Book 1 of The Tales of Alvin Maker.
Young Alvin was born the seventh son of a seventh son. By his birthright, he possesses magical powers and is destined to become something great, perhaps even a Maker. Indeed, Alvin is special. But the boy remains vulnerable to dark forces who reach out to destroy him and are willing to do anything to keep him from growing up. Carefully weaving the lore and the folk-magic of the men and women who settled a continent— as well as the beliefs of the tribes who were there before them— Orson Scott Card has created a fascinating alternate frontier America.