Redheaded Orphan

Thursday, October 31, 2013
“Don’t you know God didn’t make ladybugs to live in a barn?” he said aloud. “And he didn’t make me to live in Bellfield, Minnesota or go back to Bron’s school, either.”

Book: The Redheaded Orphan (Ben and Zack, Bk 3) by L. Travis, Baker House Publishing, 1995
 

Genre: Historical Fiction
Target Audience: Boys 10-14
Subjects: Civil War, Friendship, Change (moving), Loss
Summary: It’s just going to be the same here as it is everywhere else. No one likes a preacher who isn’t afraid to speak truth and that’s what his dad does. With Zack gone there’s nothing for him here anyway. Finding a new friend seems to help, but that new friend may not be all that loyal – course who would be when faced with the treat of the teacher’s whipping stick? It’s just one thing after another. All Ben wants is for everything to go back to the way it was before – before the trouble with the war, before the moves, before Zack left to join the army, before all the change!
Notes: Third in the Ben and Zack series, this book focuses exclusively on Ben outside of a couple letters providing updates on Zack. The Civil War continues as do the other trials and challenges of the time. The Orphan Train comes to town bringing more needy children. Teachers hold great power over the lives of their students as the smallest infraction results in a whipping. Epidemics can wipe out many in a small community. And the indentured servant system is alive and well as is slavery in certain parts of the country. Ben is having a hard time adjusting to the change – new home, new school, new friends. This book takes a look at what it means to be a good friend – a theme carried out in some of the others, but really focused on in this one. A misunderstanding leads to a broken relationship and it’s up to Ben to do what it takes to mend that brokenness. This book also deals with another change for Ben – loss of a loved one. He has to work through that some as well, although the adventure elements overshadow this element. As with others in the series, there is some level of spiritual element – Ben is a Christian and prays occasionally, but it’s not necessarily dominate in the story.
Spiritual Content Recommendation Scale: 4/5
Reviewer: J:-)mi

Hebrews 13:8 – Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

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