THE 18 PENNY GOOSE

The setting of this I Can Read is 1778, when British soldiers invade the American colonies, forcing Letty to leave behind the one possession she values most—her gander, Solomon. She places a note to the soldiers on the mantle, begging them to save the life of her bird. Her family piles into the wagon, and heads for the hills, to safety. Waiting is agony: From their hideaway with friends, Letty's family can hear gunshots, and see the smoke of burning houses; travelers' tales of plundering offer little reassurance. When Letty and her family finally return, their house has been ransacked, but it's still standing. On the mantle is a note, in verse, from the soldiers, who have spared Solomon's life and left a bag full of British pennies to pay for the geese they devoured. Along with the realistic watercolors, Walker maintains the inherent suspense of the story throughout; new readers will be glued to the pages right to the rewarding conclusion. (Fiction. 5-8)