Rebekah in Danger: Peril at Plymouth Colony (1621)

Sisters in Time #2

by Colleen L. Reece

Time Period:  1620 Nov.   Freezing weather, lack of food, and sickness make the first winter at Plymouth Colony a difficult and dangerous time. What would that winter be like for a ten-year-old girl? Find out in Rebekah in Danger, part of the Sisters in Time series. Written especially for eight- to twelve-year-old girls, this dramatic story shows how a seventeenth-century girl-not terribly different from girls of the twenty-first century-overcame some of the most challenging difficulties imaginable. Though the main character is fictional, the events and experiences are very real-providing an ideal vehicle for teaching American history and Christian faith. 
 

Genres: Historical Fiction, Christian, Fiction, Historical, Middle Grade, Christian Fiction, Childrens

144 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2004

About the author

COLLEEN L. REECE writes under the pen name Connie Loraine and is one of Heartsong's most popular authors. Colleen learned to read beneath the rays of a kerosene lamp. The kitchen, dining room, and her bedroom in her home near the small logging town of Darrington, Washington, were once a one-room schoolhouse where her mother taught all eight grades! An abundance of love for God outweighed the lack of electricity or running water and provided the basis for many of Colleen's 140+ books.

Her rigid "refuse to compromise" stance has helped sell more than 6 million copies that help spread the good news of repentance, forgiveness, and salvation through Christ. Colleen helped launch Barbour Publishing's Romance Reader flip books, the American Adventure series, and her own Juli Scott Super Sleuth Christian teen mystery series. In 1998 Colleen was inducted into the HeartSong Hall of Fame in recognition for her contribution to Heartsong's success.

Reviews

[Lindsey (Books for Christian Girls) · Rating 3 out of 5]

About this book:

“Time Period: 1620 Nov. Freezing weather, lack of food, and sickness make the first winter at Plymouth Colony a difficult and dangerous time. What would that winter be like for a ten-year-old girl? Find out in Rebekah in Danger, part of the Sisters in Time series. Written especially for eight- to twelve-year-old girls, this dramatic story shows how a seventeenth-century girl-not terribly different from girls of the twenty-first century-overcame some of the most challenging difficulties imaginable. Though the main character is fictional, the events and experiences are very real-providing an ideal vehicle for teaching American history and Christian faith.”


Series: Book #2 in “Sisters in Time” series. Review of Book #1 Here!


Spiritual Content- Scriptures are mentioned, quoted, & discussed; Many Prayers; Thanking God; Many talks about God, believing, & witnessing; ‘H’s are capital when referring to God; Many mentions of God, Jesus, faiths, & worshiping; Mentions of prayers, praying, & praising/thanking; Mentions of Heaven; Mentions of witnessing; Mentions of the Sabbath, churches, church going, sermons, & hymns; Mentions of pastors/preachers & deaconesses; Mentions of Catholics, Protestants, & facing persecution; A few mentions of people & events in the Bible; A couple mentions of sins; A mention of a godly man;
*Note: A couple mentions of Hell; A mention of a godforsaken place; A mention of a person cursing the Pilgrims.


Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘stupid’; Seeing a body (barely-above-not-detailed); Will disobeys and causes trouble (though his intentions are good); Getting lost & having to keep warm (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of deaths, how they happened, & bodies (one is rumored to be a possible suicide, barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of scaplings & murders; Mentions of fighting & attacks; Mentions of illnesses, vomit, & diarrhea; Mentions of a fire (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of stealing; Mentions of gossip & rumors; Mentions of hunting; A few mentions of a (possible) massacre; A few mentions of wars; A few mentions of slavery; A few mentions of wild animals & the possibility of being injured by them; A couple mentions of whippings & boxing a child’s ears; A couple mentions of lies & lying; A mention of tobacco; A mention of animal droppings.


Sexual Content- N/A;
*Note: Mentions of men wearing no clothes/scantily clad (this causes the women and girls to blush); A few mentions of a stillbirth (barely-above-not-detailed).

-Rebekah Cunningham, 12/13 (?)
P.O.V. switches between them
Set in 1620-1621
137 pages

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- Four Stars
New Teens- Three Stars
Early High School Teens- Three Stars
Older High School Teens- Three Stars
My personal Rating- Three Stars
One thing about reading historical fiction based on actual historical events is that when an idea/plan is mentioned you can say, “And we all know how that turned out.” I had a few moments of that when reading “Rebekah in Danger”. I did like all the Spiritual Content and Rebekah’s parents. Will was a typical boy. ;)
Definitely a series for girls ages 9-11 who enjoy learning history and/or homeschooling families.


Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...


*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.

[Becky · Rating 2 out of 5]

First sentence: "I'm tired of working," eleven-year-old Rebekah Cunningham muttered to herself as she crawled into her familiar hiding place under the chicken coops on the Mayflower's deck.

Rebekah is very much her brother's keeper in this historical children's novel set in Plymouth Colony. Will can get into trouble easily. He always means well. Or so he claims. He wants to help out. He wants to be a big manly, man--even though he's a boy. So he "helps" out by following along behind the men when they go exploring or hunting. He also "helps" out by going hunting on his own. He doesn't always tell anyone he's about to wander off. So without Rebekah's oh-so-watchful eye upon him, his whereabouts would be more unknown. Unfortunately, Rebekah hates tattling and prefers scolding herself. (A few times a crisis would have been avoided if she'd left him and gone to tattle to someone--anyone.)

But believe it or not there were real threats facing ALL the colonists and not just the Cunningham family. Whether it was intentional or not on the author's part, the very real perils are overshadowed by family dramas and childish woes. Woes like Rebekah's complaining and muttering about having to work because she's a girl. (Does she not realize that EVERY single person--perhaps minus the babies and toddlers--is hard at work. That every single day brings its challenges. That their survival is very much uncertain. They are surviving--or not--day by day, week by week, month by month. No family--except the oh-so-lucky Cunninghams--is free from loss.)

If a young girl complaining about being a girl is your idea of fun, then this one is worth your time.

I was disappointed with this second book in the series. I liked some aspects of it. But I would have appreciated some continuity between book one and two. After all, they are both set at the same time and the same place. 1620-1621, the Mayflower and Plymouth Colony. Would it have been so difficult to have Rebekah be friends with Sarah and John be friends with Will. After all, the community IS small. After spending all those months together they are bound to have known each other.

I like historical fiction generally. And plenty of times historical fiction feels authentic. But there are times when it feels like the heroine is too modern--her sensibilities so thoroughly modern--that all she does is complain that things in 1621 aren't as they are in 2001.

Times were DANGEROUS and PERILOUS. I just wish the characterization had been better. Perhaps a book for an older audience wouldn't be afraid to be more authentic and intense.

[Amanda Tero · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really quick listen! It just took me one day.

I really enjoyed this little story. It seems to cover the stories of the Pilgrims fairly closely to history and in a way that is captivating for young children.

I loved how there were a lot of instances of talking about God in the scripture and Christian life. Of course, their beliefs are not exactly like mine are. The topic of election was left kind of open-ended as opposed to really addressed and of course, they were strict on their Sabbath day rules, even though the main character wondered why she couldn’t be joyful on the Sabbath.

It would be a really great book to read and discuss with children. If the child is very sensitive, it might be better to wait until they’re older, as it does cover death and fears of people dying.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I must have read Rebekah in Danger (and many of the other Sisters in Time novels) a dozen times when I was in middle school, and I was pleasantly surprised by how well it held up upon a reread. I revisited it as a Thanksgiving read, but I had forgotten how well author Colleen Reece handles some of the theological topics in the storyline, as well as how intense some of the perils faced by the Pilgrims are. It’s a great introductory text for kids interested in learning more about the early settlers and their faith.

In 1620, eleven-year-old Rebekah Cunningham, her parents, and her younger brother Will land at Provincetown Harbor aboard the Mayflower, having made a voyage from England in search of freedom to worship God according to the Separatist faith. However, life in the New World proves more difficult than any of the Pilgrims ever imagined, and many of them are already dead from sickness, malnutrition, and frostbite by the time they set sail for their next location: Plymouth Rock. Rebekah finds herself overwhelmed by worries for her beloved family, especially as Will becomes more and more determined to prove his worth as a man on Myles Standish’s expeditions. As Rebekah’s world is threatened by constant illness, deadly fires, freezing winters, and even the threat of Indian attacks, she has to let go of her worries and learn to trust God even in the most dangerous of situations.

Rebekah in Danger was the height of kids Christian historical fiction to me as a kid; I found it utterly thrilling and full of information about one of my favorite historical eras (which is pretty much all you can ask for). As with all of the Sisters in Time books, Rebekah in Danger portrays a preadolescent girl struggling with real-life issues — being tired of chores, needing privacy, wishing for adventure, being worried about imminent danger, etc. — in the face of a major historical event: in this case, the first year of Plymouth Colony. This book takes place from November 1620 to December 1621 and records the Mayflower voyage between Provincetown and Plymouth, the first brutal winter, the treaty with the Indians, the first Thanksgiving, and the arrival of the Fortune. Reece includes light exposition on the conflicts between the Separatists and the Strangers, dissatisfaction with leadership, early contacts with Native Americans, and the myriad of dangers plaguing the early settlers. If nothing else, Rebekah in Danger illustrates the Pilgrims’ exhausting, endless struggle for survival in a hostile landscape.

