Inspiring and thought-provoking!
Whether creating a picture with broad strokes or filling in small, human, details, this author paints a fascinating picture of what it is like to leave your homeland when you may not have permission to do so (a concept we can hardly grasp), and the dangers, frustrations, fears and difficulties that haunt nearly every step of the way. A widow with a son growing into manhood, and three daughters takes this step, but uses her faith, good sense, and great hope to navigate these treacherous waters in more ways than one. I’ve now read this book several times and am always caught up in the adventure and find new aspects on which to ponder. By the end, we’ve come to
care deeply about the Widow Fridberg and her family and add our prayers to theirs for success in the New World; which was, in 1742, still a part of Britain (another thought-provoking situation.) It takes courage and trust in Providence to leave all that is familiar behind and step into an unknown future, believing it to be for the best.

A strong mother escapes a bleak future
An emigration story from a woman's perspective, Katherine shows how Barbara Fridberg, an actual person, dealt with the many challenges and hazards of uprooting her impoverished family in hope of a better life for her children in colonial British North America. Accurately based on historical records, the basic details of their journey are facts, including the name of the vessel they sailed on, making this one of the most insightful narratives available of what early immigrants to America had to face.

The best of historical buffs
Loaded with rich, historically accurate details, this gem gives us a view of what life was really like in 1742. An origin story of sorts, Katherine brings the characters to life in her writing.