The Beaded Moccasins

by Lynda Durrant

May 11, 1759. On the morning of Mary Campbell's 12th birthday, her life takes a terrifying turn for the worse. She is kidnapped by the fearsome Delaware Indians and taken from her family in Pennsylvania, all the way to Delaware on foot.

Mary refuses to adopt any of the Delaware ways and holds on to the memory of her family as tightly as she does her dreams for escape. But in order to survive, Mary pretends to be learning and not planning her escape.

As the seasons change, Mary realizes with surprise that she is no longer pretending. When the chance comes for Mary to leave, she is not sure that she wants to return to her old life. Is she Mary Campbell or Woman-Who-Saved-The-Corn?

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, Fiction, Young Adult, Middle Grade, Childrens, Native Americans

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

For more information, please see http://www.answers.com/topic/lynda-du...

Reviews

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is the story of my Great, Great, Great, Great Grandma. I thought this was an amazing tell of that part of her life. I myself would have loved to have read more about her life after all she went through. I would like to thank everyone for reading...

[Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just OK. Main character not very likable. Course this is all fictionalized.

[Lorie Kleiner Eckert · Rating 5 out of 5]

My granddaughter told me that this is one of her favorite books so of course I read it as a bonding experience. The Beaded Moccasins is an historical novel based on the story of Mary Campbell, a girl who was kidnapped by Delaware Indians on the morning of her twelfth birthday. With her captors, she walked from Pennsylvania to Ohio. The morning she was taken, she was angry with her entire family. Her father forgot to wish her a happy birthday! Her brother was allowed to sleep in while Mary had to be up and doing chores! And then that mother, well, she favored that brother to be sure! Even as Mary endured many hardships with her new Delaware family, such as sleeping in a cave – with hibernating bears – during a brutally cold winter and having to tan leather with a mixture of the animal’s brains and human urine – she still held her grudge against her family. Slowly over time her angry feelings toward her family of origin eased. Likewise, her feelings of being an outsider in her adopted family eased. By the end she was an amazing and very hard-working Delaware daughter. Indeed, after a rain storm of biblical proportions she was heralded for her hard work and was given her new name, Woman-Who-Saved-The-Corn. It’s only in the Afterword that we learn Mary’s captivity ended in 1764, five years after it started. I would love to read the next installment of Mary Campbell’s story to hear how she adjusted to her old/new life.

[Dave Moore · Rating 2 out of 5]

A well written book, but not a good choice as a novel for 5-6 grade students. The brutal death of the toddler, the overly graphic depiction of the hide-tanning process, and the unnecessary description of having eaten a slain deer's in-utero fawn are too distracting and disturbing to foster an understanding of captivity and assimilation. This is not to infer that any or all of the book's contents are inaccurate, or to deny any of the realities of frontier life in the 18th Century. It simply distracts from the main theme in the mind of any sensitive adolescent reader.

[Peggy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Enough with books about Indigenous people that are written from the colonizer's point of view.

The attitudes towards Indigenous (and French) people that are presented in this book are highly problematic, and I would not choose to read this to/with kids. The way it ties into Ohio history is pretty compelling, but not worth it, IMO.

I recommend reading The Birchbark House instead.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Generally, I do not care for Y/A books as they are too juvenile. Nevertheless, I could not resist picking this book up at my local library when I noticed that it is about Mary Campbell of the Mary Campbell Cave in the Gorge Metropark. My children and I read the plaque in the cave about her every time we hike at the gorge and imagine what it would have been like to spend the winter there. Imagine no more-Lynda Durrant has written a plausible tale describing what it would have been like to be kidnapped by the Delaware at the age of 12. Durrant writes in detail about young Mary's struggle between assimilating and clinging to the memories of her past. Akronites will especially like thinking about the land around them as it was hundreds of years ago, where some of its natural features still impress.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an interesting and factual, as well as entertaining, story to read. Mary is only 12 years old when she is captured by the Algonquin near her home in Pennyslvania. Though terrified and worried about her white family, she quickly acclimates into the new world she has been forced into. Taken to replace a cherished granddaughter(who has died), she soon becomes a loved member of the tribe’s chief, daughter, and son-in-law. Mary never stops wondering if she’ll ever return to the Campbells, but grows to love her new family as well.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had to read this book for a class i was taking and thought that i would just skim it, however before i knew it i was so caught up in this story even though it is a book for younger students i enjoyed it very much!

[Kris Irvin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not nearly as good as Echohawk. I didn't like Mary much, but I did feel bad for her mother. I'm glad the author included the notes at the end about Mary's real life - it added some much needed closure for me.

I'm glad I read it, but yeah, not as good as Durrant's other books.

[Sunny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Based on a true story of Mary Caroline Campbell (around 1759).
Some parts of story occur in Ohio (Oyo Hopkins).
Interesting contracts between British colonist Christian view of the world vs. Natives.

"It is beautiful... but Pastor Mainwood taught us that the wilderness is the Devil's domain. He said Satan is lurking, here in these forests as old as Eden, to tempt us with forbidden fruit. A city, a town, a village, a settlement, a farm, a claim-means that Satan has been driven from our midst."

[Genevieve Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is based on the true story of a girl kidnapped by Native Americans, who is adopted and assimilated into their society. I've read several other captivity narratives of this type, and they never fail to be interesting.