Rebekah in Danger features fictional characters (primarily the Cunninghams and their gruff sailor friend Jake) alongside real-life persons going through real events recorded in Of Plymouth Plantation, the Mayflower Compact, and the Plymouth Colony records. Among the historical people depicted in this book are Myles Standish, Christopher Jones, John Carver, Dorothy Bradford, Samuel Fuller, and Samoset, Squanto, and Massasoit. Many others (like William Brewster, Susanna White, Edward Winslow, William Bradford, Peter Browne, and Mary Allerton) are mentioned. Reece doesn’t hold back on some of the tougher aspects of the story — suicide, stillbirth, epidemic, natural disasters, slavery, and war are just a few of the issues young Rebekah has to deal with on a daily basis. A lot of the issues, interestingly, are the unique struggles Pilgrim women faced: the chapter that features Dorothy Bradford’s death (which Reece leaves ambiguous as to whether it was a suicide or an accident) is one of the best-handled topics in the book.

The first two-thirds of Rebekah in Danger is well-balanced between Rebekah and Will’s adventures, Christian teachings, and light exposition about historical events and figures. It’s well-constructed and episodic, like a day-to-day account of Rebekah’s life with overarching ideas and character development. However, I got the sense that Reece had no idea what to do with the last five chapters of the book — once Rebekah’s mother recovers from her exhaustion, the main characters play no role in the plot, and Reece just recounts the final months of 1621 in a weirdly exposition-heavy style. The already sort-of choppy plot is totally abandoned in favor of infodumping that Rebekah and Will just comment on in passing. This emphasis on historical events is informative but very rushed and boring for kids who came for the action; I always skipped the last bit of the book when I was younger. The book ends with Rebekah accepting the New World as her home, which would be more triumphant if we had had more buildup to that revelation.

Rebekah Cunningham is a nicely written protagonist — responsible, hardworking, and constantly concerned with her family’s welfare. She doesn’t make any major mistakes in the narrative, but young readers can learn from her journey to accepting God’s will and trusting in His plan. Her ten-year-old brother Will is incurably impulsive and rebellious; while he is good-hearted and devoted, he craves adventure and often puts himself and others in harm’s way when he flies off the handle. Rebekah is her brother’s keeper, and Reece includes an excellent depiction of how much of a strain that role can be for an older sister. Rebekah and Will both grow throughout the story (both learning patience, just of two different kinds), and their relationships with their parents and their friend Jake are highlights, especially in Jake’s salvation and death. The dialogue is a bit modern and unrealistic at times, but forgivably so.

One thing I really respect about Rebekah in Danger is the fact that it isn’t just a historical novel with Christian overtones; it is specifically a Christian novel, meant to illustrate godly truths within a larger narrative. Reece addresses some of the possible modern issues with Separatist theology by depicting the Cunningham family as being loyal to the church yet filled with their own convictions, such as free will in conjunction with election and separate but equally esteemed gender roles. Some Puritan traditions (like resting on the Sabbath and setting a holy example) are portrayed positively, while the rigidity and legalism of some of their traditions are actively questioned by the author and Rebekah herself. It’s nice to see the Cunningham family with an active personal prayer life, a strong knowledge of God’s Word, and loving, forgiving relationships with one another. Reece also wisely handles the question of ethics when it comes to stealing food stores from the Indians — though the Pilgrims need the food for survival, the Cunninghams are uneasy with the thefts and later are eager to repay the Indians with gifts of their own. Sure, it’s simplistic, but the message is good.

The biggest Christian message in Rebekah in Danger, however, is that you have to learn to trust God with your fears and worries, since He is the one in control. Rebekah is a hardcore worrier, constantly terrified that one of her family members will die, and she often struggles with feeling that her control is slipping away from her when her family isn’t with her. Rebekah has to gradually learn that excessive worry not only doesn’t do her any good but also actively demonstrates a lack of faith in God’s plan and providence. Even though she still worries about her parents getting sick and her brother getting injured, Rebekah eventually makes peace with her fears and submits herself to God’s will, which is such an important lesson for kids who are prone to worrying. Her understanding that God will always provide a way of escape (or at least an answer to your prayers, whether it’s the one you wanted or not) comes with her realization that she never had control over her circumstances in the first place. Rebekah also learns the significance of sharing the Gospel with unbelievers, serving others as you would serve God, and learning to take correction after a mistake. Reece’s lessons are geared towards kids but are strong enough for readers of any age to be reminded of the truth.

