Sussex Gorse: The Story of a Fight

"Sussex Gorse: The Story of a Fight" by Sheila Kaye-Smith is a tale set in the early 1800s. The story follows the people of a small country town as they react to new rules about land control called the Inclosure Act, which shakes up their old customs. The main character, Reuben Backfield, is a driven young guy who wants to take back and grow crops on a piece of land called Boarzell that means a lot to him and his town. The book kicks off with the Boarzell Fair, an important event where everyone gets together but they are worried about losing their land. People are mad at Sir John Bardon, a rich landowner, because he's trying to take over their shared lands, which could ruin their lives. Reuben, who's only fifteen, feels this pressure a lot because his family is also affected and his dad isn't doing anything about it. He really wants to own land, especially Boarzell, and dreams of making it successful and keeping it safe from being taken over. The beginning sets the scene for a story about wanting more, fighting back as a community, and struggling against unfair changes.