Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Deseve, Peter. Crows & Cards.

Deseve, Peter. Crows & Cards.
Houghton Mifflin/Clarion/Graphia/Kingfisher 2009 344p 16.00 978-0-618-88395-0 ms/jr

In 1849, Zeb’s parents ship him off to St. Louis to apprentice with a tanner. Life presents many obstacles for Zeb. He ends up being apprenticed to a gambler and befriended by an Indian and slave. In 1849, Zeb’s parents ship him off to St. Louis to apprentice with a tanner. Life on the shores of the Mississippi presents many obstacles for Zeb. He eventually ends up being apprenticed to a gambler and befriended by an Indian and slave.
The well written and exciting story provides the reader with a good understanding of life on the Mississippi during the expansion of the West. It also shows how young folks just starting out in the world need guidance because they find it hard to make correct choices. Zeb found himself in a situation where he felt cheating was not right even though his mentor was smooth talking when he explained the benefits of relieving men of their wealth.
It is a story where Zeb learns that doing the right thing is the right thing to do. LM

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