First published 2009
Andrew grows up listening to sailors' stories about America at Plymouth's bustling docks. His father recognizes the boy's burning desire for the New World and sends him to London as a page in Walter Raleigh's household. At Queen Elizabeth's court, Raleigh champions England's fight against Spain for control of American territories. Everyone expects the Queen to approve an expedition soon. Andrew must prove he deserves a place on any voyage to America. He navigates the dangerous political games of Elizabethan court life while pursuing his dream. The story weaves fictional characters into real historical events, capturing the intrigue and ambition of the era. Andrew faces the challenge of earning his passage to shores that promise both opportunity and peril for Europeans willing to risk everything.
Genres: historical-fiction, adventure, historical-romance, young-adult
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, pursuit-of-dreams
Setting: America, London, Plymouth
Period: Elizabethan Era
336 pages · Paperback · Yearling