Waiting for Deliverance

KLIATT

When fourteen-year-old Deliverance (Livy) Pelton's uncle drowns, she and her younger cousin Ephraim find themselves up for sale at a pauper's auction in a little village on the western frontier of New York. The year is 1793, and while the Revolutionary War is over, conflicts continue in the region, especially between the Seneca Indians and the settlers who had seized land that had belonged to the western tribes. Livy and Ephraim are sold to Gideon Gunn, to help out on his homestead, and they are initially horrified to discover that Gunn has been raised by Indians—and that his Indian brother, Rising Hawk, is staying with the family. Over the next two years, however, Livy and Rising Hawk fall in love, despite the difference in their cultures. Rash statements by Ephraim to a road crew about Indian visitors have terrible consequences for Gideon, but despite much action and adventure (including kidnapping, eye-gouging, fights, and childbirth) the family survives, and Livy and Ephraim realizes that their place is with Rising Hawk and the Gunns. This is a gripping story of frontier hardships, political intrigues, and cultural clashes, but the cover conveys the core of the tale, showing Livy and Rising Hawk back-to-back but together. Their initial antagonism and gradual attraction to each other are believably described, and Livy is a spunky, clear-eyed heroine. Knowing the dangers of childbirth, she refuses to have sex with Rising Hawk, yet pretends that she has in order to be reunited with the Gunns when they are separated. Livy is a memorable character, and this is superior historical fiction. Urban provides a historical note at the front as well as a glossary of people, places, andconcepts at the end to help readers better understand the times. KLIATT Codes: JS—Recommended for junior and senior high school students. 2000, Grolier/Orchard, 192p, $18.99. Ages 13 to 18. Reviewer: Paula Rohrlick; November 2000 (Vol. 34 No. 6)

School Library Journal

Gr 7 Up-Leaving Massachusetts for barbaric western New York in 1793 is horrible enough. But when the rest of their family drowns in an accident, 14-year-old Deliverance (Livy) Pelton and her cousin are sold at a Pauper's Auction. Their new master, Gideon Gunn, was adopted by Seneca Indians as a child. Livy's inbred antagonism toward Indians is challenged as she becomes acquainted with Gunn's brother, Rising Hawk, and then is taken to a Seneca village to teach the women how to spin. An accusation of witchcraft causes Livy and Rising Hawk to flee just as angry settlers attack Gunn and burn his house. All obstacles are overcome, and at book's end Livy accepts Rising Hawk's offer of marriage. Waiting for Deliverance has immense potential. Unfortunately, it falls short. Urban can't seem to decide whose story she's telling; she continually switches point of view. Characterization is based on stereotypes and superficialities, rather than in-depth study. Livy is the heroine, but most of what readers learn about her comes from other people's observations, and they never fully understand her; her actions and statements rarely plunge below the surface, and consequently appear meaningless, inconsistent, or unfounded. The story is also bogged down with explanations and unnecessary detail-the history doesn't flow. Finally, the plot smacks a bit too much of 21st-century political correctness.-Ann W. Moore, Schenectady County Public Library, NY Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.