Betrayal at Cross Creek

American Girl History Mysteries #22

by Kathleen Ernst

In the deep forests of North Carolina's Cape Fear River Valley, the brewing Revolution feels very far away to Elspeth and her fellow Scottish immigrant neighbors, but when Elspeth's grandfather and cousins finally march off to fight on the British side, Elspeth is left alone to protect her grandmother. Simultaneous.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Mystery, Middle Grade, Childrens, Historical, American Revolution, American Revolutionary War

178 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

I grew up in Maryland, in a house full of books! Both of my parents were avid readers, thank goodness. Before we traveled to a new area, my librarian-mom used to bring home historical novels set in that place. It was a great way to get excited about history.

I began writing stories when I was maybe 10 or 11. At 15 I wrote my first novel; I sold my first novel to a publisher 20 years later! Writing was my hobby, so during those two decades I just kept practicing, reading, writing some more. What a thrill to finally hold my first book in my hand! Still, I write because I enjoy the process (at least most of the time).

For years I wrote while working at other day jobs. I spent 12 years working at a huge historic site, which was a perfect spot for someone interested in historical fiction. I also developed and scripted instructional videos for public television. Finally, though, it got to be too much to juggle. I now write full-time, and consider myself enormously fortunate to do something I love.

Reviews

[Melody Schwarting · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unlike some other re-reads in this series, Betrayal at Cross Creek withstood my more scrutinous adult reading. I love how Ernst really dwelt with the time period and cultural setting, particularly her focus on historical weaving and clothing practices of Scottish immigrants.

Few children's books gesture towards generational trauma, much less deal with it in a meaningful, age-appropriate way. Ernst really impressed me with how she handled this. Elspeth's grandmother has flashbacks to the trials she suffered in the Scottish civil war (yes, the same time period portrayed in Outlander). There is a scene where Grannie tells Elspeth about what she suffered, which an adult reader will recognize as rape, but most middle-grade readers wouldn't catch on to that, instead understanding that the incident left Grannie terrified of British soldiers and maimed in one hand by a horse. Elspeth picks up on her grandmother's fear of impending war between British loyalists and American rebels, and develops a fear of her own.

I appreciated that Ernst didn't take this on the usual plotline of "girl overcomes fear and saves the day." It was more realistic, a bit more down-to-earth, than that. Ernst shines in both historical detail and characterization. She takes a more balanced view of pre-Revolutionary War days than many American children's books set in that period. While the characters choose their sides in the conflict, no side is revealed as better than the other. This would be a good book to help young readers balance their view of the war instead of reverting to "Patriots good, Redcoats bad" duality.

In my middle school years, I had a short-lived obsession with Scotland, and I'm not entirely sure that it wasn't this book which set it off.

[Sesana · Rating 3 out of 5]

This'll be for the whole series, which is probably a silly way to do it. There's a lot of different authors here, after all, and the only thing these books have in common is the publisher and that there's some sort of mystery. Each book is set in a different time and place with a different character as the lead. The mysteries vary from smaller and less important (The Night Flyers) to very high stakes indeed (this one, for example). The quality of the mystery varies, too. Some of them fall into the "how dumb do you think we are?" category, but most of them are more sophisticated than that. The target age for readers here is young teens, and I think that's a good spot. I liked (almost) all of them reading as an adult, and I would have just eaten these up at 12 or 13. And I really liked the range of mostly thoughtful, entirely determined girls saving the day. The history angle is fantastic, and I dearly love that the books focus on more than just easily visible events, times, and places. Sure, there's a gold rush book, but there's also books about Reform Dress and early 20th century minstrel shows. Like I said, a good variety. The Looking Back sections that are a trademark of the American Girl books (this is where my love of history comes from) are as informative and interesting as ever. The only thing I'd add here is a further reading page at the end, especially since these are meant for slightly older readers.

[Kelsey Bryant · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed revisiting a book from one of my favorite series as a girl. The mystery had me baffled till the reveal, and the story was surprisingly dark and mature for a children's book. Of course, I enjoyed the elements of Scottish history woven into the book and how it ties into the Revolutionary War. American Girl History Mysteries are satisfying quick reads for me even as an adult now. :)

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

I couldn’t get into this story but it was cool learning about the things people back then encountered if they were Loyalists

[JPT · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audiobook
Story: A, Narration: A

Not a review, just some thoughts for personal reference. Spoilers.

