When Adam Crane finished school in 1850, he had, he figured, graduated to manhood, a state he could manage with ease. While some of his friends answered the call of the sea and others turned west to the undeveloped continent, Adam had no such difficult choice to make.

He had always taken for granted that his future, clear and uncomplicated, lay inland on the new farm his family had dreamed of for years.

Adam precedes his family to the farm and through a series of adventures realizes, as many boys have before and since, that manhood is to be won and that dreams can change.

A schoolteacher, a girl, a small boy and a scheming gold crazy farmer all play a part in Adam's surprising discovery of the role he really wants to play in growing America.

I, Adam is a big novel; big in scope and big in its understanding of a young boy growing into manhood. A thoughtful, realistic story by an outstanding author.

From the dust jacket