Queen Anne's War (American Adventure (Barbour))
Grade 5-8-In Queen Anne's War (1710), 11-year-old Will Smith's family becomes involved in attempts to drive the French from New England and eastern Canada. Against the background of soldiers, provisions, and faraway battles are more immediate concerns, primarily Will's struggles with a jealous classmate. The series' Christian focus is more blatant in Maggie's Choice (1743-44). Maggie, 13, is captivated by the wealthy, fashionable Clarke family. Will she be drawn into their "hoity-toity" circle or remain true to her humbler, more practical upbringing? The Clarkes mock Jonathan Edwards and other revivalists who preach of God's grace, but Maggie is converted by book's end. These novels provide numerous details about their times and include lists for further reading and even indexes. However, both suffer from pedestrian, occasionally awkward, and ungrammatical writing. Characterization is superficial, and the stories have little depth. These offerings fail to reach the interest level and appeal of the "Dear America" series (Scholastic) and such classics as Elizabeth Speare's The Witch of Blackbird Pond (Houghton, 1958).Ann W. Moore, Schenectady County Public Library, NYCopyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.