CROWN POINT: THE DESTINY ROAD

Set in 1759, this is the story of the building of the first road through the Green Mountains, strategic to a British victory in the French and Indian War. The British had hired a local fur trader, Monty Masoret, of French-Indian descent but neutralist sympathies, to build their major supply depot, and Masoret's young son, Bren, with ward-apprentice, Val, later served as guides for the road builders. The story's strengths are also its weaknesses. Admirably researched, it is filled with the lore and good sense of the woodsman, as well as an understanding of the Indian tribes of the Northeast. But the writing is sadly lacking in narrative force, and the reader is always kept outside the story. Details mount to confusion and the dialogue is too often obscure with 18th century backwoods slang and British formality. The young reader with a background and interest in the period, and a mind for maneuvers may not be dismayed, but readers who bring anything less to the book will find themselves lagging on The Destiny Road.