Literary Merit: Very good
Characterization: Very good
Recommended
Grades:9-12

For as long as he can remember fifteen year old Caleb has been traveling southern England with his father helping him entertain people with Punch and Judy shows in order to make a living. This life comes to an abrupt halt when Caleb’s father is falsely accused of theft and sentenced to be transported to the American colonies. Before they are separated, Caleb’s father tells him how to find his Aunt Anne who will help him. With no other options, Caleb follows his father’s directions and eventually finds his aunt who is living in Fishpool, a seafaring town on the coast. Anne’s husband is a sailor who is out at sea when Caleb arrives. She and her step daughter Letty earn money by taking on sewing projects. The people of Fishpool are immediately suspicious of Caleb because he is biracial, but his aunt welcomes him into her home. Caleb is beginning to settle into his new life when he makes a shocking discovery that makes him question what really happened to his father.

Hell and High Water is an exciting mix of historical fiction, mystery and adventure. Caleb and Letty are both fully fleshed out characters whose struggles will be relatable to teen readers. Both have lost parents and been forced to take on responsibilities before they are completely ready. In a time when the roles of men and women were very clearly defined, Letty’s skills as a sailor and Caleb’s talent with a needle and thread are not socially acceptable. Though the two don’t like or trust each other in the beginning, they eventually find common ground in solving the mystery of what happened to Caleb’s father and how the ship that Letty’s father was working on may have been involved. The big bad in the novel is the wealthy landowner Sir Robert Fairbrother who basically owns the entire town and many of the ships that go in and out of its port. His involvement in the fates of both Caleb and Letty’s fathers is undeniable, but can they find the information they need to prove it? Though the book is set in 1752, themes of exploitation by the rich, corruption, racism, and an unethical criminal justice system will not be unfamiliar to contemporary readers. This is a worthy addition to teen collections but may require hand selling due to the historical setting. ( )

This was.....a surprisingly great read!

The blurb at the back first attracted my attention, but the beginning of the book kinda lost it...but as the story progressed, it definitely gained back some excitement!

What happened to Caleb's father was awful, and my heart just weeps for his fate! Caleb's father was a great man, and had such an admirable talent as a maestro of his puppet show.

Like any good mystery novel, Caleb went through all sorts of trouble to try and "solve" his father's murder...although I guess in this case...it's to restore his father's name. It was both touching and endearing to watch as Caleb grew from a scrawny, insecure boy to a (mostly) capable man with quick wits.

The characters in this book were all distinct, too! I thoroughly enjoyed reading about how each character played his or her part in the novel (yes, even the villains!), about all the decisions they had to make, the revelations and the failures.

Anyways....overall, definitely a good read! 4 solid stars!
Now....to convince my sister to read this....... ( )

This historical fiction novel for young adults set in 1752 is surprisingly gripping; I got caught up immediately in the mysteries surrounding 15-year-old Caleb Chappell.

Caleb is mixed-race, and frequently misidentified as a slave while he accompanies his white father Joseph around the English countryside putting on Punch and Judy puppet shows. But as the book begins, his father is falsely accused of a crime and taken away, condemned to transportation to the colonies. Before they are separated, his father tells Caleb how to find his aunt, about whose existence he had been unaware.

Caleb finally locates Anne Avery, who faints dead away when she sees him; why? Just one more of the unexplained puzzles you will encounter in this appealing story. Caleb also gets to know Anne’s stepdaughter Letty, who eventually joins forces with Caleb in trying to figure out what is going on.

Racism prevents Caleb from finding work to help out Anne and her little family (she also has a baby named Dorcas) but he is able to assist Anne in mending clothes on contract. (Letty is stronger than Caleb and so the traditional gender roles get reversed with these two.) Meanwhile, Caleb finds a dead body, runs up against baffling barriers to finding out what happened to his father, and learns first-hand about the cruel injustices of not only race but class. The odds are so stacked against them, you will be hanging on your seat to see if they come out this tale with any success, or even survive at all, as Caleb and Letty face an accusation of murder.

Evaluation: There are many twists in this riveting story about the corruption of power and money, and the impotence of those without them. The pacing is excellent, and Caleb and Letty are strong characters, using their wits and courage to fight a system against seemingly insuperable odds. ( )

"Hell and High Water" started out slowly as it took a while to set the stage to accustom the reader to the historical setting as well as the ingrained prejudices of the times. Caleb stands out as a young poor black among the poor downtrodden predominately white inhabitants of his aunt's village which marks him out as a target but, as he is outside of society, he is able to pursue the questions he has after finding a body on the beach.

It is an interesting tale which paints a picture of the times. The characters are believable as are the dilemmas faced by the underclasses where wealth and power are held tightly by the upper class.

The thing I most appreciated about Hell & High Water was its unique setting and storyline. Set in 1750s England, and chronicling the misadventures of a biracial teenager who’s only protector has been falsely convicted of a crime, the story was refreshingly unpredictable. As Caleb struggles to figure out what happened to his father, while discovering the secrets of his murky past and forging new relationships in the midst of racism and distrust, there is plenty of adventure and tension to keep things interesting. A compelling and intriguing read!