Hell and High Water

Gr 8 Up—Fifteen-year-old Caleb and his father tour mid-18th-century England with their Punch and Judy puppet show; Caleb's white father shields him as much as he can from racist taunts and treatment, but the black teen is forced to fend for himself when his father is framed for a robbery and exiled to the American colonies. Following his dad's directions, Caleb tracks down his aunt, who now lives in a seaside community. Although his aunt is initially shocked, he is welcomed into her home, which she shares with her stepdaughter, Letty. Caleb soon learns that the community is ruled by Sir Robert Fairbrother, who owns many of the residences. When Caleb's father's body washes up onshore, the parson and Sir Robert are adamant that the corpse is not Caleb's dad. Letty and Caleb are determined to find out the truth, which leads them to discover rampant bribery and deceit in Sir Robert's business. The harshness of 18th-century life is brutally portrayed, from catastrophic illnesses to the merciless power of nobility. Caleb's strength and courage help him endure painful treatment; numerous heart-pounding close calls are exciting and taut with tension. The identity twist and romance near the end of the story are a bit jarring and strain credulity. The puppet show descriptions add much-needed humor.