The main concern of Gertrude, Teunis, and Edward is survival of the family.

Edmonds's story of their survival, however, is disturbing for its negative depiction of Native Americans and its glorification of a young boy's initiation to manhood through his use of a big "man's" gun to slaughter three Native Americans.

Edmonds simplifies the complexityof the French and Native American war against the British. He depicts the Dutch immigrants as "true Americans": human, loving, and possessing an undeniable right to land and liberty. The Native Americans, defending land and rights that have been theirs for years, are portrayed as beasts: There were five of them, dark shapes on the road....They hardly looked like men...they were trotting, stooped over.. .like dogs sifting to the scent of food.

Parents and teachers may wish to supplement a reading of the story with a more accurate, realistic account...