Justin Blake was nearly fifteen, an only child of baby boomer teachers, and gifted. He had always been very close to his parents and had spent most of his summers going on educational vacations with them. He was probably the brightest and most well read student in his school. Because of his avid reading of histoical books and love of literature, he was labeled the class geek. This was beginning to take its toll on him. He decided it was almost a handi-cap being as bright and as as gifted as he was. He felt like a freak and desperately wanted to fit it with his peers.
Justin decided it was time to put some distance between himself and his "overly-educated" parents. His parents were upset and taken off guard when he became rebellious and defiant and began pushing them away. He was mastering the art of sarcasm on them.
Justin so wanted to be vacationing this summer with his newly acquired best-friend, Brian, at the new theme park in Florida, Medieval World. Instead he was going with "...'Mommy and Daddy' to visit Plymouth...the Mayflower, Miles Standish, and Governor Bradford. But don't forget Squanto...the ever faithful Indian friend of the Pilgrims who helped them make it through the first winter."
He lets his parents have a heavy dose of his resentment on the way to Plymouth. His mom is deeply hurt saying, "What is going on with your these past few weeks? Sometimes I feel like I don't even know my own son!" Justin's emotions come to a head as he lashes out and yells, "Bingo! You've just won the Double Jeopardy question! You're right, Mom, you don't know your own son!" A major confrontation occurs in the parking lot between Justin and his dad as his mom goes ahead to get the tickets. Justin runs off ahead of his parents heading for the village part of the museum. He climbs a tree and observes two Pilgrim interpreters far under him on the ground. They are soon joined by his parents. After the interpreters walk away, his parents talk about him, which angers Justin even more. They finally leave and he closes his eyes trying to get rid of a headache. As he starts imagining what it would be like to live like and early Native Americans, like Squanto, he begins drifting off. He falls from the tree...
so begins Justin's journey back into time as he meets and experiences first love with the historical character, fifteen year-old, Elizabeth Tilley, who is beautiful and awesome... Not like any girl he has ever known.
Starting off on the wrong foot with Squanto, he vents his sarcasm on him, calling him 'Tanto'. Squanto tells him he "Talks much foolish, even for young English boy."
As Justin finally accepts that he is back in 1622, he begins growing up fast and it becomes real to him just what these people sacrificed and endured for freedom. Justin develops a deep respect for Squanto as they go on a hunting trip in the woods. Justin is torn by his decision not to warn Squanto of his impending death, for Justin is afraid of changing all history as we know it by interfering with historical events. He is greatly troubled and confused; missing home, family, regular meals, and everything familiar and secure, but not wanting to leave his 'Lovely Beth' and friend Squanto. He knows he is too young to be thinking about marriage but Justin soon learns that twenty-eight-year-old, John Howland, has marriage plans for his 'Beth'. Will he sacrifice one world for the other as he wrestles with conflicting emotions and loyalities? Is the choice even his to make?
