Heather’s Bookshelf: Bold Crossings
Author: Lance Elliot Osborne
Released: 12/05/21
Genre: Historical Fiction
“For only a moment, I had tasted a breath of free air and seen my family.
Despite the danger, I would have to find strength in that freedom, and I did…for a little while.”
“Bold Crossings” introduces two main characters and POVs interspersed within this tale. The first follows 13-year-old Malcom ‘Mal’ Hornsby as he and his family as they travel from Mississippi to Texas in the 19th century. The second follows another 13-year-old, Wukubuu, a Penatuku girl who yearns for more than what her family is expecting of her.
Mal and his family (including his parents and siblings) along with their servants encounter many dangers along the way including illness, a snake attack, and the Penatuka (who are not too keen about being removed from their homes).
Wukubuu would love to follow in her grandmother’s footsteps to become a healer, but her family has other ideas and responsibilities. On a hunt with her brother, things go wrong and her adventure turns into a nightmare.
When their paths cross, it could not be under more stressful circumstances. Will Mal and Wukubuu survive and find what they are looking for with all the dangers surrounding them?
Trigger Warning: violence, slavery, racism, suicide
Overall, I enjoyed this story. The book is written from each of the 13-year-old’s POVs as if they are writing in their diary’s about their thoughts and adventures. I wish there was some sort of page break or introduction between changing POVs as I had to often re-read the first paragraph after the switch and not realizing that the POV had changed. Having said that, I really liked each of the main characters, their very distinctive voices, and how they described their emotions and experiences. I also liked how the author incorporated many of the more uncomfortable portions of US history without shying away from it or moving past it quickly. For example, when Mal happens upon a slave trade in New Orleans, he has the distinct feeling of discomfort of how they are treated and put on as a show. This experience carries over to his friendship with their young house servant and their interactions. The differences between cultures and commonalities between concerns of 13-year-olds raised in such different worlds was done in a way that felt organic. There are some truly heartbreaking scenes in this book and this is not a “everything ends up alright in the end” type of story, but there is an element of hope there as well. The ending seemed a bit abrupt, but made sense and is explained as to why it ends as it does. The author includes a translation section at the back of the book to include Comanche, Spanish, and French words and phrases, which I found to be a nice touch as well.
I received a copy of this story in exchange of a fair and honest review.
OVERALL REVIEW:
Two coming-of-age tales from very different backgrounds intertwined in a dangerous world in 1800’s Texas. The story tackles hard themes while engaging in the hope of the main characters.
Want to learn more about the author?
Check out my interview with Lance Elliot Osborne
Interested in checking out the book for yourself?
Find it for purchase here
Interested in submitting your book for review? Visit my review page for guidelines and submission requirements.
