BETSY ZANE

A 13-year-old girl named Betsy Zane won the last battle of the American Revolution—the battle of Fort Henry in September of 1782. Upon the death of her grandmother, Betsy left Philadelphia and all her family’s inheritance to return to the Virginia wilderness. Three of her brothers—Eb, Silas, and Jonathan—were already there, fighting off “savages” and British marauders. With the help of the Crofter family—runaway slaves of Scottish origin—she reaches her brothers only to receive an icy reception. Only Isaac, who has married a Wyandot Princess and is caught between life as a white man and a Shawnee, understands Betsy’s need to live an independent life. When war finally arrives at their doorstep, every man, woman, and child finds shelter at Fort Henry. In sum, there are only 45 defenders to fight against 260 warriors and 40 Queen’s Rangers. The odds are poor, but the Zanes refuse to surrender the fort and it’s Betsy who insists upon running 40 yards to a blockhouse in order to obtain needed gunpowder. This courageous tale weaves in historical data from 17 sources, heightening the senses with details that bring each action to life. The rose, which is brought from Philadelphia to Virginia and survives, mirrors Betsy Zane’s fiercely independent personality and desire to make her own way in the world. A real winner in every sense of the word. (extensive afterword, sources) (Fiction. 10-14)