National Network for Equitable Library Service

Beginning Again is a sequel to Escape: Adventures of a Loyalist Family, Mary Beacock Fryer's historical novel for ten to fourteen-year-olds. This new work chronicles the lives of the Seamans as they make a new start in Canada. The main theme is the building, by Caleb, the father, and his sons Cade, Sam and Ned, of a huge timber raft. Along the way they have many other adventures - a brush with the supernatural, a visit by a wealthy uncle, a return to the family home on Long Island by Ned and his mother, Martha. The climax is the raft journey to Quebec by Caleb, with Cade, Sam, Ned and Elizabeth as crew, and the sale of their logs. While on a shopping spree in Montreal, Elizabeth is the belle at a ball. The Seamans also get the better of an enemy, to Ned's satisfaction - and that of the many readers of the first Seaman family novel. Even those who have not read Escape will be delighted with this exciting adventure.