MrsK Books: The Mapmaker's Children by Sarah McCoy

Tuesday, June 30, 2015

The Mapmaker's Children by Sarah McCoy

ISBN: 9780385348904

Publisher's Synopsis:

Sarah Brown, the vibrant, talented daughter of abolitionist John Brown, is dynamically changed when she stumbles onto her father’s work on the Underground Railroad shortly after being told the shocking news that she won’t ever bear children. Realizing that her artistic talents may be able to help save the lives of slaves fleeing north, she becomes one of the movement’s leading mapmakers, hiding maps within her paintings while bigotry and hatred steer the country toward a bloody civil war.

Interwoven with Sarah’s adventure is the present-day story of Eden, a modern woman desperate to conceive a child with her husband, who moves to an old house in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. and discovers a porcelain head hidden in the root cellar—the remains of an Underground Railroad doll with an extraordinary past of secret messages, danger and deliverance. Sarah and Eden’s connection bridges the past and present, forcing each of them to define courage, family, love, and legacy in a new way.

MrsK's Review:
When choosing a book to review (or is it when the book chooses you), the one aspect of a story line that always gets me hopeful is when there is a historical event that is dear to my heart. Any connection with the Underground Railroad promises a poignant discovery. This novel is a matchmaker between two women and their discoveries of life. Sarah is John Brown's daughter. In a moment when a slave can not read the map to freedom, Sarah draws the map with pictorial notations instead of words. Her maps will lead many to freedom, but will they lead Sarah into the same danger that her father has just been arrested for?

"Sarah had been on her deathbed and had risen a new person...

She was not about to let that moment draw near again without having fully lived first...

without having found her new purpose."

Pictographs, useful to the cause of bringing freedom to the passengers, yet keeping any outsiders from discovering the designated route of the road to freedom. In October of 1859 the raiders of Harpers Ferry did not survive to see the liberating freedom for slaves. Yet, their spilled blood did cry for action against brutal oppression. John Brown and his sons were men making history. His wife Mary and their daughters, Sarah, Annie, and Ellen, would continue living life with a steadfastness of mercy and grace.

"I feel entirely satisfied with the treatment I have received on my trial.

Considering all the circumstances, it has been more generous than I expected."

John Brown 12/1/1859

"Slavery was an abomination...." the thousands that made their way to John Brown's execution would prove truth to that statement. Yet, it would banish the girls into New Charlestown within the care of George and Priscilla Hill. Although Sarah's time with the Hill's will keep her spirit "marching on," it will be amidst chaos that causes grief for many. Only loving support and courage of the Hill's and their son Freddie will make Sarah's journey moving forward. Just as many runaways found courage and kindness within the station houses, Sarah will find her inner calling during the time spent with the Hill's, an undeniable bond which will endure a life time of "rebirths."

"Ye know not what shall be on the morrow.

One life is but a vapour that appeareth for a time,

and the gone."

Sarah knew that her father's mission didn't end with his death, in stead it would be the promise of a better life for many. Although there many "terrible deeds," she found strength in knowing that "people were capable of more love and benevolence than they realized." Sarah trusted that an "individual heart" could reign over the "collective public voice." Giving "rise as unstoppable as a river after a storm."

With the departure from the Hill's home, the Brown's return to North Elba will begin unfolding new avenues for Sarah. With a series of letters between Freddie and Sarah, you will discover the many challenges, heartaches, strengths, and joys in which a life molded by faith endures and overcomes.

Then there is Eden's discovery of doll's head in the root cellar of her newly purchased "old house" in New Charlestown, WV. Although Eden is a woman with much character strength, her latest miscarriage has created such agony she no longer feels hope or love. Her journey will be blessed with a neighboring girl (Cleo), an unexpected gift (Cricket), the return of her brother (Denny), and the patient love of her husband (Jack). So many facets within Eden's life will become illuminated once she begins unraveling the mystery of the doll's head, an old button, and an antique key. Could her house become a registered landmark on Apple Hill? Can she learn to love beyond her losses? Will she discover a secret trait to the doll's head in which history could once again tell the story about the Underground Railroad? Did the "doll massacre" have something to do with the her doll's head? What decisions must Eden make in order to realize her passion behind the words:

"Come home to New Charlestown."

Two journeys, two women, both in which you will never forget their stories,

MrsK

With historical accuracy,
connections with great literary pieces (Dickens; Alcott; and Thoreau),
and the promise of one life touching another,
this is a novel worth reading.

