Seeking Eden

Quaker Trilogy #3

by Ann Turnbull

Will and Susanna Heywood, now in their thirties, move, with their four children, to Pennsylvania, where freedom of religious thought is everyone's right. This is the story of their eldest child, Josiah, who finds work with George Bainbrigg in the dock area of Philadelphia and falls in love with his daughter, Kate. When they travel to Barbados on business and stay with Friends who are harassed by local laws, Josiah is shocked to learn that Quakers have slaves and that his boss deals in the slave trade. Once they return home, Josiah and Kate try to help two slaves who are in love, Antony and Patience, to attain their freedom - knowing the risks involved may result in lives that are even more unbearable.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, Young Adult

384 pages

First published June 7, 2012

About the author

Ann Turnbull is an English author of numerous books for young readers, including No Shame, No Fear and Forged in the Fire. She was born in Hertford, was brought up in southeast London, and now lives in Shropshire, England.

Reviews

[Josephine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Initially I was disappointed that this final part of the trilogy was so different, with narration from the son and only minor detail on his parents from the first two books. However it stands in it's own right a a compelling book to read.

[BernM · Rating 4 out of 5]

This insight into pioneer life and the foundation of Pennsylvania is one that I've never read about before. Who knew that Quakers held slaves? The author states at the end that she was shocked to discover this, and in the story Josiah mirrors her shock.

Tokpa's story is interspersed throughout the main storyline and offers a fascinating viewpoint, particularly as his journey originates in Africa. The horror of the slave ships and the fear felt by the captured slaves is well highlighted.

The novel is beautifully written - the language flows effortlessly and draws you straight into the story. Josiah, the son of Susanna and Will from books 1 & 2, is a rebel to begin with - pushing against the strict lifestyle of his Quaker parents, and yet when confronted with the inhumanity of slavery, he realizes the strength of his parents' beliefs and their innate kindness and begins to follow his own deeply held convictions.

The other characters are not as fully developed as Jos and Tokpa, and we don't see very much in this story of Will and Susannah, but the love interest between Jos and Kate is sweet and romantic. I really enjoyed it and would be happy for their story to continue in the New World.

[Stephanie A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

What do you do when you love your YA novel characters so much you want their story to continue into adulthood, but very few authors have ever successfully crossed that divide? You write a sequel about their teenage kid and sneak the parents into the background. The results are fantastic.

You don't even need to have read the first two books; you can approach this perfectly well as a standalone, and decide if you are intrigued enough by the hints about the parents' past to jump in a virtual time machine and get the full scoop. But I read everything in order, and in doing so this installment feels like an unprecedented gift.

I love everything we get to hear about Will and Susanna, their other children, a few hints at the years between novels and the bits where they catch up with old friends until Jos is well developed enough for you to agree to being pushed out of the family house to follow him along on his apprenticeship. It's also fascinating to view characters you know through the lens of the next generation -- even though you're getting the teen's point of view, it's easy to imagine how the parents are feeling. Part of me feels sorry for all the rebellion Will and Susanna had to endure with their firstborn, but he proves himself worthy of his lineage by the end.

[Xena · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book, I liked how the society was set differently than books that normally come out in the 21st century

[Jennifer Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn't put the book down. I completed the trilogy in two days and wanted it to continue. I didn't skim read any part except a sensual paragraph in the book. It was too interesting.