived, though, when the Harpers are only given custody of Maddy, a Scottish Rebel’s daughter, for a rebel in a dress will surely make Forrest a laughingstock.
As the days pass, Maddy’s beauty and warmth and her touching stories of life in Scotland seal a friendship between them. But when she is slated for execution, Forrest is faced with a horrifying choice: commit treason and help her escape, or obey the law and allow his innocent friend to be executed.
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