Jared's Island

Shipwreck, pirate treasure, camping with the Indians - Jared's Island  contains all the adventure a boy (or girl) can ask for.

I love the way Marguerite de Angeli combines a good story with a historical time period and was surprised to find one of her books I had never read. I've said that an elementary child could get a good overview of Pennsylvania history just by reading De Angeli's books. All her books are combined with her beautiful illustrations which make the story come alive.

Jared's Island  does not take place in Pennsylvania but on the Jersey shore. I chose to include a review of this book, not just because we loved it but because of all the facets that do describe life in Pennsylvania.

Jared shipwrecked while his shipped searched for pirates, a problem colonial Pennsylvania also battled. He was rescued by a Quaker fisherman and the book contains description of a Quaker meeting. When Jared went searching for pirate treasure, he met the Lenape Indians and lived with them for a time. The Lenape were called "Delaware" by the English and were the Indians around Philadelphia in Penn's time.

For a fun, fascinating story from colonial America, read Jared's Island. I believe it is out of print but there are still used copies available.