Rebekah in Danger has a clear target audience: preadolescent Christian girls who love history. It was always a favorite of mine as a kid, and while I was disappointed in its dip in quality in the latter chapters, I still was impressed by Reece’s attention to historical detail and her depth in tackling challenging Christian concepts. I’d recommend it to any young girl who’s interested in the Pilgrims!

[Jerry (Rebel With a Massive Media Library) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great, though heart-wrenching, tale of the Plymouth colony.

[Bella Foxygobble · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book two in: American Dream: The New World, Colonial Times, and Hints of Revolution

I'm reading this series with my 9 & 11 y.o. They are consistently decent. ;) I have this historical series on our shelves along with the Dear America/My Name Is America series to have for extra topical free reading in our history studies.

Although it says "Sisters in Time" this definitely is a book that that would appeal to both boys and girls. The book starts with Rebekah and her brother Will's arrival in Plymouth Colony on the Mayflower and takes them through the first year as colonists. Like the previous book in the series, Sarah's New World: The Mayflower Adventure the author is good about including the nitty-gritty details about life in the new colony, and it can be sometimes grim. The theme of older sister keeping her brother out of trouble is again in this story and can sometimes be frustrating as the reader.

There is an underlying Christian theme throughout this book, and it comes on a bit stronger in this second book. Great book to go along with the study of Pilgrims.

Side note: I never once thought Rebekah was in danger. The title is a bit misleading with this one.

My Ratings:

5*****I loved this book, consider it an all time favorite
4**** Thoroughly enjoyed the book and will recommend it
3*** I liked it well enough,
2** Brain Candy - It was okay. Writing mediocre, will
keep/re-read if part of a series
1* didn't like/possibly not finished. (less)

[Ille · Rating 5 out of 5]

So far, 'Rebekah in Danger' has been my favourite book in the Sisters In Time series. This book tells the story of the first months in the first Plymouth colony in America, which is an important story for all Christian children to learn.
I really admire how through this book, Rebekah and her brother Will learn to trust God to meet all their needs.

[Autumn Nicole]

DNF
I think I read these books because I look at it and say "Oh, how my younger self would love that book!" Then I go pick it up and read it for her. Haha.
DNF because it felt below my level, and I didn't have time to read it - there are better books for me!

[. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rtc eventually

[Andressa Da Silva · Rating 1 out of 5]

Same opinion as the first one

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's November 1620, and eleven-year-old Rebekah Cunningham, her parents, and her ten-year-old brother, Will, have survived the long and difficult journey from England to the New World on the Mayflower. But more difficulties await them. They have arrived just as winter is starting, and food supplies are low. They have to continue to live on the ship while their homes are built. Soon sickness breaks out, and Rebekah worries that someone from her own family will become ill. It will take all of Rebekah's faith and courage to bring her through the first harsh winter in the New World.

Young readers who enjoy stories set in Colonial Times, or about the Pilgrims, will most likely enjoy this book. It is not a must-read in my opinion, but it should appeal to kids who have a special interest in this historical setting, and so I would recommend it to those readers.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was disappointed in what felt like a recycling of characters. This takes place only one year after the first book, and both books are by the same author. So why did she choose to use the same family/friends dynamic for both books without keeping it the same family? Also, if she IS going to change the family, she should keep in mind that in such a small group, the two families would run into each other frequently. Mentioning that the families know each other would go a long way towards smooth continuity in these two books.

I know that the intended age range is 8-12, but even at that age, I would have thought this was a poor character setup.

It was a good overview of that first winter in Plymouth Colony, and that is what earned it the third star.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think Rebekah in Danger was a good book. An 11-year-old girl named Rebekah and her family went to America for freedom. Most of the people on the Mayflower are either sick or dying. Rebekah prays that her family will be spared.
What I like about the book was that almost everyone in the book was very kind. Rebekah prayed for others a lot. Her mother helped the sick and weak. Rebekah's brother, Will, helped his father. Rebekah's father helped their captain,Captain Standish. This book was wonderful!

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is better than Sarah's New World but I only gave it 3 stars because it's the exact same characters as in Sarah's New World only with different names. That ruiend the book for me

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This series of books is written for young girls ages 8-12. It's well written with good information.

[Glenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book wasn't as good as the first, but it was interesting to read about the struggles the people faced after landing in the new colony.

[Haley · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think this book is funny sad and just a good book