This is a novel of old Kentucky, set in the late 1700s at about the same time that Daniel Boone was making his reputation. It was a time when people from the eastern states could move into the Kentucky territory and stake a claim on land, provided that they built a shelter, cleared some land, and raised a crop. This volume, containing Books One and Two of the original four-book story set, is to be followed by Volume II, Books Three and Four, which carry the story forward into the 19th century and follow the fortunes of Luke and his family as the children mature and confront their new worlds. The history and setting of this story are accurate but the people are fictional. The dialect used reflects the language style that was spoken by the eary settlers. While there is adventure in this book, there is a minimum of descriptive violence and is absent of sexual content. It is written for students from grades four through high school or for anyone who may enjoy a book of high interest and lower vocabulary levels.