Meet the Author:

Sarah McCoy is author of the New York Times, USA Today, and international bestseller The Baker’s Daughter, a 2012 Goodreads Choice Award Best Historical Fiction nominee. Her first novel is The Time It Snowed in Puerto Rico.

Sarah’s work has been featured in Real Simple, The Millions, Your Health Monthly, Huffington Post and other publications. She has taught English writing at Old Dominion University and at the University of Texas at El Paso.

The daughter of an Army officer, her family was stationed in Germany during her childhood. She calls Virginia home but presently lives with her husband, an Army physician, and dog, Gilbert, in El Paso, Texas.
Her novella “The Branch of Hazel,” featured in the anthology Grand Central (Penguin), releases July 1, 2014. Her third novel The Mapmaker’s Children releases from Crown May 5, 2015.

"I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review."

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MrsK's Reading Bio

Reading is important! No questions asked, not even a blink of the eye from any student I grew up with. On the first day of the First grade, we were given our first books. Day two we all read aloud, round robin of course. Day three we were place in our first basal, now known as a lit circle group. Books were so important, publishers designed new curriculum so that every student was reading by the end of the first week. These early readers had images that looked like what we could see in the classroom, beyond the classroom, even on the big screen. Reading is important, throughout history every generation has believed that “Reading” opens up the world for endless possibilities.

I adore the 1950’s Dick and Jane books. Actually, most reading specialists and experienced (45+) educators believe that every student learned to read with Dick and Jane. Since these books are being re-issued, I have heard many parents, grandparents, and students claim that Dick and Jane stories of repetition does teach students to read.

Early influences from my mother influenced my desire to read. I would watch her read and we would go on “secret” excursions to the library. The library became my playground. I owned every book I could carry home, of course they needed to be taken back to their home after visiting with me for a week or two. My first book that I could pull off of the library shelf and read was, Father Bear Comes Home. I only saw my dad on Sundays for a few hours. I would pull this beginning reader off of the library shelf every week. Every week I would try to read the first chapter. Every week I got further in the story. My mom would let me check it out, only if I could read it myself (She didn’t like the illustrations therefore she didn’t want to take time to read it to me). One day, I pulled the book from the shelf and when mom came to get me from the children’s corner, I realized that I had read the whole story. I ran to the check out desk and the Librarian KERCHUNKED the checkout card. My mother, brother and neighbors read. My teachers read. We all read aloud all day long in school. The Priest read aloud every day at mass, even in Latin. Everybody in the Doctor’s office read. People on the bus read. Dad’s waiting in their cars as the Mom’s and children grocery shopped, read. In fact, once you could read and write, Sunset Magazine considered you a reader and sent you mail every day.

Reading is important; I’ve spent my life reading. I’ve traveled around the world and into space through books. My favorite genre is whichever book I have open at the time. Children’s Literature is my passion. Book clubbing is one of the best past times, especially if food is involved. In fact my friends of old are in a book club and we are about to embark on a beach trip to “read” and discuss our newest selection.

My “home-run” book story has helped every student find his or her own “home-run” reads. Every year, I have shared my, Father Bear Comes Home, and every year my students have brought in their “home-run” books. That’s the “diving board” into our Lit. Studies.

In “Growing Up Digital,” Tapscott’s insights into the new generations enthusiasm for the Net reminded me of my generation’s enthusiasm for reading, movies, TV, parties and our driving permits. The Net-Generation, as Tapscott describes, “are learning, playing, communicating, working, creating communities, and enforcing a social transformation.”
N-Geners are interactive “techies” who are always looking for a way to “work it” verses the TV Generation of “Baby Boomers” who started out looking for “how it works.” Reading development is tougher today, society moves too fast to invest their “non-working” free time into a book or even “home work.” Since I stepped into my own classroom, I have seen students being told to read, being forced to read, and threatened into reading. Homework is not any longer the vehicle for students to gain their future lifestyles or careers with. Yet, the Internet does create an enthusiasm for learning. Since I have been enrolled in these courses, I have used the computers in every subject. My students are using the newest technology in the classroom because I am giving them investigative sites to use as they learn from each other and books. I agree with Tapscott, in order to bridge the gap with this up and coming generation we must “live and learn with them.”

FTC Required Disclaimer: I receive these books from the publishers. I did not receive monetary compensation for these reviews. These reviews have been posted in compliance with the FTC requirements set forth in the Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising (available at ftc.gov/os/2009/10/091005revisedendorsementguides.pdf)