Set in 1756 New York during the French and Indian War, this Newbery Medal-winning book tells the story of ten-year-old Edward Van Alstyne. When his father leaves to join the militia, Edward must protect his mother and sister from a potential Native American raid using the heavy, old Spanish matchlock gun that has been passed down in his family. The story is a gripping tale of courage, responsibility, and a boy's sudden leap into adulthood in the face of danger. It explores the tension between frontier life and the ever-present threat of conflict.