Flaming Arrows

by William O. Steele

Chad's family takes refuge from vicious Chickamauga raiding parties with a desperate group in a wilderness fort. But not every danger is outside the wall. . . .

Genres: Juvenile, Historical Fiction

146 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1957

About the author

William Owen Steele (December 22, 1917 – June 25, 1979) was an American writer from Tennessee.

Reviews

[Winnie Thornton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Guns. Forts. Indians. Couldn't have made 11-year-old me any happier.

[Cws]

JAR4-Ste

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

1960 William Allen White award winner. A good, solid story, but historically embarrassing and uncomfortable.

[Edwin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can't actually review this book, but the fact that I've remembered the title (favorably, I might add) since I was in second grade speaks volumes.

[Sherri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read while teaching homeschool

[Andrea M · Rating 5 out of 5]

The settlers have to run to the fort because the indigenous tribe is coming again for their yearly raid to burn down cabins and kill livestock. In the fort, the settlers have serious doubts about letting a woman and her children enter for protection when the woman's husband is known to be friendly to the natives. The divisive nature of this issue almost proves their downfall. The book highlights the relationship between a young boy and his father. It shows a good male to male relationship and the loyalty to family that keeps families strong. The indigenous people are referred to as "injuns" which while it may now be politically incorrect, is true to the way it was at the time this book was written. This book shows the conflict between two groups of people fighting for their survival.

Fav Quote: "Its a heap better to shelter the wrong folks than push innocent ones out."

I would recommend other books by William O Steele based on the quality of writing in this book.

[Ed Dunaway · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm going to be honest here and say that I really don't remember many details about this book other than one very important one.

I very distinctly remember this being the very first Chapter book I ever read from the school library when I was 11 or 12. Up until then, all the books I had checked out from the library had been non-fiction. We were forced to check out a chapter book and do a book report, so me being a young boy this looked cool so I took it.

As I said, I really don't remember much about the book itself, but what the book did to me I remember very well. Reading this book from cover to cover, and actually liking the "ordeal" was the beginning of my lifelong love of reading.

I have read thousands of books since that time about 45 years ago, but this one has a very special place in my heart, because this is the book that started it all for me.

[Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chad Rabun, and his family are forced to seek shelter from raiding Chickamauga parties inside the wilderness fort. But once inside Chad witnesses a type of savagery that he's never experienced before. When the fort runs low on water, and some the inhabitants want to force an innocent family from the fort due to mob violence based on fear, prejudice and hate, Chad is forced to take sides, and prove his mettle with defending the fort from the invaders outside.

[Michael Powers · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love reading any books written before the 1950's but especially enjoy those that give a historical perspective like this...