Escape Across the Wide Sea

by Katherine Kirkpatrick

When his family's weaving shop is destroyed because his family refuses to convert to the king's religion, Daniel and his family flees France and the only home they've ever known and end up on a two-year journey aboard various sea vessels that take them to Africa, the Caribbean, and their final destination of the colony of New York in 1688.

Genres: Historical Fiction, School, Childrens, Fiction, Middle Grade, Young Adult

210 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2004

Reviews

[Laura (kroosreadsandreviews) · Rating 5 out of 5]

My 7th grader flew through this book and not many books capture his attention!

It's a difficult subject as the one family leaves France due to religious persecution and then comes to be on a slave trade ship.

The young boy, Daniel, is one of the few to advocate for the people who are taken as slaves.

Gives a small fictional account of a terrible tragedy that took place with the slave trade.

[Jon Meyers · Rating 2 out of 5]

did my 8 year old self write the first half???

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Huguenot girl and her mother escape from France to Africa, and then take passage on a slave ship to New York.

[Colleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the beginning and the ending but nothing in between.

[Elizabeth Anne Andrews · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of the few school books where both my sister and I have read ahead.

[The other John · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one is the tale of the founding of the town New Rochelle, New York. Up until now, I always thought of New Rochelle as the home of Rob and Laura Petrie. Who would've thought it had a history? Okay, lame jokes aside, the book is really the story of Daniel Bonnet's family's escape from France and eventual relocation in the New World. His family are Huguenots--Protestants who are being persecuted by the Roman Catholic King Louis XIV. When the government turns up the heat, they attempt to flee the country and head to England. Things don't quite work out that way as the family first escapes to Guadeloupe via the African coast, then up to New York. Along the way, we get a peek into a variety of settings and lives of the 1680s. The book is an interesting read, though upon reflection, I think the abundance of historical information makes the story less real. I'm not entirely sure how I should rate it, but I really like the typesetting, so I suppose that I should err on the side of a "check it out".

[Chloe · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the book quite a lot, accurate, fast paced, original you could say, sad at places, happy at others. Altogether Okay. i didn't get into the characters at all though, and the writing was nread it for my school, although i didn't totally love it. im not sure why. There were two things as well, maybe silly but they bothered me. One, I hate the cover art. It bothers me to think of the characters as looking like that and once I see the cover, it plagues me! Terrible! Secondly, I was completely disappointed at the pronunciation thingy at the back of the book. I have spoken french as a second language and I know for certain that the pronunciation the book offers is totally inaccurate. It massacres the French language! Totally!!! But an okay book. It does tackle some large problems like slavery, and oppression because of religion, and it does a passable job on explaining, but I found it didn't evoke many feelings in me.

[mairiachi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't like this book because I felt like there was no character development, I didn't feel sorry or sad when sad things happen. I didn't really feel any emotion when they tell him that he's never going to be able to use his leg again. I didn't feel anything when the girl was pulled away from her sister. It also had some weird religious aspects which I think the book would do well without on a whole. They seemed to believe one thing and act totally differently the next. I didn't get attached to any of it and I was glad when I finished it. I was definitely NOT a fan of this book and I hope the person who recommended it to me doesn't do that to anyone else.

[Alice · Rating 2 out of 5]

Having Huguenot refugees in my family tree, I decided to pick up this little children's book about a French family which emigrates to the New World after facing persecution during the 1680s. The topic of religious persecution and the topic of accepting a disability combine with the topic of slavery as the young boy Daniel realizes neither he nor his new slave friends are "free". They can, however, pursue a new life for themselves in the New World even if it is different from the old life.

Not exceptional writing but acceptable juvenile historical fiction.

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Historical fiction for young readers about the founding of New Rochelle, New York by Huguenot refugees from France in 1688. After Louis XIV revokes the Edict of Nantes in 1685, Daniel and his family of Huguenot weavers are persecuted by French soldiers and decide to escape to England, but instead they find themselves on a slave ship headed for Guadeloupe. After living on a sugar cane plantation for a few months where the king's dragoons continue to harass them, Daniel's family decides to flee to New York where they help found the city of New Rochelle.

[Katherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

A compelling combination of Huguenots, the slave trade triangle, and a disabling accident. I was moved by the accuracy yet simplicity with which a slave ship was described. Horrible, yet appropriate for pre-teens. I rated the book so low because I kept thinking it should end, and yet it would drag on through another season of Daniel's life. Maybe it would help to look at this book as 5 books in one.

[Gillian · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book seemed to be sort of deep for me at the beggining. But at the end? The only deep thing was the rug! I mean, sure, it was a nice little book. If you payed my 5 bucks, I would read it again. If you paid me 1 dollar..... maybe.

[Kristin · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a Sonlight read aloud. My daughter thinks it deserves no stars. The writing was on the choppy side, but the story was good, and I thought it did a good job of portraying the atrocity of slavery without being too graphic for a middle schooler.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

We enjoyed this book and I liked the way it wove people of different backgrounds coming to America for different reasons. It deals with slavery and religious persecution in a way that young readers will remember.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

A boy and his Huguenot family have to leave Holland when persecution comes. Eventually they arrive in America, and see slavery.

[Brittany · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice little story about a French Huguenot family searching for religious freedom. Not great writing by any means, but all right for youth fiction.

[Marris · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was alright. The story line was good, but the writing quality wasn't the best.

[Annarose]

It was so awesome! I loved this book. It was actually interesting for a school book. :D

[Noelle · Rating 1 out of 5]

I know this is a juvenile book, but the story and writing felt extremely childish.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a perfect example of NOT judging a book by its cover! This book is absolutely a wonderful story based on history. I wished it didn't end.

[Dawn Roberts · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not our favorite book. Gives some interesting perspective on Huguenot refugees and the African slave trade, but no real character development.

[Rachel Osborne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Deals with issues like religious persecution and slavery.

[Sharon Honeycutt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was supposed to be a Read Aloud in our homeschool. I skipped it. I didn't feel it was engaging enough and was even a bit depressing.

[Elena Chamberlain · Rating 1 out of 5]

Well now I'm mad at Obama because he made me read this. #ThanksObama

[Hanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

ouchhhhhhh

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of our homeschool read alouds. Escape Across the Wide sea is an interesting middle grade historical fiction set from 1686-1689. It appears to be accurate in its portrayal of the historical time period. I personally wouldn’t recommend this book for younger readers (under age 12) to read on their own due to some of the harsh realities described in the story. These hard topics include religious persecution (specifically of the Huguenots in France) and slavery. Readers age 12+ who have already learned some about the history of slavery and religious persecution may find this story gives them a clearer idea of what life during those times was like.

[Angela Squires · Rating 2 out of 5]

I suppose this story was okay, but perhaps it would have been a better one not to have read aloud. The phrasing and dialogue seemed too simple and choppy, and of course I don’t love having to read foreign words that I don’t know how to pronounce. That being said, I think the story did communicate some history that we didn’t know, and there was definite value in that.

[Hester · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was hesitant to read with some of my children as I knew issues of power, force and slavery were sensitive to them. My eldest and I did read it. For me it struck home that the slaves involved, even the children, wouldn't live to see the abolition of slavery. They were stuck for life.

[Cassandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good for younger readers; it has a simplistic plot and writing. Set in the 1680’s, it is a good addition to historical study of:
- Protestant persecution by Louis XIV
- Huguenots
- Slavery
- New York settlers

[AJones · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is an important story to be told, but I just wish it had been written more eloquently.