As the Anglo-Cherokee War terrorizes the Carolina frontier in 1759, Catie survives the horrific murder of her parents and brother. Turns out her family's murder was staged to look like a Cherokee raid, but it was in fact masterminded by a local settler intent on seizing their land. Catie knows the truth and sets out on a mission to bring the killer to justice. Her journey to a British fort where she might present her case turns into an odyssey of more horrors. Badly injured and left for dead, she is rescued by a mysterious Scottish soldier who has defected from a British regiment. Can Malcolm be trusted? Can life get any more nightmarish? Catie maintains a ferocious will to live, to not have her "thread of life" cut by the last sister of the Three Fates. McKinney-Whitaker's gripping tale may startle readers with its brutal events, but it offers well-rendered characters, nuanced treatment of Native and colonial viewpoints, and an especially affecting look at a young woman's power in the face of catastrophe.

Seventeen-year-old Catie Blair witnesses her family's violent death during the Anglo-Cherokee War. Injured and alone on the South Carolina frontier, she's rescued by a young lieutenant who has abandoned his regiment. With his help, Catie sets out to bring her family's killers to justice. Despite heavy historical context, this page-turner offers romance, action, and a smart, strong, likable heroine.

Gr 7 Up-This historical novel is set in the Carolinas during the Cherokee Wars, concurrent with Thomas Jefferson and John Adams writing the Declaration of Independence and George Washington navigating the Delaware River. Seventeen-year-old Catie Blair is forced to conjure up maturity and responsibility when tragedy strikes her family. She relies on the kindness of strangers as she makes her way on the frontier with danger everywhere (soldiers, Indians, and wild animals), not to mention meager food and shelter. Even as daily challenges abate, she finds herself embroiled in a love triangle that pushes her to reckon with what she believes and what she wants for her future. The novel is noteworthy for its setting, circumstances germane to Colonial American history yet little known. The spotlight shifts south to a geopolitical conflict that deadlocked the British and French and also drew in innocent bystanders. There are several conflicts in this tale, including battles involving the Scots, the colonialists, and Native Americans. Unfortunately, there was a missed opportunity to include more details about Cherokee culture and motivations. Excellent character development is showcased in the narrative with its portrayal of the protagonist's struggle under difficult circumstances when facing tough choices in the crossfire. A unique historical fiction title with a compelling plot and unique backdrop, taking place during a little-known skirmish in a pivotal time of American history. Amy Thurow, New Glarus School District, WI