Finding Providence: The Story of Roger Williams

by Avi, James Watling (Illustrator)

Overview

The year is 1635, and Mary Williams and her family live in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Her father, Roger, is on trial for preaching new ideas about freedom. When found guilty, he flees into the cold, telling Mary that she must trust in God's providence to see him to safety.

Roger's only hope of survival lies with the Narragansett Indians. Will Mary ever see her father again?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780064442169
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	08/02/1997
Series:	I Can Read Book 4 Series
Pages:	48
Sales rank:	537,658
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.19(d)
Lexile:	590L (what's this?)
Age Range:	8 - 10 Years

About the Author

Avi is the award-winning author of more than eighty-two books for young readers, ranging from animal fantasy to gripping historical fiction, picture books to young adult novels. Crispin: The Cross of Lead won the Newbery Medal, and The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle and Nothing but the Truth were awarded Newbery Honors. He is also the author of the popular Poppy series. Avi lives in Denver, Colorado. Visit him online at avi-writer.com.

Avi is the highly respected author of the Scott O’Dell Award winning The Fighting Ground and the Newbery Honor Books The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle and Nothing but the Truth. A former resident of Providence, Rhode Island, Avi now lives in Boulder, Colorado.

James Watling has illustrated many children’s books with historical themes including The First Thanksgiving by Linda Hayward. He lives near Montreal, Canada.

Date of Birth:

December 23, 1937

Place of Birth:

New York, New York

Education:

University of Wisconsin; M.A. in Library Science from Columbia University, 1964

Website:

http://www.avi-writer.com

Editorial Reviews

Gr 2-4Told in the voice of Roger Williams's young daughter, Mary, this brief chapter book recounts the most dramatic period in Williams's life, prompted by his expulsion from the Massachusetts Bay Colony for his dissenting views. The tale opens with a hearing in which John Cotton questions him and concludes with the founding of Providence, Rhode Island. As might be expected in a 48-page book for beginning readers, the portrait Avi draws is necessarily sketchy: only the high points of Williams's character and beliefs are covered. Nonetheless, he does capture some of the man's integrity and convictions. And by placing the voice of the story with Williams's young daughter, the author conveys some of the poignancy of the situation. Although some of the character's features are blurry, the full- and half-page watercolor illustrations are realistic and balance the text nicely. A welcome introduction to the life of one of our country's founders.Marilyn Taniguchi, Santa Monica Public Library, CA

School Library Journal

Avi's first entry in the I Can Read chapter-book series tells the true story of Roger Williams's 1635 flight from arrest for "preaching dangerous new ideas." He heads into the wilds of colonial New England, eventually sending for his family to join him in founding a new settlement where religious freedom is allowed, which his daughter, the narrator, names Providence. The story covers only his decision to flee and the highlights of his subsequent journey, an odd time frame that leaves out the events leading up to Williams's trial, his life with the Indians, the rigors of founding a new settlement, or even much detail about the Puritan intolerance from which he fled. During the trial, only the gasps of spectators indicate the contrast between their views and his, the latter of which will seem right and just to contemporary readers, and therefore unfathomable as the basis for prosecution. The illustrations are soft and pale, lacking drama; many of the characters share the same expression, looking as if they are whistling. A complement to other sources on Williams's life—this is neither interesting enough for general readers, nor specific enough for those not already grounded in the facts.

Kirkus Reviews