This was a childhood favorite of mine but it was a challenge to find a way to re-read it. Had to settle for a downloadable, but it did, at least, haveThis was a childhood favorite of mine but it was a challenge to find a way to re-read it. Had to settle for a downloadable, but it did, at least, have the original wonderful illustrations that I so loved as a child. This is a respectful look at Native American culture (or specifically that of the Senecas, one of the five nations of the Haudenosaunee [Iroquois] Confederacy) and leaves the reader with an appreciation of what was GOOD about the native way of life. Because it is a child's book it skims over the extreme violence so common in both native and white communities of the time, but it makes clear the challenges faced by a youngster kidnapped from her birth family and adopted into a totally different (if loving) Indian family. Lenski had done her homework and her descriptions of day-to-day life and cultural attitudes seem spot-on. The tale seems close enough to the true story of Mary Jemison, "the White Woman of the Genesee," who opted NOT to leave her adoptive family when given that opportunity. I see now why I loved it so as a 5th or 6th grader; don't think I'll read it to my 2nd grade granddaughter just yet, however....more
An almost unbearably sad novel set in the U.S. from 1855-1862, ending after a Sioux uprising. An abused wife flees Rhode Island to Minnesota where sheAn almost unbearably sad novel set in the U.S. from 1855-1862, ending after a Sioux uprising. An abused wife flees Rhode Island to Minnesota where she finds another husband, has two children, and is then taken captive by Indians -- who treat her better then either of her two husbands. The whites are awful; the Indians, innocent and guilty alike, are treated abominably and then executed. This is based on historical events but will break your heart....more
A small book, spare but vivid, telling the story of a 70-year old "News Reader" charged with returning a 10 year old girl, captured by the Kiowa when A small book, spare but vivid, telling the story of a 70-year old "News Reader" charged with returning a 10 year old girl, captured by the Kiowa when she was six years old, back to her relatives in Texas in the 1870s. Their relationship, guarded at first, grows decidedly tender as the old man, who thought he was done raising daughters, finds his heart expanding to include one more. This is familiar territory for author Jiles: two of the characters appeared in her earlier work, "The Color of Lightning." I liked this one a whole lot better and didn't miss the violence of the first....more
I stumbled on this in a dusty, neglected corner of the public library, but LOVED it! A vivid, gritty and powerful imagining of the real life story of I stumbled on this in a dusty, neglected corner of the public library, but LOVED it! A vivid, gritty and powerful imagining of the real life story of Cynthia Ann Parker, kidnapped by Comanche Indians as a child and assimilated into the tribe. She gave birth to a son Quanah, who became a chief and tried to negotiate with the whites before his tribe was exiled to a reservation. Sometimes a painful read, but full of carefully researched detail. I've seen reviews on Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ of Robson's "Ride the Wind", which seems to retell the same story. Now I need to read that one and compare the two....more
Oh my. I have no doubt that life in the American West was often violent, but it was hard to read so many accounts of cruelty and torture (committed byOh my. I have no doubt that life in the American West was often violent, but it was hard to read so many accounts of cruelty and torture (committed by Comanche and white settlers alike) in this retelling of the true story of Cynthia Ann Parker, captured by Comanche in 1836. Not for readers with weak stomachs....more
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