The Secret

Christian Heritage: The Salem Years 1690-1692 #6

by Nancy N. Rue

Twelve-year-old Josiah and his sister draw closer together as they help to solve the problems within their Puritan community in Salem in 1691

Genres: Historical Fiction, Christian, Childrens, Fiction, Christian Fiction

185 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1996

About the author

Nancy Rue is the author of over 100 books for adults and teens, including the Christy Award-winning The Reluctant Prophet, Unexpected Dismounts and Healing Waters (with Steve Arterburn), which was the 2009 Women of Faith Novel of the Year. She travels extensively—at times on the back of a Harley—speaking to and teaching groups of women of all ages. Nancy lives on a lake in Tennessee with her Harley-ridin’ husband, Jim, and their two yellow Labs (without whom writing would be difficult).

Reviews

[James Hogan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Josiah series is now complete! I do love this book. Not my favourite of the series (think Accused still holds the crown), but this one is close. It's fascinating re-reading it and having all my memories come flooding back from when I read it back in the day. It was published in '96 and I probably read it a year or two later? Anyway - this book ties in with my real life in a way that's almost alarming. No, no snakebite stories or being trapped in a cave to die...but this story involves the Hutchinsons trying their best to resolve the differences in their local church...but do these efforts work? Spoilers!! They do not. And so what happens? The Hutchinsons end up moving away, leaving their friends and home behind to go settle in the far off land to the south, that wild Virginia. There is a vivid moment in this book that I still always remember, Josiah looking in the window of his house at the big meeting that is being held by all the prominent members in the church...Josiah's father Joseph attempting to moderate and bring peace and establish a godly vision for their community. This story meant a lot to me, because funnily enough, my family also moved away from our friends and from our home in the late 90s...involving church drama, nonetheless (including big serious meetings and many discussions...etc, etc!). No details shall be given here, but reading this book back then was a comfort to me, as it helped me realize that what my own family was going through wasn't that strange after all. If the Hutchinsons could move far away to southern lands because of disharmony in the church...well, I suppose our family could manage a similar journey - the Hutchinsons aren't such a bad model, after all. And then I compared my dad to Joseph Hutchinson. Joseph Hutchinson is one of my favourite characters in the whole Christian Heritage Series...a serious, godly man who attempted to live at peace with all men and who attempted to honour God in all things. And I think my own father is cast a most similar mold, except...he's not fictional, he's my actual father...and I have been able to see his love for God and love for others almost every day of my life. Oh how I long to live in even a small way as how my father has lived. And so this book...this series...that makes me think about my own childhood and my own present, my family and my past...it is deeply treasured and I am very grateful to Nancy Rue for writing this book. This is perhaps a bit too personal of a review, but I shall let it stand. What better tribute to the power of this book than a recounting of its interweaving themes with my own life, eh? To God be the glory, always.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the last in "The Salem Years 1689-1691" series. It was really interesting, & tied all the other stories together nicely.

In this story Josiah Hutchinson was trying to start a fire with a knife & flint the way Ezekiel Porter had instructed him. Then he saw someone in skirts moving in the distance. It was his sister, Hope Hutchinson, and he wasn't going to loose her this time. At one point he thought she was going to try to swim in the swamp, but that wasn't a good idea! Puritan children were expected to act as adults, so he & Hope had acted as allies in everything, at least until recently. Hope picked her way across some marshy ground on the Putnam property as if she were following someone. He was going to have to get wet if he were going to follow her without being caught. Josiah wasn't sure what caused the feud between the Putnam's & his family, but what was Hope doing on Putnam land? Only Silas Putnam would be around since his brothers were being punished for what they had done to Hope last spring. When Josiah saw Silas going toward his sister, he was concerned for her well-being. Silas wasn't as violent as his cousins, but he was still a Putnam and Hope may not have a chance to escape. When Edward Putnam called Silas & came over the rise, Josiah knew both he & Hope had to get out of there! Edward told Silas that the Putnam's had a lot to decide as a family. It seemed to Josiah that Silas didn't seem all that happy that his cousins were returning from Salem Town after being in the stocks for 5 days. Suddenly Josiah heard someone scream & saw a snake's head tumble over the bolder he was sitting on. The he realized that he was screaming from the pain in his leg! He cried for Hope to help him, but she couldn't hear him.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This series has an older boy as its main character. The author does a great job building an over arching storyline that sees this boy mature as a son, sibling and most importantly as a believer in the One True God. The first couple books in the series seem a little tedious but the last few make it all come together. The Actual history that Rue includes was well incorporated. She is impressive with that aspect as well. A great teaching story. Just the way history should be presented.