The Lyon's Roar Book

THE LYON'S ROAR
M. L. Stainer
"Reverse Pocahontas?"

This book opens the entertaining series which presents a creative and reasonable explanation for the mysterious disappearance of the first colonists in America--on Roanoke Island off Virginia. They were stranded there in 1587 (a year before the Spanish Armada distracted Queen Elizabeth's attention from exploration and colonization of the New World. Related in the first person by 14-year-old Jess Archarde, this book reads swiftly--thanks to its many short chapters and extensive dialogue. While offering a viable alternative to the tragic theory that the entire colony was brutally wiped by hostile Indians, the author includes non-judgmental references to Native American religion and medicine.

But this is no boring history book; rather, it is a coming-of-age tale with some mild, cross-cultural romance. Jess confides her dreams and fears, her doubts and plans, as her family emigrates to the Chesapeake Bay'to found a city called Raleigh. We suffer along with her on the ghastly ocean voyage; we observe life on that island colony
which has since disappeared into the misty myth of the 16th century.
Writing in her diary Jess reveals the gradual dawning of her womanhood'both physical and emotional. This young protagonist is
torn between George, her first crush, and the allure of the forbidden "savage"'son of one of the camp's two native guides.

Being blond was something special among Indians, therefore
easily setting her apart as desirable. But it is in the hostile climate of an unknown land that this daring girl matures from a selfish child to a compassionate young woman. While pursuing her private quest for love she remains steadfast in her family loyalty. This book (and the successive volumes in the LYON series) is excellent fare for middle school girls; it will stimulate discussion about the speculated fate of the Roanoke colonists and why there are green-eyed Indians in that region. Well-researched the LYON saga will entertain and hold the interest of young students of early American exploration. At last'History made Human!

(July 11, 2012. I welcome dialogue with teachers.)