Crows & Cards by Joseph HelgersonGet ready to travel back to 1849 as 12 year old Zebulon heads off into the world to make something of himself. At least, that's what his parent are sending him off to do- much to Zeb's consternation. Zeb isn't sure about being apprenticed to his Uncle and learning to be a tanner (someone who tans animal hides to change them into leather using chemicals). On the riverboat to Saint Louis he is spotted by a proffessional gambler who swindlers him out of his apprenticeship money quicker than you can blink an eye and then cons Zeb into being his new apprentice. As Zeb's conscious battles if cheating is right or wrong he meets an Indian princess, a blind chief who can see right into him and a slave. With all the lucky charms about, will everyone end up ok?
Like the great Mark Twain, the language of Missouri flows through Crows & Cards. Don't miss the Dictonarium Americannicum that will explain any dialog that might have flummoxed the reader. The afterword gives a thorough list of recommended readings for the many topics covered but it's the character development as Zeb creates relationships with some of the most unlikely of people that creates a magical trip back to 1849.
Score: 5 out of 5
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I didn't like it as much. I think the author depended too much on Zeb's colloquial voice to carry the book and didn't put enough effort into fleshing out his other characters. Also, this is pretty nitpicky, but it bothered me that the Indian princess didn't have a name.