Publishers Weekly
- Publisher's Weekly
In a starred review, PW said that the author "combines elements of Brigadoon and Lost Horizon with little-known historical lore to create a haunting story of a youth's journey from dissolution to wholeness." Ages 11-up. (Apr.)n Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.|
KLIATT
To quote KLIATT's Jan. 1999 review of the hardcover edition, a KLIATT Editors' Choice book: When we first meet Josh he's on the road, hitchhiking from Massachusetts to Texas to go live with his aunt. He's grieving for his dead mother and anxious about starting his junior year of high school in a place he doesn't know. He thinks the hitchhiking will be a lark to brag about, but it turns into something more than that. First he's robbed and beaten by one of his rides, and left by the side of the road somewhere in Appalachia. A silent woman in a horse-drawn wagon brings him to a strange community named Canara, an isolated, almost medieval village where the people farm and hunt wild ginseng root, which they call "sang." The setting—and mood—resemble that of "The Lottery," by Shirley Jackson. There's an ominous feel to Canara, and it seems to have its own physical laws. For example, the village seems to move about in relation to the surrounding mountains—and there's no way out. Josh is befriended by a girl named Mavis, and learns that the people are Melungeons, persecuted descendents of early Portuguese settlers who interbred with Native Americans and others and hid away in mountain valleys. (Naylor explains more about them in an Afterword). Only those of Melungeon descent, like Josh, can find their way to Canara. But only some can manage to find their way out. An angry young man named Kasper is desperate to leave, and he tries to involve Josh in his murderous scheme to escape. It isn't until Josh allies himself with the people of this strange place that he can find his way out, and accept his new life to come. This is an atmospheric, suspenseful read that will appeal tomystery lovers. Naylor, author of Shiloh and more than 90 other books, does a terrific job of describing the odd, enchanted world of Canara, and Josh is a sympathetic protagonist. This is one that lingers in the memory. KLIATT Codes: JS*—Exceptional book, recommended for junior and senior high school students. 1998, Simon & Schuster/Aladdin, 212p.18cm, 97-34067, $4.99. Ages 13 to 18. Reviewer: Paula Rohrlick; May 2000 (Vol. 34 No. 3)
VOYA
- Mary Ann Capan
Fifteen-year-old Josh sets out on a hitchhiking trip from Boston to Dallas, hoping that the meandering route will give him time to sort out recent disturbing events precipitated by the car accident that killed his mother. After Josh is savagely beaten and robbed along the way, he is rescued by a woman in a horse-drawn wagon who takes him to an odd community where people live in what seem to be medieval times. The inhabitants live simply, eating and sleeping communally and wearing drab, homespun clothes. Josh is allowed to stay if he works for his keep. The self-sufficient community derives its main income from the ginseng roots or "sang," which are harvested nearby. Josh discovers that this peculiar community, called Canara, exists as though a spell has been cast over it. Totally isolated, no outsiders enter and no one leaves. The children attend school to learn only the history of Canara and what knowledge will preserve their self-sufficiency. Befriended by Mavis, Josh learns that these inhabitants are Melungeons, a people of forgotten ancestry whose arrival in America predated Jamestown. Josh is torn between Canara and his anxiety to move on to his future in Dallas. Though free to leave, he learns that there is no road out of Canara. Even more puzzling is Josh's observation that Canara seems to move with the moon. Isobel, the old one in the community, tells Josh that "to go forward, you must go back as you have lost your way." Josh will leave only after he fulfills her prophecy. Naylor's memorable story skillfully combines the real world with a haunting, fantasy one as she introduces the Melungeons. The reader is aware that Canara's people will live on as they hover between their world and the world as we know it. Josh is a believable character who uses his time in Canara to grieve for his mother as he learns about himself, his heritage, and his future. VOYA Codes: 4Q 4P J S (Better than most, marred only by occasional lapses, Broad general YA appeal, Junior High-defined as grades 7 to 9 and Senior High-defined as grades 10 to 12).
Children's Literature
- Christopher Moning
Before he ever left home Josh Vardy felt lost. His father died when he was small, and now, just as he is preparing for his exciting junior year of high school, his mother is killed in an automobile crash. Josh decides to take his time hitchhiking across the country to begin his new life in Texas. When he is beaten and robbed and left on a secluded path somewhere in Appalachia, Josh is really lost. He wakes to find himself in a strange community called Canara, where Melungeons, a people of uncertain origin, have retreated so far into the mountains that they live in a time and space all their own. The Melungeons are an odd but decent folk, and Josh struggles to find his way back to the outside world. And he must decide if he truly wants to go. This fascinatingly textured novel is haunting and gratifying, layered with emotion and suspense. Students will likely be motivated to explore further the Melungeons and their largely forgotten place in American history. A wonderful book.
School Library Journal
Gr 4-9-Josh is on his way to Texas when he enters the village of the Melugeons. The village and its 19th century atmosphere are surrounded by mysterious forces that hold those inside apart and will not allow even strangers like Josh to leave. Forced to examine his past, his dreams, and his despair over his future, he discovers who and what he is, and the true powers of the human mind. By Phyllis Reynolds Naylor. Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information.
Kirkus Reviews
Naylor (Achingly Alice, p. 741, etc.) explores the role synchronicity plays in life, and the mental and emotional restraints people place upon themselves.
