Betsy

"Betsy: The Adventures of an Early American Girl" is a historical fiction story of a young girl growing up in colonial Virginia during the Revolutionary War. She is independent, resourceful, honest and brave. She is also a full-blooded Algonquian Indian. The first chapter describes the sadness and joy of her transition from the Algonquian tribe to her colonial parents. Her settler father's contribution to the War is gun-making. This ten-year-old helps him in his shop, in addition to helping her mother run the household. She accompanies her father to Mount Vernon, where they meet with George Washington for orders of more muskets. But General Washington has other things on his mind. He is moving his entire army to Yorktown to reinforce the small force of Virginia Continental Army soldiers laying siege to General Cornwallis at Yorktown. This small force is outnumbered, desperate, and discouraged. Washington needs to send them word that help is on the way. Betsy's adventures start there, and will test her in every way.