Meryl's recommendation

We become privy to an exceptional historical glimpse into 1665 and the inaugural formative years of the Harvard University. In particular an early attempt at native integration with government sponsor to drive the savage from the Indian, and assimilate him into educated contemporary life. The focus is on Caleb Cheeshahteaumuck, the first Native American to graduate from Harvard University. Harvard’s first constructed brick building was assigned as an ‘Indian House’ where the attending First Nations were lodged and attended to study. Naturally this historical narrative is rife with oppression and prejudice however more significant were the gains and abilities of some of these attendees against all odds. This is really the meat of the novel as well as a few of the tragedies inherent in the story. There were four Native students who officially occupied the Native house. Out of these four, one of them, Eleazar, died before graduating. The second, Iacoombs, also died in a Mariners shipwreck while on the way back to Harvard just two months before graduating. John Wampus left the school to become a Mariner and only Caleb graduated throughout the whole existence of the experimental ‘Indian House’ endeavor. Caleb died of Tuberculosis, known as ‘consumption’ in those days, less than a year after graduation. All historically interesting stuff but in the last half I just couldn’t keep my eyes open long enough to make it go away. It got real boring real quick and I was perpetually near the end on a daily basis, falling down a bottomless pit craving to stop this carnage. Beware my friends. By John Archibald, October, 2012

Similar in style to Carolly Erickson and Kathleen Kent, this book offers an interesting view of the American colonies long before independence was ever thought of.

19/9 - Considering it's titled Caleb's Crossing I was surprised to find it narrated by Bethia Mayfield. It is 1660 and Bethia is the middle child of the minister of the newly settled Martha's Vineyard. She is an intelligent girl, but her father is like most men of the time and believes that there is no need to educate a girl child past the ability to keep the household books. Bethia feels frustrated and left out by her father who is attempting to educate her less intelligent, older brother Makepeace, so that he can go to Harvard. Bethia escapes the situation by roaming the wilds of the mostly unpopulated island. One day, while on the beach near the local native American settlement, a native boy approaches her. Because of her father's work to reform the natives' religious beliefs, to bring them over to the side of God and Christianity, Bethia already knows some of the native language and is able to converse with him. Bethia has finally found someone intelligent enough to hold her attention and, over the next year or so, frequently disappears from her home to meet with him on the beach. In her mind she uses the excuse of trying to save him, to convert him, as the reason why it is not a dereliction of her duty to her family to continually be away from her chores. All of this is told from a diary she is writing to record her "sins," which she believes are the reason for the tragedy that has only just started happening to her family. The further into the book you get the more the consequences of the sins she committed are realised. 20/9 - This book seemed to have deal with a lot of death. I know that's probably realistic for the era what with disease, native American attacks and weather-related disaster, but due to all the tragedies that befall the narrator, Bethia, I couldn't say that Caleb's Crossing had a happy ending. It was definitely an interesting book to read, I even learned a few new Olde English words and the way they used to spell some of our current words, but it was a little depressing. The afterword at the back of the book was useful in showing how Brooks took the small amount of information actually known about Caleb and filled in all the gaps with her imagination.

Does Geraldine Brooks write a bad book EVER??? Not in my opinion. This was one of her best. I loved the time period and history of New England, portrayed through the Puritan settlers and native american subjects. The ending was so well done (I'm not giving any clues)...and, certainly, not what I'd expected. I'd definitely recommend it.

Set in 17th century Martha's Vineyard, the daughter of a minister is converting First Nations people to Christianity. Caleb is the first aboriginal graduate of Harvard University whose crossing to English society led to the loss of his health and his life. Brooks' use of language to create the feeling of the 17th century is effective. Caleb's character is underdeveloped compared with the woman's. It portrays the horrible treatment of aboriginal peoples. This book is another example of Brooks pushing the present into the past, but somehow the book was not bad.

Had to force myself to finish this unfortunately BORING book. A vey detailed imagining of the 17th century colony of Massachusetts, and Martha's Vineyard.

I really enjoyed this book.

A very interesting premise but I find Brooks characters and plots too neat. Caleb was a character that had so much potential to develop. Like Year of Wonders, Brooks creates strong powerful female leads, however, as an history buff, I find many elements in these characters anachronistic. That said, it was an engaging story which raised thought provoking issues of our connection with and use of land.

Great story. Geraldine Brooks has written a few good ones and this is another.