The Crimson Cap
Inspired by the French explorer LaSalle’s failed 1687 expedition to discover the Mississippi River, Howard’s historical novel imaginatively re-creates the life of a 10-year-old boy, Pierre Talon, who was, in fact, part of the quest. When things begin to go terribly wrong, Pierre begins a new life in a Hasinai Indian village, where he is christened “Tay-sha” and becomes the adopted son of the tribal leader. Also, he gets caught up in the ongoing struggle between the French and the more numerous and powerful Spanish for control of the surrounding territories. Howard’s story is a complicated one and so filled with history that events sometimes crowd characterization off the page. Although fiction and real history are not always as seamlessly integrated as they might be, the material remains inherently dramatic, and Pierre’s growing assimilation into the Hasinai makes for fascinating reading. A map, list of characters, pronunciation guide, and an afterword providing additional background information are all reader-friendly adjuncts to the story. Grades 5-8. --Michael Cart