Almost Home
Part of the publisher’s Daughters of the Faith series, Almost Home is the story of 13-year-old Mary Chilton, one of the 102 souls on the famous 1620 voyage of the Mayflower. Mary, uprooted once already from her home in England, decides to leave Holland with her Separatist parents and others to establish a colony in the still largely unexplored New World. In this time of upheaval and uncertainty, she finds her faith in God sorely tested, as the voyage and landing are fraught with difficulties. The author’s accurate descriptions of the Pilgrims’ life in Holland, of conditions on board ship, of what the colonists found when they landed at Plymouth, and insightful portrayals of some of the more notable passengers, combine with a highly readable narrative to create a believable story of early America. Lawton’s Mary is a sympathetic character, a strong-willed, caring and loving young girl, whose greatest desire is to find a place to belong. Although marketed as a juvenile title, adults can read and enjoy this compelling tale of faith and courage as well. Ages 8-12
