Search - Indian Captive: The Story of Mary Jemison

Newbery Honor Book! This is a fantastic story by Lois Lenski, writer and illustrater extrordinare. I loved this book, a fictionalized story based on a the true experiences of Mary Jemison, who was abducted by a group of Senecas (Native American tribe, Iroquois) and "adopted." The story real is very interesting and, I felt, eye opening, as it is a view of real life inside of a tribe known for violence, a look at why they do things and the true spirit of the individuals. Absolutly lovely book, and one that I think everyone should read.

A children's novel based on the true story of Mary Jemison, captured and adopted by Indians in colonial Pennsylvania in 1758. Mary has a difficult time adjusting to a different society, but when she a young woman and is finally given the choice to return to the world of the European colonists, she decides to stay with her adopted people.

A book I read in my childhood and never forgotten.

I was looking forward to reading this book. I really was. But what could have been a wonderful biography or historical fiction was, instead, an overly simple story that is mainly Mary's interior monologue mixed with a few short bits of her interacting with the Seneca.

Indian Captive was poorly written, with overly simple narration for the intended pre-teen audience, uneven pacing, too much repetition, and awkward dialogue. The story wound on far too long with not enough plot or direction and a very anti-climactic ending. The only thing I really liked was the descriptions of Seneca methods for planting corn, making pots, etc.

Great historical book.