Can You do That?

Most of the books I have read for this blog focus on a specific time in a child's life.  If I had to put a time frame on it I would say the vast majority of books cover 4-8 months of a child's life.  A significant minority will tell the main characters story as spread over a couple of years.  The remaining through follow the child as they grow into adulthood and tell the story of their life.  Walter D. Edmonds' The Matchlock Gun is different.  This book tells the story of one specific moment in time.  The timeline of the book spans about 4 days all leading up to this one moment.

As you may have guessed from the title, this book is indeed about a gun.  But more than that it is about a boy who must use that gun to protect his family.  Since the father is away with the militia the mother hatches a plan to protect the family from the attacking Indians.  But this plan involves young Edward firing his great grandfathers matchlock gun.  Before the mother leaves to fulfill her part of the plan she asks Edward, "Can you do this?"  Edward's simple response is, "yes mama."

It seems like such a simple question, "can you do this?"  But for such a simple question it carries so much weight.  Adults would have contemplated the pros and cons, they would have searched their soul imagining every possibility and exploring every what if.  Edward didn't do this.  He didn't see the question as deep or philosophical; to him, it was a simple question, so he gave a simple answer.  Could he do it...

Of course I'm not going to tell you!  This book is only 50 pages and within those 50 pages is a captivating story filled with drama, suspense, action, and family.  If you have been wanting to read some of these books but don't think you have the time start with this one.  It's short but satisfying.

Knowing you can do it...that's kids stuff.