Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 09/01/2015 *Starred Review* John Howland, an indentured servant in his teens, sails from his native England as a Pilgrim aboard the Mayflower. The stormy voyage encounters a series of troubles, which are met with faith, courage, and action. In one scene, a wave sweeps John overboard, but he is saved. Eventually, they finally spy the American coastline some 200 miles north of their destination. Sick, hungry, and desperate for a place to settle, they finally land at New Plymouth, where many die that winter. Two Indians, Samoset and Squanto, befriend the settlers and help them to survive. In the fall, they celebrate with their Indian allies at a harvest festival. Though now free of his indenture, John decides to stay in the colony. The clearly written first-person account, told from John’s point of view, combines history with adventure and a hint of romance. Based on historical sources, the narrative is laced with well-imagined characterizations and conversations. The book’s wide format showcases Lynch’s dramatic and richly atmospheric watercolor and gouache paintings, which include strong individual character portrayals as well as beautifully composed scenes on land and at sea. This handsome volume offers a dramatic personal story of the Pilgrims’ voyage on the Mayflower and their early experiences in America. - Copyright 2015 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 11/01/2015 Gr 3–6—Lynch brings to vivid life the well-known story of the Pilgrims through the adventures and voice of John Howland. As a young man, Howland came across the Atlantic on the Mayflower as an indentured servant of John Carver, who would later become the first governor of the new colony. The book is told from Howland's first-person perspective, with plenty of dialogue. Some of Howland's story is familiar: the journey of the Mayflower, the trials of the new colony, the first encounters with the Wampanoag, Squanto's assistance, and the eventual peace that culminated in a Thanksgiving feast. Yet Lynch includes other information, such as the Speedwell, a ship from Holland that was intended to travel alongside the Mayflower; details of the life of indentured servants; the politics of the creation of the Mayflower Compact; the harrowing death rate of the new colony; and Howland's trajectory to personal commitment to the colony and to God. Coupled with richly detailed and often dramatic watercolor and gouache illustrations, Lynch's fast-paced text brings a new excitement to the Thanksgiving story. VERDICT An excellent choice for teachers seeking a new approach to the history of the Pilgrims.—Mariah Manley, Salt Lake City Public Library - Copyright 2015 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Loading...