Caleb's Crossing by Geraldine Brooks

A bestselling tale of passion and belief, magic and adventure from the author of The Secret Chord and of March, winner of the Pulitzer Prize. Bethia Mayfield is a restless and curious young woman growing up in Martha's vineyard in the 1660s amid a small band of pioneering English Puritans. At age twelve, she meets Caleb, the young son of a chieftain, and the two forge a secret bond that draws each into the alien world of the other. Bethia's father is a Calvinist minister who seeks to convert the native Wampanoag, and Caleb becomes a prize in the contest between old ways and new, eventually becoming the first Native American graduate of Harvard College. Inspired by a true story and narrated by the irresistible Bethia, Caleb’s Crossing brilliantly captures the triumphs and turmoil of two brave, openhearted spirits who risk everything in a search for knowledge at a time of superstition and ignorance.

This was a fascinating book about the European-Native American encounters in 17th century New England. Brooks does a great job fleshing out the characters and giving a sense of what could have been if Caleb had survived.

I wanted to read something more cheerful for my book club, so I suggested this book just based on the description. I also thought that this part of American history isn't explored often enough, at least not in the books my club reads. And I am so glad I read this book!

The main character of the book is Bethia Mayfield. She, unfortunately, likes to learn about more than just cooking and raising children. This is unfortunate because it is not only uncommon, but actually discouraged (denied even) for women in the 17th century. After I finished this book, I thanked my lucky stars that I am living now instead of then, even if true equality to men is still not quite what we see in America today for women. Bethia Mayfield has the audacity to continue her education past her father's ending of it when she is 9 years old. She does this by listening in to her brother's education by her father. She learns Latin, some Greek, and she learns the language of the Wampanoag, the Native American's that inhabited Bethia's island before her family's arrival.

She meets a Wampanoag boy given the Christian name of Caleb. Through him, she learns a lot about the Native Americans beliefs, culture, and way of life. She also learns a different kind of spirituality, different from her family's Christian beliefs.

Bethia's journey is a fascinating one, filled with all kinds of Puritan intrigue and gossip. While I'm reading historical fiction, I keep references close by so that I can learn some of the known history of the area the author is writing about. In this way, I now think of Martha's Vineyard as more than just a playground for the wealthy and instead as a location of early American history. I loved reading about the daily lives of the characters – Bethia's waking everyday at sunrise, the farm work, the daily prayers, and the constant sadness of death too young.

I really liked reading about Harvard! It's such a grand symbol of American education today; it's so interesting to read about the entire enrollment being 33 when Caleb attends. Also, many of the names of the leaders are real people, and in fact, Caleb was quite real and was the first Native American to graduate from Harvard.

The book definitely has some sad passages, but it also has several uplifting and hopeful stories.

I continue to feel relief that I live in such a modern time that I am allowed to learn how to read and write. Perhaps the Puritan times were more simple, certainly, but I would give that up in a heartbeat for freedom to learn.