Book review: The Fiddler's Gun by A.S. Peterson

Pages: 293

Published: December 2009

Publisher: Rabbit Room Press

And so Fin Button's adventure begins :

The trouble with Phineas Michael Button began the moment she was born. She had the expected two ears, two eyes, one nose, and dimpled cheeks, but in her father’s mind there was a problem. He had twelve children, daughters all, and was convinced that number thirteen would be his long-awaited son. So on the twenty-fifth of September, 1755, when he drew another baby girl from the womb of his long-suffering wife, he declared the discovery of an unacceptable mistake. He held up the little squirmer by a leg and inspected it with great suspicion, turning it first one way and then another as if peering at the child from differing angles might produce a change in its gender.

Tell me what's this book about?

Phineas(Fin for short) Button was left on the doorstep of Ebenezer orphanage in Georgia 17 years ago. Fin has grown up to become quite the tomboy, much to the Baab Sisters despair, she ought to have behaved like a lady and worn pretty dresses and a bonnet over her hair. When the opportunity to do some carpentering presents itself Fin hopes to get chosen for the job, instead she is chosen to kitchen duty. Needless to say Fin is really disappointed but she finds comfort and friendship in the orphanage's cook, Bartimeous Gann.

Just when everything seems to be going Fin's way a dramatic incident occurs and Fin's life will never ever be the same. This book has it all; adventure, America on the brink of war with England, piracy, friendship, love and redemption.

If you prefer a more detailed version here is the synopsis:

America is on the brink of war with England, and Fin Button is about to come undone. She’s had it with the dull life of the orphanage and she’s ready to marry Peter and get away from rules, chores, and a life looked after by the ever-watchful Sister Hilde. But an unexpected friendship forms between Fin and the fiddle-playing cook, Bartimaeus, which sets her on a course for revolution.

With Bart’s beloved fiddle and haunting blunderbuss as her only possessions, Fin discovers her first taste of freedom as a sailor aboard the Rattlesnake. She’s hiding some dark secrets, but there are bigger problems for the crew—they are on the run from the Royal Navy, and whispers of mutiny are turning the captain into a tyrant.

When Fin finally returns home, will she find Peter still waiting, or will she find that she’s lost everything she once held dear?

My thoughts on The Fiddler's Gun:

I finished this book late in January and I've spent a long time pondering how to write the review this book deserves. The Fiddler's Gun is a brilliant historical adventure and I so hope this review reflects that.

You know how a book sometimes stays with you even when you're not reading it you still think about the characters in the story and wonder how they are doing and what they are up to? The Fiddler's Gun is that kind of book. I'm taking a chance here telling you this, maybe there are others like me out there or maybe I'm just crazy feeling that way about some books? I couldn't stop thinking about Fin and her adventure among pirates, soldiers and sailors. Author A.S. Peterson has a gift with words, he writes beautifully! I cannot wait for the second and last book about Fin, The Fiddler's Green, to come out!

The story takes place in a America at a time where America and England are on the brink of war. We meet our heroine Fin Button in an orphanage in Ebenezer, Georgia. Fin struggles to be herself while others try to teach her how to be a proper lady, to be the more like the female ideal of her time. There is just two people in Fin's life that accepts her just the way she is; her best friend Pete and her friend and tutor the cook Bartimaeus.

Just when thing starts to work out for Fin something terrible happens. Fin has to run away to protect herself and the people she loves. But how can Fin survive all on her own, she has no money, no food, no nothing. After searching a bit Fin, quite by coincidence, gets a job at a ship called Rattlesnake.

Fin is strong, brave and good but she has a touch of evil in her as well, a great three dimensional character.

For those of us who likes a dash of romance there is a little bit of that in the book as well.

I don't want to write much more about the book, you really should buy it and read this wonderful adventure.

This book is great both for young adults and adults alike!

The cover:

First of all I must apologize for treating a book so badly as can be seen on the picture below, but for my defense it must be said that it was necessary to show the entire cover art. The cover artist is a lady named Evie Coates(you can see some of her artworks here
) and I think she has made a great cover. It shows elements that are important to the story; the waves, the ships and the chapel's bell tower.

My rating of this book:
5 out of 5 stars.

Want to know more?

This book can be purchased from The Rabbit Room(they give 75% profits of the to the artist, so if you want to support the author you should consider buying the book there) or from Amazon. Thanks to A.S. Peterson for providing me with the correct information.

Want another opinion on this book? Check out these reviews below: