Tree of Freedom

This, set in 1780, is interesting. Apparently all the dialect, customs, and cultural references are accurate, because Caudill herself grew up in that culture. Lots and lots of non-standard spellings, vocabulary, etc. Hit for it, ballet for song, I'm guessing via ballad, the idea that book-larnin' ruints a boy, stuff like that.

There's a good bit about how wrong slavery is. And the women are strong, brave, and intelligent.

Otoh, there's nothing redeeming about how the "red men" are portrayed. At first we're led to think they're just vicious, and then it's revealed that the British are bribing them to raid the new white settlements, as another strategy to wear down the colonists besides the battles up North.

Neither Washington nor the show more activists in Philadelphia are revered, or even universally respected. Most ordinary people just want to be left alone to live their own lives, and so a major theme of the book is that it's not possible to do so. To simplify, Caudill claims that either a citizen does his civic duty, and makes some sacrifices, or he gets trampled by a tyrant.

Of course these brave pioneers work hard etc., and do get their happy ending. Some threads are left unanswered, but nothing major. And the cover is silly. Steffy is most always barefoot, and in a simple dress rather than a skirt and blouse. The only teen boy sulking around is her brother, who is fair (or at least tanned not much more than she is).

And I'm not so sure about the title tree, either. I'm pretty sure one seed is not going to grow enough in one summer to be strong enough for a winter (though maybe Kentucky is warm enough), and I'm even more sure that, without a scion, there's going to be fruit. Even Eric Sloane mentions grafts in his writings about the earliest years of the colonies. show less

I never could figure out why she only took one apple seed. But then, I know I have bad luck with plants. (And it works better for the symbolism.)

Not a bad book, just not as good as I had hoped

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