Saturnalia by Paul Fleischman
It is 1681 in Boston, and the lives of indentured servants, Narraganset Indians, Puritan preachers, and tradesmen appear interwoven in predictable ways. But things are not always what they seem. “Saturnalia” refers to an ancient Roman holiday in which masters and servants traded places for one day.
1 Comments
Read this book and your strictest teacher will look like a ray of sunshine compared to the Puritan preacher who had it out for William. You will want to kiss her on the cheek and say “Gosh I’m glad you aren’t really that mean.”
:)Please don’t let the idea of wanting to kiss your mean teacher on the cheek keep you from reading this book. It was very interesting and thought provoking (which is the intent of all the books on this list).
Here are some things that I thought about…
What an interesting look at the lives of different people who were effected by enslavement of the Narraganset Indians.
How horrible to be living your life and find your people either slaughtered or enslaved for no reason whatsoever except that ignorant people were afraid and didn’t know the difference between you and the Indians they were fighting.
Also interesting that many of the honorable white men who found themselves so superior to the Indians were clearly not half as honorable as William and the other Narraganset Indians that we meet.
But giving us hope that not all white folks were unfair and abusive is the Currie family that William lives with. They sound like the kind of family that everyone wants to hang out with.
Like the story Lyddie, I was a bit surprised at the ending but also impressed with the choice that William made.
It is well worth reading.
— Shonica Jan 22, 03:24 PM #
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