Constance

Ok, the first time I read this book was for a 7th grade reading assignment-and that was well over 20 years ago, but this book has stayed in my heart ever since. Its a very well written story about a young girl who came over from England on the Mayflower and lived through the struggles that the Pilgrims went through in their first years of Plimouth Plantation. This is for the most part, a true story, written by Patricia Clapp, who's husband is an actual descendant of Constance. The story has adventure, romance and I felt the pain that these people went through during one of the most important times of our history. This book opened in me an interest in life in Plimouth. I was lucky enough to live in New England and visited the Plantation often. I highly recommend this book to young teens, as well as older. Somewhere I still have my copy (that I bought back when I was in 7th grade), and its a book that I would read again.

I first read Constance last year when my 6th grade teacher recommended it. I adored it- the weekend I read it, Constance was my constant companion! I just finished reading it again and it was even better the second time through! I really feel like I bonded with Constance, and now I am doing as much research as I can on her. She was a real person, and as it says in the book, all the characters but one really existed. Through her diary, Constance tells of her journey across the Atlantic from London to Massachusetts, and gives wonderful details about the building and founding of Plymouth Colony. Through Constance I felt the pain of "the sickness" that claimed many lives during their first winter, became tangled in her complex love triangle, and felt outraged at the two men who tried to destroy Plymouth's peace. Constance was detailed, well written, interesting, exciting, and romantic. I would recommend this book to anyone, but I almost don't want to share it at all, since I feel like it's "my book"! This book found a very special place in my heart, and I wish I could thank Patricia Clapp for the many hours of contentment, excitement, and utter bliss she has given me! Constance is an exceptional read!

I first heard of about "Constance: A Story of Early Plymouth" in ninth grade from my friend. She implored me to read it. I was hesitant at first. I was a fairly advanced reader for my age, and this book had clearly been written for a younger audience. I trusted my friend's judgement, however. We had read "Anna Karenina" together the year before, so I knew that she had good taste in books. On a whim, I decided to read it. Once I had picked "Constance" up, I could not put it down.It was simply an enchanting, romantic story. Far from feeling to old to appreciate it, my maturity seemed almost a benefit. Constanc's boyfriends were the perfect romantic men. They reminded me of very simple versions of Mr. Darcy. This book appeals not only to fifth and sixth graders, but to adolescent girls as well. Any girl who likes pre-20th century romance novels will adore "Constance." The one thing I dislike about Constance is her shallow character. She is not exactly the feminist ideal of a woman. She is foolish and dependent.If one ignores this flaw, however, the book is thouroughly enjoyable. And you don't even have to be ten to like it!

The reason I had at first read the book was becasue I had to for a project in 7th grade. I first started to read it, and I could not put it down! The report was due in a month and I read the book in 2 days! That was 2 years ago, and every time I read it, I still can not put it down! My advise for any young reader is to read this book. I love the structure and the style of writting. Patricia Clapp wrote this story for the person with a great imagination, and for the dreamer, because you can actually picture the story so vibrantly and vividly. How you can imagine the boat leaving the docks, how cramped it is on the ride over, the sickness, the suffering, the fun, the love, you can see it all. Clapp made me want to be around during this time period to experence the lifestyle of it. To actually see how it was then, and to see it better then she has shown me. To sum it all up, I love it and I think that anyone who loves to read, loves a good romance for a young readers, and loves a little adventure, Patricia Clapp's compelling story "Constance" is for you or your yound one.

When I was a child, I read this book over and over again. It is one of the best pieces of historical fiction I have read, as a child or an adult. Constance brings the struggles of the pilgrims at the Plimoth colony vividly to life, with both realism (given what the pilgrims struggled through) as well as tenderness, and a recognition that despite the struggles, life, death, and love went on. Although I am now a Yale undergraduate, this is a book I pick up to re-read over and over. I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in historical fiction. And if you have already read Constance, make a point of reading The Tamarack Tree, also by Patricia Clapp, set in Vicksburg, Mississippi during the Civil War siege.