Mary is a brat at the beginning, and the killing of the little baby is shocking, but it's almost hard to think of anything as black and white in this context. The extent to which we as humans crave belonging and can adapt stands out as pretty amazing.

[Eileen Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing

How people can be so resilient when needed or adaptable if forced. Mary Campbell of tough Scottish stock proves these theories to be true as a young white girl ripped from her cushy life into a tough situation by being held captives by Delaware Indians. The Indians-cruel yet kind and loving, give us a glimpse into a life totally dependent on the land. Great and true story!

[Melanie Flanigan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book hit home for me. My great great great grandmother and her sister were kidnapped by the Mohawks from Wisconsin and taken to New York. My grandmother was rescued and pregnant, her sister was not found. This book helped me understand why people were kidnapped and how they were treated in captivity.

[mia · Rating 4 out of 5]

its a book u can read in a day i say its the type of book you can read if you’re trying to complete your reading goal last minute umm i don’t really get what happened in the ending the book was ok and chill you can read it if ur going for a simple book

[Andrea Miller · Rating 2 out of 5]

The death of Sammy freaked me out!! Why?!? The Indian Chief went to school and returned to his tribe and no one seemed affected by the killing of a small child? Ahh, not a kid a book. The rest of the book was good though. I was hoping to hear more of the reunion with her family though.

[Nancy Schultz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was not aware that this was based on Historical facts. I live in Pittsburgh, grew up near the Susquehanna and often drive through the Cuyahoga Valley. I wish I had read the Afterword” before I read the book. Not what you are suppose to do, but I would have taken the initial read more seriously.

[Kim Mearman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed. Boys would love this true story when they are older. It's a bit dark.

[Crystal Karre · Rating 4 out of 5]

amazing read

[xo Jules · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating story. Quick, easy read with well developed characters, storyline, and interesting facts.

[Jackson Mohr · Rating 3 out of 5]

Had to read it for school and liked it.

[Lena · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this. It was really interesting to what Mary's life could have been like.

[Harry · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well told plausible story.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wanted to read this book Because I grew up near campbell's ledge.
Some of the terms and stories perpetuate the narrative.
But I really liked the end. There were some beautiful quotes.

[Marci Hartman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting book about a long lost relative I never knew about! Will be passing this on to other family members to read

[Sean O'Suilleabhain · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read in to my daughter when she was 9 or 10; it has very special memories for me. The book is an engaging tell told with accuracy and honesty. It has always amazed me that some production company have not turned it into a movie or TV series.

[Rileigh C · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Beaded moccasins is a great book. Mary Campbell is stolen by Indians to be a granddaughter for their chief. Mary doesn't know untill they tell her in the middle of their trip. She is worried because if she doesn't behave they might scalp her like they did to little Sammy. Marry is also worried because Ms.Stewart has been put with a different family, yet their treating her poorly. Will Mary, and Ms.Stewart ever get out of it? Your going to have to read the book to find out.

A lesson this book teaches is to be respectful of what you have and what you will be given. I learned this by how Mary acted and that resembled how i had acted to my mom in the past. Maybe this will resemble you in the past, present, or future.

I would recommend this book to 6th grade girls because it deals with problems that we might face in the future.

[LeeAnn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I read the story of a young girl kidnapped by the Indians who I believe was Mary Campbell. I will have to retread this to be sure this was the same story.

This is based on the true story of Mary Campbell. I read this some years ago and enjoyed it because it was such a thought-provoking story. The distress caused Mary by the Indians who kidnapped her was horrific and made me wonder why she would ever want to stay. Then, as I considered the relative freedoms and respect she had with the Indians, I ceased wondering. I highly recommend this story because I still think about it when considering other cultures and ways of being.

[Miss Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

gr 5-8 171 pg

1776, Pennsylvania / Ohio. 12 year old Mary Campbell is sick of all the chores her mother gives her. On her twelfth birthday, Mary goes off in a huff to collect berries and ends up being kidnapped along with neighbor Mrs. Stewart by a group of Delaware Indians. The story provides different viewpoints as Mary comes to identify with her new family, while Mrs. Stewart refuses to assimilate.

A fictionalized version based on the true story of Mary Campbell's experience. I thought this story did a much better job of providing different viewpoints than Speare's "Calico Captive"


***at the beginning Mrs. Stewart's baby is killed

[Nichole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Published in 2000, this book shares fiction and fact about Mary Campbell who was captured by the Delaware Indians in May 1759.

One of the most fascinating facts provided in the afterword was that after returning to her family and marrying, neighbors referred to her 12 children as "those Mohawks". Evidently she taught them what she had learned while living with the Delaware's.

While this book is recommended for children between the ages of 9 - 12, I believe that I learned a great deal about compassion, geography, and survival while reading this book based on Mary Campbell's life experience.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a historical fiction novel based on a true story. It's a great novel for anyone, but especially elementary and middle school kids. Mary Campbell is kidnapped by Indians at a young age making it more exciting and relate-able for kids. Besides, what kid hasn't dreamed about being kidnapped by Indians and living in the forest while learning to use a bow and arrows? Or was that just me and my sibs? This is one of the best Indian captive middle grade novels I've read. I've read it at least a dozen times growing up.