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Greenhorn on the Frontier (Golden Triangle Books)
Greenhorn on the Frontier - Golden Triangle Books Author:Ann Finlayson Greenhorn on the Frontier follows the adventures of Harry and Sukey Warrilow as they struggle to survive against mounting odds in the rugged western frontier of colonial Pennsylvania. Orphaned and separated as children and newly reunited as teenagers, the Warrilows resolve to become their own masters, and own their own land. Harry has dreams o... more »f owning a farm, growing crops, and raising livestock. Yet, what chance do two green city dwellers have in the wild frontier? As a first step toward their goal, Harry obtains a deed from the Penn Colony for a 300-acre plot of land near the frontier town of Pittsburgh. The trip west over the Allegheny Mountains is treacherous and hard-won, but does not compare to the dangers awaiting them in Pittsburgh. In 1772, Pittsburgh is nothing but a "rough hewn settlement on the fringe of the civilized world "...filled with rough and rugged frontiersmen and hostile Indians. Harry and Sukey win a strong friend in blacksmith Anse McBain and a dangerous enemy in the infamous woodsman Simon Girty. Both will play important roles in their future. Braving threats from wild animals, Indian raids, and illness, the Warrilows, with the help of Anse McBain, slowly clear their land and tend their farm, growing crops and mining a valuable salt lick. Harry and Sukey start to see their dreams realized. And, yet, events outside their little world conspire against them. The frontier is abuzz with talk of unfair taxes, and the word is spreading of incidents in Boston and Concord. Meanwhile, the Virginia Colony, eager to increase land holdings, challenges the Penn Charter, threatening Pennsylvania's land. While Harry is unconcerned with outside politics, the threat becomes real when Virginians, led by John Connolly, invade Pittsburgh and declare all deeds invalidincluding the Warrilow's. When their nemesis Simon Girty shows up leading a band of roughnecks and holding a Virginia deed, Harry must fight to save his land. And, when Sukey becomes gravely ill, their very lives are threatened. Will these "greenhorns" prevail, or will the frontier spell the end for Harry and Sukey? Greenhorn on the Frontier is an exciting and realistic portrayal of frontier life in colonial America. Young readers will eagerly turn pages as they follow the adventures of the Warrilows, especially during Harry's climactic battle royal with Simon Girty. And, with references to the colonies, relations with Indian tribes such as the Delaware and Shawnee, a frank look at slavery, and a backdrop of the Revolutionary War, Greenhorn on the Frontier offers plenty of opportunities for further exploration.« less