SummaryAdventurous historical fiction following young teenagers as they interact with heroic and prominent Christians of the past. Each book includes a short biography and bibliography on each historical person. This section covers the years from 1860to the early 1900s, and it features historical people such as George Mueller, D. L. Moody, and George Washington Carver.
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StatsGenre: Midgrade (8-12 years) adventure/historical fiction
Series length: Forty books Violence: Moderate--the stories include martyrdoms and references to things such as burning at the stake, but nothing is graphically or gorily depicted. Magic/Supernatural: Only occasional supernatural events, often historically verifiable. Romance: None to very light (e.g. a protagonist attracted to a character of the opposite gender) Christian/spiritual element: Overt, strong Christian content Recommendation: Excellent for girls or boys who enjoy history and like adventure stories. You might like this series if you liked... the I Survived series by Lauren Tarshis To Purchase
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Opening Lines:
Hugging the round sides of the big bay with his knees, Danny Sims leaned back slightly to keep his seat as the horse picked its way down the trail to the river below. Maybe he should have put on the saddle today...but the fourteen-year-old loved the feel of the bay's muscles moving smoothly beneath his legs, with only the reins and a handful of coarse black mane to keep him topside. |
Caught in the Rebel Camp: Frederick Douglass
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The few cents Kevin Gilmore earned picking up chips and throwing them into the bin at the end of the ferry dock wouldn't buy him a sweet cake. he had to take the money home to help his mother pay their rent. He removed his hat and wiped the sweat from his forehead. If only he could get a real job hauling firewood for the paddle-wheel steamer, he could make a difference. But the older boys got those jobs. |
Sinking the Dayspring: John G. Paton
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Curly Roddy yanked open the door to the bell tower of St. George's Church and slipped into the pitch dark staircase. The sexton was not liely to look for him here, he hoped. He held his breath and listened for the sound of footsteps. That morning, the homeless orphan boy had hurried to church early hoping to find someone to pickpocket. Curly was not a mean kid, just hungry and in need of money for food. |
The Bandit of Ashley Downs: George Muller
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The great hound nosed its way through the dense, sour fog that swirled in the narrow alleys of London's east side. Somewhere ahead it smelled human, maybe still alive or maybe food in the gutter. It was hungry enough to eat anything. A growl rumbled deep in its throat as it rounded the corner and surveyed the cobblestone street ahead. Its huge head hung low to the ground, a torn lip reveal a sharp fang. |
Kidnapped by River Rats: William & Catherine Booth
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Pressing her body against a twisted mangrove tree, Imatu peered around the trunk. There. She could see the goat a short distance away, flicking its tail and munching the grass along the riverbank. I'll catch you now, Imatu thought grimly. |
Trial by Poison: Mary Slessor
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Fourteen-year-old Jova gathered with the other Kru people in the village square in front of the king's great house. He lifted first one barefoot and then the other to get relief from the burning heat of the packed earth. It was a particularly hot day, and the silvery sun high overhead drew beads of sweat fro his dark forehead. |
Quest for the Lost Prince: Samuel Morris
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Casey Watkins jammed his cold hands into the pockets of his thin jacket, hunched his back against the biting February wind, and angrily aimed a kick at a tin can that lay in his path. "I hate Philadelphia!" he growled to himself as the can bounced loudly off the brick wall of a factory. |
Danger on the Flying Trapeze: Dwight L. Moody
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Waiting in line while all the other boys went into the little room to be interviewed by Dr. Sheldon Jackson had been like waiting for ice on the Yukon River to break up in the spring. But it had been Adam's choice to slip to the back of the line and let the other thirteen boys go first. If I'm the last one Dr. Jackson speaks to, thought Adam, he'll remember me best. |
The Gold Miners' Rescue: Sheldon Jackson
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The town of Acorn popped into view as the big, leggy mule rounded a stand of scrub pines and wild briar, pulling the farm wagon behind him. Sitting beside his father on the driver's seat and lightly holding the mule's reins, Jesse Turner squinted ahead and groanded silently. |
The Forty-Acre Swindle: George Washington Carver
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Sparks sprang into the violet sky, chased by flames that erupted when Kyemap dropped an armload of sticks on his small fire. He whirled around and stared toward the bushes that surrounded his small clearing. What had screamed? Was it the harmless paca rodent with its bloodcurdling cry...or was it a ghost? |
Ambushed in Jaguar Swamp: Barbrooke Grubb
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Mollie Jones tapped her toe impatiently behind the counter of Jones's Emporium as a woman in a gray pinstripe tailored dress and flat-brimmed straw hat fingered the bolt of pink chambray cloth. Couldn't Mrs. Meriweather make up her mind? |
Drawn by a China Moon: Lottie Moon
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For more Trailblazers, check out these additional years:
Years 1500-1800
Years 1800-1859
Years 1900-1995
Years 1500-1800
Years 1800-1859
Years 1900-1995