Title: Virginia
Author: Shannon McNear
Series: Daughters of the Lost Colony, book 4
Major Themes: Roanoke Colony, North Carolina, Native Americans, Pioneers
Synopsis: When Virginia is careless of safety, she and two friends are captured by an enemy tribe and must learn to rely on God to help them survive.
I have been reading the books in the Daughters of the Lost Colony series since the first one came out. There are parts of these books that I enjoy, and parts I could do without, as with most books. Overall, I have liked these well enough that when the fourth and final book, Virginia, became available I wanted to read it.
Publisher’s description:
Return to the “what if” questions surrounding the Lost Colony and explore the possible fate of Virginia Dare—the first English child born in the New World. What happened to her after her grandfather John White returned to England and the colony he established disappeared into the mists of time? Legends abound, but she was indeed a real girl who, if she survived to adulthood, must have also become part of the legacy that is the people of the Outer Banks. In the spring of 1602 by English reckoning, “Ginny,” as she is called by family and friends, is fourteen and firmly considered a grown woman by the standards of the People. For her entire life, she has watched the beautiful give-and-take of the Kurawoten and other native peoples with the English who came from across the ocean. She’s enjoyed being the darling of both English and Kurawoten alike—but a stirring deep inside her will not be put to rest.
One careless decision lands her and fellow “first baby” Henry Harvie, along with their Croatoan friend Redbud, in enemy hands. Carried away into Mangoac territory, out of the reach of Manteo and the others, she must learn who she truly is—not only the daughter of Elinor and Ananias Dare but also a child of the One True God, who gives her courage to go wherever the path of her life might lead.
My thoughts:
As with the other three books in this series, Virginia is almost totally speculation, since we know so little about what really happened to Virginia Dare. However, it is quite an interesting “what-if” story. I enjoyed learning about the tribes of Native Americans who lived in the area that is now North Carolina. I also enjoyed listening in as Virginia and her fellow captives talked about and lived their Christian faith among the Mangoac people, growing in the Lord through the hard times they endured. It was interesting to see the attitudes the English would have had toward the Spanish, who were also trying to gain a foothold in the area. However, I did not appreciate how closely the author took us to the bedroom in one or two scenes. Nothing explicit was said, but enough that I was uncomfortable. Though I enjoyed the book, that was just enough to reduce my rating to four stars.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley, and these are my honest thoughts about it.
WARNING: Chapter 12: Man burned alive. Chapter 13: Kiss, girl shot with arrow. Chapter 15: Kiss. Chapter 17: Two kisses, man thinks of taking more from girl than kisses. Chapter 18: Girl lies about being involved physically with a man. Chapter 24: More kissing, and going beyond, after marriage.
Age levels:
Reading Independently—Adults
Links to buy this book:
Amazon: Paperback | Kindle
AbeBooks: View Choices on AbeBooks.com
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