Bells of Freedom

by Dorothy Gilman Butters, Dorothy Gilman, Carol Wilde (Illustrator)

That the British had occupied Boston and closed her harbor meant little to Jed Crane, an English boy sold to a cruel Boston smithy. Jed was just happy that his mean taskmaster had been persuaded to sell him to the amiable printer Mr. Box.

Now Jed would get a chance to learn to read and explore the bustling, restless city. But when his new master's mysterious dealings forced Jed to slip through the British lines, the indentured servant was captured by the rebels and brought face-to-face with American patriots engaged in a life-or-death struggle.

Suddenly freedom was no longer a faraway issue. The meeting with the red-haired firebrand of a major would change Jed's life forever. From the first brave shot at Lexington to the fierce battles of Dorchester Heights and Breed's Hill, Jed fought for some hard answers in his own war between liberty and loyalty. What he found in the glorious spirit of the times was courage.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, 18th Century

164 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1984

About the author

Author Dorothy Gilman Butters wrote children's stories for more than ten years, before she switched to writing adult novels under the name Dorothy Gilman . She is most well-known for the Mrs. Pollifax series about a woman in her 60s who chooses to become a spy.

Gilman attended Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in 1940–1945 and the University of Pennsylvania 1963–1964.

Gilman was a Unitarian Universalist.

Reviews

[C. (Comment, don't blank click reviews). · Rating 4 out of 5]

Only a couple of years ago, I discovered a word that describes me perfectly: I am a completionist! I collect everything an author made. I love Dorothy Gilman's single oeuvres, followed by her series; opposite to most. Spying this children's adventure in mint condition was a coup. “Bells Of Freedom” was published in 1963. It is funny to be surprised by how much I liked it! It is true that this advances my checklist despite not being a mystery. However, as with “Step To The Music” by Phyllis A. Whitney; I should stop gawking about these old hands knowing how to enthral readers, in any subject. I have nothing to do with American history but became invested.

Before there was sponsorship, those without money emigrate via indentured servitude. Jed Crane was kidnapped; owned by a mean blacksmith after he docked. A printer observes Jed's intelligence and takes over his contract. Mr. Box is a hundredfold more humane and trains him. With light duties, Jed has leisure to acquaint Boston. Later, success with deliveries during British-ruled curfew hours, introduces him to patriot rebels that challenge his ideals. I want to express how enthralling it is, to see Jed find security, while risking thrilling escapades.

Dorothy achieved empathetic insight for those of us who don't know war, through this 12 year-old English immigrant. He is gratefully loyal to Mr. Box but learns that money is his priority. He would work for any side and his business is illegal. Readers see how it was: obeying the British is easier on the surface and rebelling would be risky. The king, far away, cut food supplies to discourage revolts but took it so far, that Bostonians might as well fight. Should Jed side with his nicest master, or does freeing his new country feel right?

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

As the description above is actually quite an excellent summary of the book(without giving much away), I shall skip to my personal reflections.

First, let me say that Dorothy Gilman Butters is better known for her adult novels, particularly the The Unexpected Mrs. Polifax series, which she penned under the name Dorothy Gilman. In her earlier years, she wrote novels for children and young adults under her married name. (I am especially fond of The Calico Year.) In The Bells of Freedom some of her later prowess with action and adventure, and creating a strong sense of place, is at play as is her ability to weave thought-provoking subject matter without becoming heavy-handed. I would place this book in the middle grade realm; protagonist Jed is twelve years old and the book is fast-paced and engaging. While some of the heavier topics of the British occupation of Boston (battles, famine, disease) is touched upon, and done so with due gravity and respect, it is not a dark book and the focus is more on Jed's own personal battle in choosing where to place his loyalties.