I've been reading too many dark mysteries, so I wanted a change of pace. Initially, I thought this book would be too juvenile, but I was happily mistaken. This was a very serious, thought-provoking story about Scottish immigrants in North Carolina at the start of the Revolutionary War. Many of the Scots, especially the Highlanders, had fled Scotland after the troubles with Bonnie Prince Charlie that culminated in the disaster at Culloden. It was interesting that many of the Scots who fought against England became Loyalists in America. There were a number of reasons for this, including the promise of land and the memory of the terrible losses endured the last time they rebelled. This story covers the disagreements between the colonists, among the Scottish immigrants, and even within families.

This is part of the American Girl series, so the story is told from the perspective of a young girl named Elspeth Monro. Elspeth was brought to NC from the Isle of Skye by her grandparents after her parents died, and she still misses the sea and is uncomfortable in the forest. She not only helps out on the farm, but also trains as a weaver in town, an unusual opportunity for a girl.

Eventually, Elspeth's grandfather and cousins join the Loyalist militia, and the consequences for both the soldiers and the families they left behind are grim. At the end of the book, Elspeth and her remaining family decide to leave NC for Nova Scotia, and Elspeth is happy not only to be near the sea again but also to take with her the marketable skill she learned in Cross Creek.

I really enjoyed this book and appreciated that it didn't take the more conventional route of showing the Patriot perspective. The book points out that this was not just a rebellion, but also a civil war where people had mixed loyalties (or even just wanted to remain neutral). I've read some fiction and non-fiction that covered this, but thought this book handled it particularly well for such a short work, and especially for a book intended for a young audience.

As someone who has many ancestors of Scottish descent who settled in NC, I especially enjoyed the depiction of the Scottish immigrants, their culture, and mindset.

I also appreciated how the lot of women was portrayed. Most women were not afforded an education or the ability to learn a trade, but were instead dependent on men for their economic survival while they handled domestic chores. They lived a precarious existence made even more vulnerable when the men left them to their own devices when they departed for war.

My delight in this book was enhanced by the wonderful narration by Davina Porter. She always does a good job, but her use of Scottish accents and dialect lifted the experience to a whole other level. (I can't judge how accurate she was, but it certainly sounded convincing.) I highly recommend this book for children and adults, especially in audio form.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story of the Scottish in North Carolina at the beginning of the American Revolution. Many of the newest Scottish immigrants enlisted with the British Army during the war for a whole host of reasons. A major reason used in the story was the promise of 200 acres of free land, quite a prize to the poor landless newcomers. It seemed impossible that the British could loose. Told through twelve-year-old Elspeth Monro apprentice weaver, who must find who has betrayed her Loyalist family to the Patriots.

[Meghan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The culprit is very surprising. It’s interesting how the book explores PTSD through the lens of The ‘45. My biggest criticism is that knowing more about the history of the time, the ending sounds a bit too optimistic.

[Bulk Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read (skimmed?) this book once when I was a kid. I typically have a very good memory, so I thought it was weird that I couldn't remember a single thing about it, other than that the ending shocked me.

Rereading it, I can understand why I didn't remember anything. It's not a very happy book, and the majority of it is filled with the main character, Elspeth, either a) doing chores, b) being threatened by Patriots, or c) watching her grandparents yell at each other.

The vibe is overall bleak, depressing, and hopeless. It reminded me of Changes for Felicity in that way, which I still think is one of the saddest endings to an AG series. But at least in Felicity, there were some fun entries that showcased the lighter parts of the period. In this one there are no silver linings. Elspeth's family members are killed or captured, their homes are burned down, and all of her loved ones are problematic in some way (also the way the book kept harping on her grandmother being assaulted in the past was a tad scary). I get it, the book is about war. But it wasn't a very pleasant read.

BUT! Knowing that the ending had surprised me in the past, I kept looking in the unlikeliest of places for the culprit. I was STILL surprised by the ending! And it was very cleverly done, once I thought about it.


Final Series Review!!

I am so glad I decided to read this series, because even though I was a bit burned out on AG mysteries, it was overall really solid. There was only one book in the series that I would say I didn't like, which is pretty impressive for a 22-book run.

Given that the protagonists are 12 years old and thus the target audience is a bit older, this series could be dark at times. It was not as intense as the Girls of Many Lands books (in which the protagonists are also 12), but there was definitely an Anyone Can Die policy. I typically enjoyed the realism, especially when it was rooted in historical fact.

I would not praise this series overmuch for the actual mysteries, as most of the time they were average or just predictable. What I liked best was learning about unique little parts of history that aren't explored much in the main AG line. So I would recommend it more for history lovers than for mystery lovers. I am glad to be done but will miss AG for a while! But of course, I'll be back at some point.

[Sophie Spruce · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone of Scottish heritage, that’s really the only thing I knew when I started this book, aside from it being set during the American Revolution. I loved getting to see Scottish immigrants in the colonies and see their heritage portrayed. I had no idea many of them fought for Britain and I liked seeing that the decision was based on who they thought would win, so they would be involved in the war little as possible.

