Books for gifted children from Royal Fireworks Press, publishers for the gifted education curriculum.

Asa's Choice

Novel

Class sets of 20 or more: $7.00 each. (Order Code: 5663S) Add to Cart

Asa's Choice is set in the Hudson Valley, New York. In the Crossing, a small settlement in the Catskills, American born and British born are on both sides of the controversy. Militiamen, 'rebels', favor independence. The Tories still give allegiance to the British King. Almost 16, Asa hasn't yet decided which side to take. His father is one of three Board of Selectmen who govern town affairs, and his neutral position keeps the peace. But, the young men fight among themselves. And, Asa finds himself more excited to think of fighting for his country than settling in The Crossing and selling off tracts of land to other settlers.

When an Indian raid almost demolishes the town and destroys the militia, Asa is sent to Schoharie to get help. There, and with his mission done, he volunteers to go to Albany with a small contingent to stop Burgoyne. Through Asa’s eyes, a fascinating doc­ument on how the Continental Army and various militia units harassed and appealed to young men to join their fighting units emerges, as does a panoramic presentation of the men, horses and wagons in the vast Albany encampment. Asa fights in a bloody war and eventually joins a group that has 'advantages of opportunity', after their official assign­ment is completed, to strike back at the Indians who raided their villages. This is a group spurred on by obsessive hate of the Indian. Asa cannot kill innocent Indians, particularly one lovely young Indian woman, and is seriously wounded attempting to stop her rape and murder by a fellow soldier. As the young woman, Easter, and her mother-in-law, nurse him back to health, he grows to understand and respect their culture.

Whole again, Asa returns to The Crossing, builds and takes part in the settlement now called 'Gaynors Corners,' for his family. Matured by the experience of war and killing, he remains an emotional outsider, unable to share his feelings and longings, desiring to return to Easter. But he resists. He knows that shame and derision will be heaped upon him for consorting with an Indian woman if he becomes a 'squaw man'.

Author A J Griffin’s descriptions of the American landscape are breathtaking and beautiful; his war scenes are accurate and horrible and Asa’s perceptions and reactions are riveting.

A.J.Griffin is a resident of Connecticut.

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