The Unexpected Life of Oliver Cromwell Pitts by Avi

This rollicking adventure tale for middle grades by prolific author Avi takes us back to England of the 18^th century.

The Unexpected Life of Oliver Cromwell Pitts by Avi.  Algonquin, 2017, 313 pages.

Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12

Recommended for: ages 10-15

Oliver’s nonconformist father named him for the fierce Puritan reformer who now, in 1750, is deeply unpopular.  So is Oliver’s father deeply unpopular, and that’s part of the boy’s misfortune.  But misfortunes begin in earnest with a powerful storm that almost wrecks the family home.  He’s alone at the time, for his beloved sister Charity left to seek her fortune in London only weeks before and, unbeknownst to Oliver, his father has set off in pursuit after receiving disturbing news.  Forced to fend for himself, the boy overrides his own conscience to steal 23 shillings from the hulk of a ship that wrecked during the storm.  But the upstanding citizens of Melcome Regis bear a grudge against Oliver’s (deeply unpopular) father, and retaliate by committing Oliver to the local poorhouse.  How he escapes, and takes to the road, and slips every noose until the last inescapable peril, forms the plot of this engaging novel.

We don’t see much straight-up historical fiction for kids these days, so The Unexpected Life is a welcome addition to the library shelf.  After a slightly draggy introduction to get into the setting and time period, the plot is off and running.  The 18^th century milieu feels authentic with little or no contemporary intrusions, unless it’s exaggerating the savagery.  Except for Charity, there are no sympathetic characters, no kindness, no mercy.  Oliver’s father is a mixed bag, and may never reform: “Beware the sinner who repents; the more he repents, the greater his need for repentance.  So it was Father often repented.  He did not change.”  Given that life was tough, messy and dirty, and the law often fell like a sledgehammer on the righteous and the unrighteous, were there no Christians back then, only hypocrites?  Of course there were; we just don’t meet any.  Still, it’s a lively tale, with some witty and perceptive observations.  It ends abruptly with Oliver and his sister bound for America—and, since this is the first of a projected trilogy, we’ll see if the Indians treat them better.

Cautions: Violence (not graphic)

Overall rating: 4 (out of 5)

• Artistic value: 4.5
• Worldview/moral value: 3.5