Well, as we leave Halloween behind for this year, and look toward Thanksgiving, what fun to read a fanciful story about “The Boy Who Fell off the Mayflower” by P.J. Lynch, who also illustrated it with heavily darkened pictures.
This is told from the eyes of an indentured young teenager who not only survived the fall from the ship, the sickness which killed over half of those who traveled from Europe together, Indian raids, near starvation and the unrelenting cold and rain of the first winter, but became a strong leader as he grew older.
Vivid language plus the pictures portray a more realistic tale of the new colony and how the Natives helped with growing crops, and really did bring venison and other food to the first celebration. One saving grace the first winter was the heavy work of building small houses — it warmed the workers as they cut down trees, sawed them with hand saws, hefted them to the right height, and finally secured and made them ready for daubing.
Several times John Howland nearly returned to England “to build his fortune,” yet he never did. He married (Oops! Nearly gave away the surprise). He was married for 50 years, had 10 children and eventually 88 grandchildren. Suppose you might be one of his descendants? There must be some spread across America.
This is an interesting and well-researched story. It will be ready soon for the annual Christmas dedication program at Cary.
