Second Son

by Nancy Faulkner, Vernon Wooten (Illustrator)

Into this yarn of youthful adventure, Nancy Faulkner has woven the harsh and historically authentic facts of life for the luckless second son of a Virginia landowner before the Revolution. At a time when law, social attitudes, and family tradition all favored the first-born, younger sons had to make their own way. They might choose professions, some form of business, or very often the promise of westward migration.

Genres: Historical Fiction

165 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1969

About the author

A native of Lynchburg, Virginia, Ms. Faulkner developed her love of history growing up and taught school in Virginia before moving to New York City where she wrote many books for children.

Reviews

[Bookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nancy Faulkner's historical fiction never disappoints. A very interesting tale of a growing young man and his life as the second son of a plantation owner. Always put down in favor of Charles, his dashing and madcap brother, Kit Gordon is still content enough as long as he can stay in Virginia. The start of his troubles begin with a letter from that brother that tells him things are not going quite so well in London as they should be...add a runaway sailor, a trip to London and a notorious gang led by The Captain, and you have a fantastic read for a winter night.

[Naomi McCullough · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marvelous adventure book following the second son of a plantation owner. Always struggling with the long shadow of perfection his eldest brother, Charles, has cast without even trying, Kit dreads the boring fate consigned to him of going to London to learn how to keep his father's books. However, things take a different twist when he gets involved in the rescue of a sailor, discovers his brother Charles is not doing quite so well as he led father to believe, and a murderous smuggler is involved.