This book is arguably the best in the series (The Strange Case of Baby H is also a strong contender for that position). I don’t know how Ernst manages to weave a strong mystery that tackles war, betrayal, fear, death, and illness in 153 pages but she does it brilliantly. The death of Duncan, a beloved cousin, really drives home the reality of the war, while Elspeth has her own challenges in facing down the Patriots who are harassing her family. Ernst captures the fear perfectly, even leaving the story in a bittersweet note, which left me teary.

My only complaint is Elspeth’s character arc. Early in the story she is contrasted with her dead mother, who was a brave girl during a Scottish war in 1745. Elspeth, in contrast, is a nervous frightful girl, but also extremely curious. Her progression to a courageous girl seemed rather quick. I would have liked a few more steps in between the extremes. Otherwise, fantastic book. Will definitely be adding this one to my collection.

[Allison | This Enchanted Hour · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very interesting story. After completing the Felicity series from American Girl, it was nice to explore an “outsider’s” perspective of the start of the American Revolution instead of just Patriots and Loyalists. I wish American Girl Company had stuck to its roots and produced more of these individual mysteries. I think they published 22 titles of all different time periods and the few I’ve read so far are great for girls 10 and up

[Stasia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I forgot how good this one is. You are honestly surprised by the plot twist! And again, for me, the selling point of these books was the actual history that they are based on, history that may not be as well known. The Scots history in the American Revolution is not something talked about in most history books, and this book definitely piqued my interest in that bit.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whelp. Didn’t guess that. 😂
Helped pass the time... learned a piece of Scottish history that I was previously unaware of. Enjoy when that happens.
Three cheers for the stories American Girl previously published. 😐

[Crystal · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was ok. Good to get a picture of the other side of the war. I didn’t appreciate some of the language.

[Carissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

RTC

[August · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wonderful blend of historical information and character-driven mystery. The pacing was very well done, and the characters were interesting and fully-rounded.

[Montse · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet story and quick read. Loved all the poetry woven throughout.

[Christi Hessels · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book for girls! It’s a great look at history and in fact uses some real people and real places. Loved it!

[Brittnar · Rating 5 out of 5]

A complicated mystery!

[Danae · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5*

[Little Seal]

"I think men were born on earth to cause harm."

This has been the only book so far that has made me somewhat sympathetic to the Loyalists.

[empressofeverything · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars purely because of the narrator being the same from Outlander.

[James Crawford · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 22nd book in the History Mysteries series and is an extremely good book, based on an actual event during the Revolutionary War.

In this book Elspeth is a young Scottish girl who is thrust into the political machinations going on at the time in relationship to the Loyalists, who were in support of the British King, and the Patriots, who wanted the colonies to be free of England.

That same theme has been used in another American Girl series (the books about Felicity), but this is a much grittier, nastier story and basically more realistic. The Patriots want the Scottish people living in North Carolina to join their cause, while the Loyalists want them to join their cause. Her grandfather is the one that is expected to make the decision as to which side they will join.

Elspeth is learning about weaving, a trade which she can use to earn money when she gets older.

The problems arise when she and various members of her family are confronted by Patriots who demand that her grandfather side with them. These are not polite confrontations; they are threats being made and pressure being put on relatively young children by the grown adults. Elspeth realizes that someone is betraying her family, letting the Patriots know where they will be so they can be ambushed by the Patriots.

The situation gets much, much worse, though, as a comparison is made with a Scottish war against the British decades earlier. Her grandfather ends up deciding to side with the Loyalists and he and other men go to meet up with the British army and everything falls apart.

They are ambushed by the Patriots and many are killed and captured. The Patriot males then engage in a program of retaliation, burning the homes of people who supported the Loyalists, even if it meant putting women and children out homeless in the wilds. Some of the men they even hung.

There was no mercy shown, no consideration shown. It was a form of barbaric behavior that the historical section of the book verifies did actually take place. They resulted in the long term in around 100,000 people leaving the U.S. to move to Canada and other places and get away from the brutal pogram that was being carried on against those who supported the British.

This is not a pretty story, but it's one told very, very well and it's extremely interesting. There's also some Scottish history material that's covered along with what is going on in the colonies so it's interesting from various angles. Definitely a book worth reading.

[Vickie · Rating 3 out of 5]

BOT, short and good.

[Elevetha · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was all right. 9+. The final one in the series. Very sad to see it end.

[Hannah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this quick read!

[Kristi Clemow · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it but it didnt grab me as much as the others in the series have.