Pathways to the Past

As the Civil War begins, twin siblings David and Daria Fisk experience drastic changes in their lives. Their physician father leaves home to serve for the Union Army. Then their mama decides to turn their home into a boardinghouse to support the family financially. Now the twins are cleaning rooms, emptying chamber pots, shaking rugs, and serving meals. But Daria is suspicious of one of their boarders—a wounded soldier names Paul Clark. He claims to have known Dr. Fisk and asks a lot of questions. Daria thinks the boarder might be a spy. David, however, believes Paul Clark is a great Union hero. Who is right? When David allows Paul to have his beloved horse, Bordeaux, is he making a sacrifice for the Union? Or aiding a Rebel spy?

Cincinnati, Ohio in the 1840s is becoming a cultural and scientific mecca—the city boasts the first art academy and the most lucrative cultural environment for artists in the Midwest. This fact fits perfectly with the dreams and aspirations of young Laura Logan who wants nothing more than to draw, sketch, paint, and to appreciate fine art. Her dreams are not appreciated, nor encouraged by her family, most especially by her hard-working, rather stoic German mother, nor by her younger brother who is a relentless tease. Laura is repeatedly told that her art is a frivolous waste of time. She finds she cannot just turn off these strong passions, nor yet is she strong enough to defend her beliefs. Laura’s artistic, sensitive nature seems to work against her in daily situations, causing her to shrink back in fear. Even in circumstances which call for her to take a firm stance, and to make her voice heard. It takes a series of distressing events for Laura to learn to embrace her artistic nature, and still conquer her many fears.

There’s an ornery, unkempt boy in Lucy Brenker’s school who picks on her quiet cousin, Ben. Raggity, as he is called, is a trouble-maker who causes distress for both Lucy and Ben. However, he is not Lucy’s biggest problem. In her hometown of Cincinnati, a serious drought had affected her father’s steamboat building business, as well as all businesses in the area. If that weren’t bad enough, the lack of river traffic means her recently-ordered piano will not be arriving anytime soon. (A piano had been the desire of her heart for many months.) It’s a time when neighbor reaches out to neighbor, even when that “neighbor” happens to be a newly-arrived, mysterious, glamorous young lady. A lady with whom Lucy has been forbidden to associate. How was Lucy to know that both Raggity and Sadie Rose would teach important life lessons not only to her and Ben, but to her entire family, and her community?

Slavery confuses Caroline Allerton. The compassionate twelve-year-old can't understand why her friend was given a young slave as a Christmas present, nor why her friend mistreats the miserable Caribbean girl. Caroline also befriends a little girl who lives with her mother in the poorer area of Boston. Caroline’s actions are greatly misunderstood by her friends and she discovers that she must make difficult choices to stand for what she knows is right. This compelling historical story explores both the Great Awakening and the early stirrings of the abolition crusades. Readers will experience the way in which the Great Awakening drew masses of people into making strong personal conversions to Christ.