CROSSING STONES

Frost, Helen. 2009. CROSSING STONES. New York: Frances Foster Books. 0374316538.

In Crossing Stones by Helen Frost, the author takes a creative approach to this historical fiction piece set in World War I Era rural Michigan. The story is told in verse from four of the characters’ perspectives; all intertwine to reveal the personal, political, and family struggles of this time period. The story focuses on two families living across the creek from one another. Muriel graduates from high school and finds that the young man next door, Frank, has a romantic interest in her. Muriel is known for having a mind of her own and does not believe her purpose in life is to marry and have children, “Mother: I have no intention of becoming the Mrs. Norman of your imaginary future. Who I am remains to be seen - and I alone intend to see it.”  Frank enlist in WWI and heads off to fight. Muriel’s brother, Ollie, is a bit of a gentle soul who longs for the traditional family ideal, “To tell the truth, I don't care as much about their lofty goals as I do about seeing my family again- there's a man on a bike, pedaling into the morning, bringing bread home to his family, I bet.”  Ollie lies about his age and joins the army hoping to get to see Frank. Unfortunately, Frank is quickly killed in battle and Ollie loses an arm. Ollie returns home to deal with his loss and find the family is dealing with the loss of Frank.

Muriel’s mother sees that her daughter is not one to simply follow along with the expectation of being a wife and mother, “Maybe you won’t rock a cradle, Muriel. Some women seem to prefer to rock the boat.”   Muriel becomes fascinated with the suffrage movement taking place in the US. Her aunt is active in the movement in Washington D.C. and draws Muriel into it when she goes to retrieve her aunt from jail.

Muriel returned home to find Grace, her sweet younger sister, gravely ill.  She also discovers Ollie and Emma, her friend across the creek and sister of Frank, beginning a courtship. She helps nurse Grace back to health and finds that she longs to return to DC to teach at a settlement house and participate in the suffrage movement. After she struggles inwardly with her responsibilities and wishes, she decides to return to Washington DC and follow her dreams.

The young adult book of poetry tells the story through a series of “cupped-hand” sonnets that sharing the events of the two families. The stone shape of Ollie and Emma’s poems and the jagged verse of Muriel’s verse are significant to the story. The stone format represents the conformity and desire to remain that they all share. It also connects these two characters that eventually end up together by creating a path across the creek. The jagged patterns of Muriel’s words symbolize the desire to move and change that she possesses. Although Muriel may desire a life beyond her surroundings, she is still loyal to her family and this connection gives her strength to be her own person.  She charts a new path and creates a new life by forging a new course for her restless spirit.

We wake up and Ollie’s not here –nothing

      so unusual; he’s probably gone over to the Normans’.

           Mama and Papa go to work, I milk Rosie

                    And make breakfast, Grace wakes up and eats it.

                          I feed chickens, churn the butter.

                  It’s early afternoon when Mrs. Norman

           comes to ask if Ollie might spare an hour or so

      to help them fix a leak in the roof.  What?

I thought he had been at your house since

      Six o’clock this morning.  We look everywhere

This piece could be used as an introduction to a study of WWI or the Woman's Suffrage Movement. Excerpt could be used throughout a historical unit to show the connection of poetry to this historical event.  It’s a nice pair with nonfiction pieces like With Courage and Cloth:  Winning The Fight For A Woman's Right To Vote by Ann Bausum.  As a larger study, the book could be match and Truce by Jim Murphy to explore the cost of war. As a connecting activity, students could write perspective pieces from a variety of viewpoints focusing on one central event.  Shapes could be integrated to develop meaning. 

The interwoven tales of the characters allows for the unique first person perspective of all of the main characters in the tale. This gives the reader personal insight into the struggles and pain as well as the reactions to one another’s decisions.  The shapes reinforce the metaphorical value of the piece and carry the reader through the story assisting with transitions between characters.  With the historical backdrop of WWI, the reader experiences an array of emotions and perspectives in this coming of age piece.