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Book Review of News of the World

News of the World
News of the World
Author: Paulette Jiles
Genre: Literature & Fiction
Book Type: Paperback
VolunteerVal avatar reviewed on + 601 more book reviews


News of the World by Paulette Giles is a small novel (200 pages) that tells a big story.

In 1870s south Texas, 70-year-old Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd travels from town to town, reading newspaper articles from around the world to all who pay his 10-cent admission fee. In Wichita Falls, he accepts an unusual task: return a 10-year-old girl to her aunt and uncle in San Antonio after she's lived as a captive with the Kiowa for 4 years.

Their journey is both an epic adventure and a beautiful character study filled with moments of fear and frustration, understanding and tenderness. The ending feels rushed, but it's comforting to know the outcomes for the main characters.

Note: This novel contains no quotation marks for dialogue. I didn't notice until I was nearly done reading but it bothered some readers in my book club.