Early American history from a new vantage point

Before she wrote 'Nine Parts of Desire' Geraldine Brooks worked for years as a mid-east correspondent and her knowledge showed itself in profound observations as well as in telling details.  I have travelled by public transportation from Turkey through Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan to India and back, and her observations resonated with my own.  For that reason I have respect and confidence in the truth of her prolific works of both fiction and non-fiction. 

Her latest book, Caleb's Crossing, is historical fiction based on the true story of the first native-American to graduate from Harvard (circa 1665).

The story is told from the vantage point of a fictional character, Bethia, a young girl who befriends Caleb when they are both children.  They grow up on the island now known as Martha's Vineyard.  The story unfolds as Caleb attends college prep in Boston, and as Bethia works as an indentured servant to help out her brother who is also attending the school. 

As it happens Caleb and another native-American student are superior students while Bethia (who is obviously gifted) is deprived of an education because of her gender.  Her brother is sent to prepare for Harvard although he is not really interested in or successful at school.  These are the sad realities of those days.  The story remains interesting even though we all know things will probably not end well for the gifted native-Americans.  The book tells an interesting story that seems like it might have happened.  Although some characters are pure fiction, some are not.  The flavor of the story seems true, even if some of the ingredients are not.

Geraldine Brooks has once again set a story in an exotic setting.  Caleb's Crossing takes you back to the beginning of our country's history to reveal what life was really like.  Our own histories seldom examine life from these perspectives.