It's been three years since Mary Lambert was kidnapped to be a "live specimen" to be studied by an awful man. Mary lived on Martha's Vineyard and was one of many residents born completely deaf. The deaf community there was looked at as just as normal as anyone else. The people created a sign language known as MVSL - Martha's Vineyard Sign Language which paved the way later for ASL - American Sign Language.
Mary is now 14 and has been offered a position teaching a young, deaf girl at a manor on the mainland. Mary doesn't know much about her responsibilities or the situation with the girl other than she has been known to be a difficult charge. Since Mary is independent and would one day like to adventure to other areas to teach, she sees this as the perfect opportunity to test her meddle.
When Mary arrives at the Vale, she is welcomed by a former friend but not by the head of the staff, a Mr. Norwich. He refuses to let her meet her charge for days so Mary devises a way to sneak into the third floor to see the girl. She is appalled by the girl's living conditions and to see that she is actually chained with no means of escape.
Mary is determined to make some progress with the girl, but many obstacles keep her from doing her job as she believes it should be done. The more time Mary spends at the Vale, the more she realizes there are frightening secrets about the girl and her place at the manor. Just as Mary overcame her difficulties in SHOW ME A SIGN by Ann Clare LeZotte, she demonstrates courage and tenacity as she struggles to help this young girl.
Sprinkled with historic facts about the Martha's Vineyard and Cape Cod area, the native population and their mistreatment by the early settlers, and information about the deaf community, SET ME FREE is a fascinating read.
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