First published 1987
Sarah Noble clutches her mother's words as she and her father trek through the Connecticut wilderness in 1707. At only eight years old, she must help build their family's new home while her mother stays behind with the baby. The forest feels alive with danger. Wild animals prowl in the shadows. Native Americans live nearby, and Sarah has heard frightening stories about them. Her father needs her help, but fear creeps into her thoughts each night. When her father must return for the rest of the family, Sarah faces her biggest test. She stays with a local Indian family, sleeping in their wigwam and eating their food. Everything feels strange and scary. But as Sarah gets to know Tall John and his family, she discovers that being brave doesn't mean feeling no fear. True courage means acting with kindness even when you're afraid. Sarah learns that friendship can bloom across differences, and that the scariest strangers might become the most trusted friends.
Genres: historical-fiction, adventure, native-american
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family
Setting: Connecticut, United States
Period: 1707
52 pages · Hardcover · Atheneum Books for Young Readers