The Ally

Of course she hates me, he thought miserably. I hate me, too! It’s my fault Henry-James is locked up who-knows-where. It’s my fault he’s going to be sold. He squirmed on the brocade chair and wiggled his knees back and forth. But I was right. I know I was!

Book: The Ally (Christian Heritage Series: Book #14) by Nancy Rue, Focus on the Family Publishing, 1997

Genre: Historical Fiction

Target Audience: Boys 10-14

Subjects: Slavery, Friendship, Truth and lies, Trust, Forgiveness

Summary: A well educated boy with a hunger for knowledge, Austin can’t imagine much worse than being denied the right to learn to read. Yet, that’s exactly what his uncle is doing to his friend, Henry James. When Austin determines to teach him though, it leads to a lot of danger, trouble, and bitter feelings between the various family members. Austin knows he has to fix all of this somehow, but he has no idea how he is going to go about doing that.

Notes: This is the third set of books in the Christian Heritage Series. Each set focuses on a particular time period and tells the story of a young boy growing up in that time. This set is about a young boy who has been raised as an abolitionist but is living with his uncle’s family on a plantation in the south where they don’t believe slavery is wrong. In this book, Austin learns about hatred and forgiveness when his uncle makes a choice that makes everyone mad and devastated. Daddy-Elias challenges Austin to talk to “his friend Jesus” who stands ready to forgive at the asking and to listen to what He says rather than trying to strike out on his own. He challenges Austin to let go of the hate in his heart and instead, to forgive as Jesus forgave him.

Recommendation Scale: 5/5

Reviewer: J:-)mi

Colossians 3:13 – Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.