A Voice for Kanzas

Gr 5–9—Using prose, poetry, and primary sources from the period, McArthur takes readers to the Kansas territory on the eve of the Civil War. Lucy Catherine Thomkins, 13, and her family leave Pennsylvania to join the cause for Kansas becoming a free state. Once they get there, her parents realize that their ideas are a bit romantic. The Ruffians, those in favor of slavery, threaten the Thomkins more than once. McArthur aptly and distinctly portrays the racism felt by African Americans and the local Native Americans. Lucy befriends Levi, a Native American teen, while her brother, Joseph, influenced by a prejudiced friend, is rude to him. Her friendship with Annie leads to her involvement in the Liberty Line, a part of the Underground Railroad. The action in the novel centers on Lucy's assignments and the efforts of those wanting a free Kansas. Lucy and Joseph, the novel's best-rounded characters, shine when they transport a runaway slave to another station on the line. Readers see Lucy's growth through her poems and actions, and Joseph's maturing is reflected in his relationships with his father and Levi. The secondary characters, particularly Levi, are not as well limned. The font used for Lucy's poems makes the words hard to distinguish at times, which detracts from their flow. Even with these criticisms, McArthur's novel will appeal those who crave historical fiction or an action-packed story.—Hilary Writt, Sullivan University, Lexington, KY