Indian Captive (The Story of Mary Jemison)

I bought this book for my 11 year old daughter who enjoys biographies, especially about women and girls. I actually ended up reading the book before she did, and I was pleasantly surprised at how much *I* enjoyed it. It gives a realistic view of Mary's life after being kidnapped by indians, and her physical, mental, and emotional struggles over losing her family and having to adapt to a new way of life. It's a great book, and I recommend it for any pre-teen, but especially for young girls who enjoy reading true stories about girls close to their own ages.

Mary (Molly) Jemison lived a normal life on her farm in Pennsylvania where her family harvested corn. Her father didn't believe that Indians would ever come to their home as their neighbors said, but one day that is exactly what happened. Molly was having a normal day when a band of Indians came. Everyone in Molly's family was captured. Molly and her family had to walk for miles on end. Finally they stopped at a place where Molly was seperated from her family and was being taken with the Indians to become one of them. It was hard for Molly to adapt to her surroundings and she missed her family greatly. The Indians gave Molly the name, Corn Tassel, because of her long yellow hair. Molly was depressed at first and tried to run away a multiple of times. This book definitely a 5 star rating and it never got tedious.

I can remember pulling this book out of the library in elementary school many many times. I just loved reading the story of Mary Jemison. Now that I am adult, I am very happy to be able to add this book to my collection. It is a story that is simple enough for children to grasp, but emotionally-gripping enough to keep adults reading. I believe it is an honest story. It explains much about how the Indians lived at the time, as compared to the somewhat more modern experiences that Mary had at home. It explains the ways of the Indians and chronicles the violence of the time, but retains the humanity of these people and what they believed. The reader learns all these things through Mary's eyes, and lives through her grief at the loss of her family and all that was familiar to her. Then, slowly, how she comes to befriend and even love her new Indian family. I would recommend this book highly to every child to get a good feel of the history of the Indians and their beliefs.

I first read this book nearly twenty years ago. (My local library had a beat-up, old, hardcover edition.) As a child I loved stories of white children adopted by the Indians, and I must admit I still find the subject fascinating. I loved "Indian Captive" when I first read it as a child. I thought it was the best and most realistic look of what it must have been like to be a captive among the Indians. No phony heroics or daring escapes here; just the story of a girl struggling to adapt to life in a completly alien environment, while at the same time holding onto her identity. I remember how disappointed I was when that old, beat-up copy of it disappeared from the library."Indian Captive" was one of the books of my childhood which I never forgot. I am quite glad to see it was reprinted. It finally gave me a chance to re-read it, and it is just as good as I remember it. If readers enjoyed this book then they should take a look at "I Am Regina" by Sally M. Keehn and "Trouble's Daughter" by Katherine Kirkpatrick. Like "Indian Captive," both of these books are stories about young girls taken captive by Indians during the colonial period and both are just as well written and exciting to read as "Indian Captive." Also for older readers (12-15), I cannot speak more highly of Conrad Richter's "The Light in the Forest." It is a story of a white boy, who has spent most of his life among the Indians, forced to return to his white family who he has forgotten. Mary Jemison found happiness among the Senecas while still holding onto her identity; the main character in "The Light in the Forest" has lost all memory of his white past and finds himself caught between the the claims of blood and loyalty. A darker version of the story of the Indian captive. Enjoy.

"Indian Captive" by Lois Lenski is a book I read as a young girl when I lived in Shaker Heights, Ohio. Although I haven't seen a copy of the book in almost 50 years, I can still recall the story and the drawings by Lois Lenski vividly. No other author of children's books, has, in my opinion had as distinctive style as that of Lois Lenski. I think that my lifelong passion for pioneer days and ways was fostered by Indian Captive. The little tow-headed girl who so fascinated the Indians; the difficulty that Mary endured, and finally staying--had quite an impact on my young, impressionable mind. I now live in Canada, where books about American girls and American Indians are, understandably, not a big attraction. Recently during a conversation I found myself longing to see a copy of "Indian Captive" -- and to show it and read it to my 7 year old granddaughter. So-- thank you Lois Lenski, for adding a dimension to my life!