The Rebel

”My mind is made up. You will not mar the Hutchinson name, nor will you waste the life the Lord has given you being stubborn and selfish. Not if I have anything to do with it – and I promise you, son, I do.

Book: The Rebel (Christian Heritage Series: The Williamsburg Years #1) by Nancy Rue, Focus on the Family/Bethany House Publishers, 1996

Genre: Historical Fiction

Target Audience: Boys 11-15

Subjects: Revolutionary War, Politics, Friendship, Reputation, Anger, Relationships with family

Summary: Thomas feels angry at everything these days. He’s angry that his father is never around and when he is, he takes little interest in Thomas. He’s angry at the tensions in the air due to the differing political views during this time of the revolutionary war. He’s angry at being forced out of boyhood and into manhood and more responsibilities are placed on him. He’s angry at having his older brother take on the role of both father and teacher in his life. And he’s just plain angry at life. When his father takes him and his family to Williamsburg, Thomas is confident everything will get worse, but instead, he finds a friend, begins to learn neat things from his teacher and thrive in his apprentice to an apothecary. Just when things start going good though, the war tears him away from all of it. His family has different political views than some of those he cares about and those views seem to require a distance between them. Is it even possible to keep a friend in these challenging times?

Notes: This story focuses on the life of a young boy growing up as a patriot during the time of the Revolutionary War. His best friend and teacher are loyalists – some of the only ones in town, so he finds himself in the midst of much tension there. Then there’s tension within his own home as his father tends towards a more peaceful approach and his brother is determined to run off and join the army. It’s a story of growing up, and a story of growing in knowledge of and relationship with God. In this book, Thomas just begins to recognize God as Someone who is actually there and could actually be talked to and who could actually help him with his struggles.

Recommendation Scale: 5/5

Reviewer: J:-)mi

Colossians 4:2 –Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.