*minor spoilers to follow*
For Jed, kidnapped into indentured servitude to a cruel master, then sold to the kindly printer Mr. Box, his own greater "liberty" (such as being allowed to walk freely outside, to eat fulfilling meals, to learn to read and write) seems more than enough and he is initally unconcerned about the revolution brewing around him. Mr. Titherming Box himself is a bit of an opportunist, concerning himself neither with loyalty to the King nor sympathy with the Americans, but with his own preservation and happiness. When Jed's own conscience and sense of a greater good begins to waken he wonders that his master could be so disinterested. Jed knows what it is to have his freedom taken from him, and once he sees the Americans as the "indentured servants" of an unkindly King, he begins to understand their motivations more fully. Yet Mr. Box is not an unsympathetic character; he is very kind to Jed and when Jed questions his selfish ways he tells Jed that he has been through more than Jed knows, and that along the way he learned to be a cat, always landing on his feet. I love these "children's books" that don't shy away from presenting complex moral issues, and characters that have both admirable and unattractive qualities. Though the story clearly favors the American side in the brewing war, the British soldiers are not demonized and one even shows Jed a kindness.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story and it made a great read for 4th of July weekend. Though I knew the people of Boston were greatly oppressed by the Crown, and that this played a large role in kindling the American Revolution, I didn't realize the extent of their difficulties until I read this book. I place it under "historical fiction" loosely because, while the overarching setting and events (such as the battles of Lexington and Concord) are true, there is no Author's Note to provide more context and I believe all the main characters are fiction. Still, I recommend it heartily to anyone interested in the subject matter, especially since, though out of print, this is the only Butters' novel that is easily and inexpensively obtained used via online booksellers. She is an author that deserves to be better known for her earlier work.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

I went into this one semi-reluctantly because it seemed likely to be a thinly disguised lesson in history and patriotism, but at $1, the price was right, and I gave it a chance because I know Dorothy Gilman is capable of telling a cracking good story. I wasn't disappointed. I do think it could have been more fleshed out, but it was an agreeable way of spending an engrossed hour or so -- it's a very quick read, which is something that's refreshing in itself. And unexpectedly enough, I did in fact learn something, which was how radically the geography of Boston has been altered since revolutionary times. I had no idea. It's easier to understand why a neighborhood is called Back Bay, when you learn that originally, it was in fact a bay...

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have always liked books about history and especially Colonial America. I will be waiting for the time when my boys are old enough that I can read this to them. Jed's honesty is something to be admired.

[Allyson McGill · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a book that I got through the children's Book of the Month Club (thank you Mom!) when I was about 9 or 10. I loved it and read it many times. I had a real interest in the American Revolution then, still do. Anyway, my copy disappeared long ago, but several years ago, it occurred to me to try and get a used copy. I was delighted to find a copy, and this weekend, I finally got around to visiting my old friend. I had no idea that this author wrote the Mrs. Pollifex books, so how about that! She died in 2012, at the age of 88, of Alzheimer's.

[Janice · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't usually read American historical fiction, but was attracted to this by the author who has written several good adult mysteries. Once into the story, I enjoyed the well-drawn characters and interesting setting.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent and inspiring. Lessons in courage, loyalty, and friendship. Those facing harsh odds “wanted freedom badly enough they made up their own ways of doing things . . . did the impossible”
This book needs to come back in print.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

[LobsterQuadrille · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars(at least for now)

I only picked up The Bells of Freedom because it's by Dorothy Gilman, so I didn't know what to expect from it. It's not at all a traditional Revolutionary War story like I had assumed, but I actually like it better for this. Jed isn't thrust headlong into battle; he does help the colonist rebels but the focus of the story isn't so much the war itself as how it affects Jed's daily life and how it divides his loyalties and forces him to decide what is most important to him. I like that Gilman didn't lean heavily on famous names to carry the plot. Paul Revere has one short scene and afterwards is only mentioned a couple of times. I don't know if Major Duncan was a real person, but he was the only military figure who was significantly featured. Most of the time it's just Jed and Mr. Box, but that works just fine. Mr. Box is by far the most interesting character, and the driving force of the whole plot. If you like morally ambiguous/neutral characters, you just might enjoy this book.

The only part that really bugged me was when Jed discovered that Mr. Box's fake bill was counterfeit because the Latin phrasing was badly misspelled. If Mr. Box was such a master counterfeiter and could replicate every other detail of the rebels' money, how could he manage to mess up all three of those words? Maybe this was meant to imply that he wanted to give the rebels a break by sneakily making the fake money easier to weed out, but otherwise it didn't really make sense.

[Ellie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very entertaining.... if that is a good thing would very between people... I would recommend it as a good book for young readers.