Caleb's Crossing

More about the book

In 1665, a young man from Martha's Vineyard made history as the first Native American to graduate from Harvard College. This novel weaves a luminous tale of love, faith, magic, and adventure, centered around Bethia Mayfield, who grows up in the small settlement of Great Harbor. Restless and curious, Bethia longs for an education denied to her due to her gender. She often escapes to explore the island's beaches and observe the Wampanoag people. At twelve, she meets Caleb, the son of a chieftain, and they form a secret friendship that bridges their disparate worlds. Bethia's father, a minister, seeks to convert the Wampanoag, provoking the tribe's shaman and challenging his own beliefs. One of his endeavors is to educate Caleb, who eventually travels to Cambridge to study Latin and Greek among the colonial elite. Meanwhile, Bethia finds herself indentured as a housekeeper, allowing her to witness Caleb's cultural transition. Like Brooks's previous narrator Anna, Bethia serves as an emotionally compelling guide through the wilds of Martha's Vineyard and the complexities of the human heart. This evocative narrative further solidifies Brooks's reputation as an acclaimed novelist.