Book Review of "The Rebel"

The Williamsburg Years #1: The Rebel, by Nancy Rue

4 stars

Description: The American Revolution has been dragging on for years, but for young Thomas, the war seems far away. As the spoiled son of a Virginia plantation owner, Thomas does whatever he pleases -- but suddenly discovers that even a remote war can change his life! Transplanted from his posh surroundings to the mundane town of Williamsburg where he has to do horrible things called chores and schoolwork, Thomas must face his own faults if he wants to do more than just survive. In a young country still in turmoil over Loyalists versus Patriots, he has run out of time to decide who he wants to be.

Concerns: None.

Summary: Thomas has more than his share of character flaws, and this book chronicles his struggle to find his place in a world gone topsy-turvy. The historical snippets are intriguing (I liked the mysterious bottles in the apothecary shop!), the characters are great fun, and the story has a liberal sprinkling of adventure and suspense. This book is a great start to a well-written series about colonial life during the war. (The series is currently out-of-print, but discounted copies still float around online.)