Recent Reads - Mary

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Mary by Shannon McNear  - Some of the most intriguing questions in American history swirl around the lost Roanake colony. What happened to the English settlers there? In this novel author Shannon McNear explores the possibilities that the English and some of the natives in the area lived in a partnered community that moved inland. Georgie Howe is the son of a settler killed by native warriors almost as soon as the English arrived at Roanoac Island. While still a boy dealing with the loss and trying to find his place in the fledgling colony, he develops a tentative friendship with the young daughter of Manteo, one of their native allies. 

Mushaniq is interested in the strange manners and dress of the Inqutush and is persuaded by her father Manteo to start learning their language, and as she does she finds a friend in Georgie. But while most of her people choose to accept the Inqutush religion and are baptized, Mushaniq holds back and remains skeptical. Her friendship with Georgie grows, and when native warriors take Elinor Dare and others captive, Mushiniq and Georgie take a great deal of the responsibility for Elinor's little daughter Virginia. 

As the two get older, their friendship becomes love, but they face obstacles from both their peoples when they decide they want to marry. The natives will not accept Georgie unless he proves himself a man by their coming-of-age tradition, and the English believe that Mushaniq must profess faith in their God and be baptized. Mushaniq resists and struggles with questions about the spiritual, even while Georgie prepares to participate in the huskanaw. The two find unexpected supporters and mentors in the community, and both grow in maturity and courage as they face their fears and obey the call of God.

This is an exciting and dramatic, yet surprisingly believable tale woven around historical events and researched speculation about the Roanake colony. The narrative is dense with characters, and keeping track of all of them was a challenge at the beginning of the story. The point of view character switches often, which takes some getting used to as well, but the switches are generally made very clear. The main characters are well developed and the struggles Mushaniq faces seem very real as she wrestles with spiritual questions and to make sense of the cultural differences between her people and Georgie's. Although Georgie does have to deal with his own father's death, that issue seems very much in the background, and that is perhaps the only thing that didn't quite ring true.

This is a follow-up to the novel Elinor, which is first in this series, but can stand alone well.

From the publisher:

Worlds Collide Along the Shores of the Outer Banks

Immerse yourself in the "what if" questions related to the Lost Colony of Roanoke. What if an English boy and a native girl met in the wilderness? The push-and-pull between two very different worlds begins as one seeks simple friendship and the other struggles to trust. And can it - dare they - allow it to be more?

Sparks fly between Mushaniq, free-spirited daughter of Manteo, and Georgie Howe, whose father was brutally murdered by undiscovered native warriors before they'd been on Roanoac Island a full week. As Georgie struggles to make sense of his life and to accept that not all they call "savage" are guilty of his father's death, Mushaniq grapples with her own questions about who Manteo has become. As tentative friendship becomes more, forged in the fire of calamity and attack upon their community, both must decide whether the One True God is indeed who He claims to be and whether He is worthy of their trust.

Author Shannon McNear portrays history with vivid authenticity.

Visit Barbour Publishing for more info on where to buy.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

By the same author: The Rebel Bride

This is a book that includes a map (#27) for The 52 Book Club's 2022 Reading Challenge

#the52bookclub2022

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