Native Son

With black humor he reflected that it had been scant weeks since his rescue from a British scaffold. This was becoming a bad habit. At the thought, he grimaced, then rage rose in him. God had used Elizabeth to save him – for what? For this? To be captured and tortured to death like an animal? Or to live the degraded life of a slave? He found himself berating God for His indifferent cruelty. Why could he not have been allowed to die like a man and be spared this? How could this be God’s will?

Book: Native Son by J. M. Hochstetler, Sheaf House Publishers, 2005

Target Audience: Girls 17+

Subjects: American Revolution, Family Relationships, Dating Relationships, War, Forgiveness

Summary: The Oriole and the Patriot have been saved from the hangman’s noose, but their sacrifices aren’t done yet. They beg to be allowed to marry, but the Revolution still has need of them. The Oriole’s services are needed as a spy still and the Patriot is needed as a negotiator to the native peoples. They’re going to be separated by hundreds of miles and short of walking out on the cause they’ve pledged their allegiances to, there’s nothing they can do about it. Despite their concerns, they each embark on their quests, bravely fighting until news comes to Elizabeth that Carleton has been captured by one of the native tribes that is hostile to the white. So each one faces their personal battles – Carleton as he fights for survival against those who want to torture and kill him, and Elizabeth as she fights for word of where he is and what has happened to him as he seems to have simply vanished into thin air.

Notes: Set at the beginning of the American Revolution, Native Son is the second in The American Patriot Series. This one has the characters significantly more mature, particularly Elizabeth. It portrays her as truly a grown woman, young, but ready for an adult life. It intensifies the violence of the war as well. In this one Carleton faces some extremely violent challenges at the hands of his captors. The huge spiritual element covered in this one is the question of where is God when suffering comes. Elizabeth suffers not knowing the fate of the man she loves and going at the challenges of the war on her own with her family in Europe and her loved one gone. Carleton suffers in his captivity. Both have to turn to God for strength.

 It’s definitely an adventure book with action and suspense being the focus, but the spiritual elements that are there are well done.

Spiritual Content Recommendation Scale: 4/5

Reviewer: J:-)mi

James 1:2-4 – Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.