There comes a time in every child’s life when they must step
from being a child into adulthood. Watching this process is not always easy. I
know. I have a 19-year-old son struggling with this right now. In a book for young
adults, One Traveler, Alison Treat
has captured the essence of the mistakes, indecision, and immaturity of that
time.
Main character, seventeen-year-old Sidney Judson has reached
that crossroads in his life. Actually, he got a shove into it. His parents have
died. He could have gone on as usual, dating a neighborhood girl, planning on
marriage, and living on his Georgia Southern plantation. Instead he made a wise
choice of coping with his loss by spending time with family in Pennsylvania.
After arriving in Pennsylvania, Sidney discovers that his uncle
helps with the Underground Railroad! Sidney is confronted with the conflict of
Northern beliefs versus Southern beliefs on the issue of slavery. Next, the
Civil War is upon him and he must make more choices. All of this adds up to an
exciting story with mystery, suspense, and surprises.
Characterization in One
Traveler is very good. The main character, Sidney, makes some good choices
and some bad. He also has to make a decision about the girl he left at home. His
feelings about a certain Northern girl confuse him. The chatty preacher’s
daughter is endearing, and the story even has a villain. Loving aunt and uncle
aren’t perfect people either, but I found myself rooting for them.
Mrs. Treat did an excellent job of keeping the romantic part
decent. A few swear words caused me pause. I don’t like to read any, but the
book contains less than a handful.
I find history so much fun to learn through the vehicle of
historical fiction. The historical subject and setting, the Underground Railroad
in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania, drew me. When Sidney and his family chose
different sides and a battle took place, I cringed. Wrapped up in the story, I
felt like I had loved ones fighting there. After reading the book, I found I knew
more about the Underground Railroad and the events leading to the start of the
Civil War. Who needs a time machine when good historical fiction is available!
This book is as good as any written by Ann Rinaldi, in fact,
a little better. I find Ann Rinaldi descends a little too far into darkness, at
times. Although it is classified YA (Young Adult Fiction), this senior citizen enjoyed it immensely. One Traveler by
Alison Treat would make a great present for the teen in your life who loves to read
or who has to read to build a book list to show an evaluator. Check out One Traveler on Amazon.com.
P.S. I just found out that Mrs. Treat is a product of
homeschooling. That makes her book even more special to this homeschool mama!
