Cate of the Lost Colony
by Lisa M. Klein
Published: October 12, 2010
Genres: Historical Fiction, Young Adult
Format: eBook (336 pages)
Source: Purchased
Seamlessly weaving together fact with fiction, Lisa Klein's newest historical drama is an engrossing tale of adventure and forbidden love—kindled by one of the most famous mysteries in American history: the fate of the settlers at Roanoke, who disappeared without a trace forty years before the Pilgrims would set foot in Plymouth.
Cate of the Lost Colony is about a girl who is banished to the new world by a jealous queen. This is the kind of entertaining historical fiction that also happens teaches you a little something about history. There is a huge cast of characters in this book, most of whom existed in real life. The main characters really shined even though the minor characters often got mixed up in my mind (thank goodness for the awesome character list at the beginning). The main characters Cate, Manteo, and Sir Walter Ralegh all narrate this story. I found the voices of each of the narrators so distinct and beautiful that I could tell within a paragraph or two who was talking even though it wasn’t labeled. Through each of the narrators we get to see the new world from different perspectives. Cate shows us life as a colonist. Manteo shows us the major changes that the Native Amercians went through. Sir Walter Ralegh, who is an historical figure, shows us the glory and wealth people dreamed of finding in America.
I loved the summary at the end of the book that explained what was fiction and what wasn’t. It was surprising how much of the story was actually not that far from reality. I read this at the perfect time of year. Who knew that a novel about pilgrims would be such a page-turner? The writing was authentic and wonderful. The romance was amazing. No instant love or cliches to be found.
Overall, it was a great historical romance that had me hooked until the last page.
Content Rating: Mild, for a few swear words.
About Lisa M. Klein
She was born in Peoria, the third of seven children. Her dad was a newspaper writer, her mom a former research biologist. She grew up out in the boondocks and spent all her spare time reading. She was an English and Theology major in college (Marquette University) and since she couldn't become a priest, she went to graduate school and got a Ph.D. in literature (Indiana University.) Her dissertation on English Renaissance poetry was published as a book that now gathers dust in university libraries.
My name is Jessica. I love to read Young Adult and classic literature. I’ve been a book blogger for six years and I haven’t gotten tired of it yet. I’m a very curious reader. Writing about all the questions and thoughts I had while reading a book is the best hobby ever.
Leave a Reply