Almost Home: A Story Based on the Life of the Mayflower's Mary Chilton (Daughters of the Faith Series) [Paperback]

Wendy G. Lawton (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2003 | Age Level: 9 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up | Series: Daughters of the Faith Series

Almost Home is the story of the pilgrims' journey to America and of God's providence and provision in their journey. Several of the characters mentioned in the story- Mary Chilton, Constance Hopkins, and Elizabeth Tilley- were actual passengers on the Mayflower! Mary Chilton was a young girl when she left her home in Holland and traveled to America onboard the Mayflower with her parents. The journey was filled with trials, joys, and some surprises, but when she reached the New World she experienced a new life, a new freedom, and a new home. Wendy Lawton has taken the facts of the pilgrims' journey to the New World, and from this information filled in personal details to create a genuine and heart-warming story.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Lawton's detailed research and strong writing make these books appealing to girls who love to read and parents who homeschool. -- Christian Retailing, February 17, 2003

Well researched. . . well-written. . . the Pilgrim story seen through the eyes of 13-year-old Mary Chilton. Must reading for young ladies. -- Eugene A. Fortine, Governor General of the General Society of Mayflower Descendants

From the Author

What do you do when all you ever wanted was to belong— to really belong— yet you find yourself all alone in a strange new world? Mary Chilton was one of 102 passengers who stepped aboard the Mayflower on September 16, 1620, for their long-awaited journey to the New World. Adventure awaits but all Mary can think about is finally finding a home—a place to belong. As she experiences the challenges and hardship of the ocean voyage, the struggle of starting the new Plymouth colony, and the happiness of the first harvest festival, she learns that home has a bigger meaning than she thought.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Moody Publishers; New Edition edition (January 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0802436374
• ISBN-13: 978-0802436375
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #224,883 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful historical fiction., October 7, 2004

By 

Rebecca Herman (USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Almost Home: A Story Based on the Life of the Mayflower's Mary Chilton (Daughters of the Faith Series) (Paperback)

Thirteen-year-old Mary Chilton has lived in Leyden, Holland almost her entire life; she was not yet three years old when her family fled England in search of religious freedom. But neither England nor Holland feels like her real home to Mary. She has always longed for a place to truly belong. When her parents decide to join other English Separatists living in Holland who are planning to settle in the New World, she feels a mixture of sorrow at leaving behind friends, neighbors, and her three adults sisters, and joy at the thought that she might finally find a place to call home. But the sea voyage on the Mayflower is long and dangerous, filled with storms and sickness, and the difficulties do not end when they finally reach the New World.

Wendy Lawton has brought to life the story of Mary Chilton, a real girl who was a passenger on the Mayflower in 1620. I really enjoyed this book, and I highly recommend it to readers who enjoy historical fiction, particularly those who have a special interest in the Pilgrims or Colonial America.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A compelling look at America's early history, March 16, 2003

By 

Teresa Slack "Fiction Author" (http://www.teresaslack.com) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Almost Home: A Story Based on the Life of the Mayflower's Mary Chilton (Daughters of the Faith Series) (Paperback)

Reading Wendy Lawton's Almost Home reminded me of everything I'd heard about the Mayflower's trip to the New World along with some interesting tidbits I forgot over the years or never knew in the first place. Like the fact that the Mayflower was forced to return to England twice after setting out for the New World for repairs to its sister ship, only to be forced to make the trip alone after weeks of delays. Or that without Squanto, their fluent Indian friend and fellow believer in God, their odds of survival would have been greatly reduced.

Almost Home is the true account of thirteen-year-old Mary Chilton, an actual passenger on the Mayflower, whose dream was to find a place where she belonged. It is the third book in Mrs. Lawton's Daughters of the Faith series, but the only one I've read. Now I am anxious to get my hands on the first two.

I highly recommend Almost Home. I believe it would be most enjoyed if shared aloud by the entire family, as parents and young people alike will learn and be inspired by Mary's story of the courage and faith on which this country was founded.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellence at it's best!, August 18, 2003

By 

Erick DuPree (MA Montessori Educator) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Almost Home: A Story Based on the Life of the Mayflower's Mary Chilton (Daughters of the Faith Series) (Paperback)

This is the second book by Wendy Lawton that I have read with my classroom in mind. It is a great read for both the young and the vast majority of us older adults. Almost Home is the story of May Chilton and her wondrous voyage to America on the Mayflower! Well written with just enough dialogue to make the characters come alive, the book is not overly "wordy" for children. The plot is great and the theme warm...this tale definitely keeps the audience captive. As with many other books by Lawton, this too has a delightful moral. The greatest part of this well researched book is that it is biographical and thus opens a dialogue between adults and precocious children. Not only about the Mayflower and the founding of america but also family value, I recommend this book for both the night stand and also the classroom.
Way to go Wendy!