Coming of Age

Although Samuel act like an adult in many ways as the book opens, he undergoes a change over the course of his adventure that significantly changes his outlook. Raised in the woods, he is most comfortable on his own, being self-reliant and living independently. When he loses his parents to British captors, he is driven to keep his family together and follows the trail to their rescue.

Along the way, he experiences the more populated areas of the eastern colonies for the first time. Uncertain about who he can trust, he remains wary and skeptical of others. He indeed finds out that people are not always what they seem, but sometimes in a positive way, such as when he discovers the loud and eccentric Abner McDougal is also a spy against the British.

Samuel also displays a protective side when he rescues and helps the young...