Salt People of the Cloud Houses: The Story of Sarah Rapalje and Dutch Manhattan

In 1625, the first European child born in New York was a French girl, raised among Native Americans, in a Dutch colony called New Netherland.

Growing up, Sarah Rapalje helps her parents run their tavern on the southern tip of Manhattan, serving merchants and fur trappers. She looks after her siblings and works alongside Natives to farm the land. But in the rowdy trade outpost, Sarah must grow up quickly.

Just as she thinks she's found security in marriage, poor leadership propels the settlement to the brink of ruin, pitting her colony against her Native friends. As Sarah navigates personal loss and second chance love, she must start over, again and again.

One peril leads to another, forcing Sarah to question-are the biggest threats from the Natives, the English, or the Dutch West India Company that has failed to protect New Netherland? She must ensure the survival of her family, but at what costs?

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It's a coming-of-age story for a frontier woman, but also for the city that would become New York.

If you enjoy the history of Russell Shorto's books about Dutch Manhattan, family sagas like Pachinko by Min Jin Lee, and strong female protagonists like The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon-you won't want to miss out on Salt People of the Cloud Houses.