Review of Rose Alone
Posted: 23 Apr 2023, 12:55
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Rose Alone" by Sheila flynn-decosse.]
Forced resettlement has been the subject of many historical fiction novels. Rose Alone tells a little-known story of a Canadian event, the Great Disturbance of 1755. During the French and Indian Wars, the Acadians were forced out of their country by the English because they were suspected of siding with the French.
These people, who had earlier been declared neutrals, were shipped to East Hampton, New York. Rose, a 14-year-old girl, became separated from her loved ones during this time. She was forced to become an indentured servant and was forbidden to speak her native French dialect. This fictionalized coming-of-age saga is told through the circumstances of the hardships she faced.
Sheila Flynn DeCosse used her degree in research to ascertain authentic details of this time period. Rose's chores of cooking, cleaning, and childcare are meticulously recreated. Other chores such as gardening and caring for livestock are also explained. The exhaustion Rose felt was vividly portrayed.
In addition to praise for the extensive research the author carried out, she is to be commended for her purpose in writing this book. Not only does she explain the Acadian culture, but she also shows, through the character of Rose, what it means to embrace another's beliefs and customs. I also wish to acknowledge the illustrator of this book. Teresa Lawler's beautiful watercolor cover and her excellent pen and ink drawings are an added benefit to the pleasure of reading this book.
Although Rose Alone was not listed on Amazon as a young adult novel, it needs to be. The simple writing style is geared more toward middle school children. If the book goes through another round of editing, it would be appropriate to use in a classroom for a study on diversity. Because of the negativity of the errors I found, I am rating this book four out of five stars.
******
Rose Alone
View: on Bookshelves
Forced resettlement has been the subject of many historical fiction novels. Rose Alone tells a little-known story of a Canadian event, the Great Disturbance of 1755. During the French and Indian Wars, the Acadians were forced out of their country by the English because they were suspected of siding with the French.
These people, who had earlier been declared neutrals, were shipped to East Hampton, New York. Rose, a 14-year-old girl, became separated from her loved ones during this time. She was forced to become an indentured servant and was forbidden to speak her native French dialect. This fictionalized coming-of-age saga is told through the circumstances of the hardships she faced.
Sheila Flynn DeCosse used her degree in research to ascertain authentic details of this time period. Rose's chores of cooking, cleaning, and childcare are meticulously recreated. Other chores such as gardening and caring for livestock are also explained. The exhaustion Rose felt was vividly portrayed.
In addition to praise for the extensive research the author carried out, she is to be commended for her purpose in writing this book. Not only does she explain the Acadian culture, but she also shows, through the character of Rose, what it means to embrace another's beliefs and customs. I also wish to acknowledge the illustrator of this book. Teresa Lawler's beautiful watercolor cover and her excellent pen and ink drawings are an added benefit to the pleasure of reading this book.
Although Rose Alone was not listed on Amazon as a young adult novel, it needs to be. The simple writing style is geared more toward middle school children. If the book goes through another round of editing, it would be appropriate to use in a classroom for a study on diversity. Because of the negativity of the errors I found, I am rating this book four out of five stars.
******
Rose Alone
View: on Bookshelves