Mary Jemison: Native American Captive

Based on a True Story

by E.F. Abbott (pseudonym), Jane Kelley

What happens when everything you know is suddenly ripped away? This is the fate of Mary Jemison, a fifteen-year-old frontier girl living in Pennsylvania in 1758. How does Mary find the will to carry on?

During the French and Indian War, Mary is captured by a band of French and Shawnee warriors and led deep into the woods. After her family is killed, Mary is traded to the Seneca and taken in by two sisters. Renamed Dehgewanus, she finds her place among the Seneca and embarks on a new way of life. But when given the choice, will Mary return to the world she once knew or remain with her adopted family?

Based on a True Story books by E.F. Abbott are exciting historical fiction about real children who lived through extraordinary times in American History.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, Childrens, Biography Memoir, Native American, Juvenile

213 pages, Hardcover

First published February 16, 2016

About the author

E.F. Abbott is a pseudonym used by multiple authors: Susan Hill, Jane Kelley, Kristin O'Donnell Tubb, and Karen Romano Young.

Reviews

[Charlie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Received this interesting first reads book from Goodreads.com at no cost.
It's a children's book about a fifteen-year - old girl that is kidnapped by an Indian tribe and later sold to another tribe that considered it as an adoption. After many years - a husband, a baby and growing into the ways of the Seneca Tribe gives Mary the interesting decision of what life to live when she has a choice to go back to her original English life or stay with her adopted Indian family.
It's an easy quick read.

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mary Jemison, Native American Captive, by E. F. Abbott is the story of a young girl captured by Shawnee warriors during the French and Indian War after her family is killed. The "true" story details Mary's challenges to adjust as she and her brother are taken against their will, only to be quickly traded to the Seneca. Mary is adopted by two, Native American sisters who show her kindness and help her to adapt to a new family and completely different way of life. Mary's life path changes even further as she marries and has a child herself. Completely immersed in her adopted culture, Mary finds contentment and happiness until her place in her new village is threatened by the risk of being "redeemed" or traded back to the white culture of her childhood. Her mixed feelings are illustrated well during a chapter in which she visits a cabin and tries to explain to her child the words and uses of plates and forks. Eventually, Mary must search her heart and conscience for her true feelings if she is ever to have peace and live her life wholly amidst people she loves. An epilogue and author's notes help to flesh out the historical details of the story and the time period. Actual photographs of Mary, her cabin, and Pennsylvania countryside help add validity to the book. A story of love, acceptance and the healing power of love, this book is recommended for students 8-11 and would be best taught alongside informational texts about the Native American cultures of Pennsylvania and the French and Indian War to ensure accurate cultural representation.

[Remy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Compared to Indian Captive: The Story of Mary Jemison by Lois Lenski, this book is more accurate and has more details of Mary's life. It also reflects her real age at capture (15) vs. the younger child the other book seems to portray her as. This version of the story features her marriage and 1st child and gives information about her later life (which I think a lot of students would wonder about otherwise). I think it was well done and appreciated the historical facts that were more liberally sprinkled in compared to the Lenski book. Both versions of the story are worth reading. :-)

[Lesley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read a bit about captured children and this fictionalized children's version of the story of Mary Jemison was great. I like how it wasn't dumbed down nor did it gloss over the brutal bits. It was also true to life and explained well why she didn't want to go back. I'd like to find an adult book on the subject.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an exciting read about Mary Jemison, a real girl, who was captured by a band of Shawnee warriors during the French and Indian War. Includes black-and-white drawings and archival images. This is a fictional retelling: an author's note explains what is factual and what is fiction in the book.
Solid historical fiction for the middle school reader. grades 3-7.

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to this on Audible and I thought it was really great! I’ve never given any thought to white people that were captured by Indians. I can’t even imagine how terrifying it must have been for her but I am very glad she finally found happiness with her new family.

[krzysamm · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

[Deanna Anderson]

nice short story about Mary.

[Barbara Schocket · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found Mary Jemison’s story interesting even though the book leaned more to reading a young adult book.

[Kara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to read about something I didn't know about. I had heard stories of Native Americans kidnapping whites/settlers etc. I came upon this story. It's sad but hopeful.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

During the outbreak of violence between the French and Indians and the English settlers in Pennsylvania in 1758, fifteen-year-old Mary Jemison is kidnapped by the French and Shawnees who attack her father's settlement. Eventually, she is traded to the Senecas and befriended by two women, Jako-ki and Odankot. While readers will cringe at the deaths of her parents and other siblings and her hatred and fear of Native Americans at the start of the story, they will also be intrigued by the kindness of her benefactors and her determination to hold onto as much of her past as she could. Although she speaks none of the Seneca language at first and dreams of escape, eventually, she comes to embrace the culture and learn the language, even finding love and a kind of peace among her new family. Hers is an intriguing account of someone whose prejudices are removed through immersion in another culture, and it is interesting to trace the evolution in her thought as she realizes the falseness of her father's assumptions that someone who doesn't "work" the land and domesticate it must be lazy. Although the author has relied on other accounts of this story to create this one, I'm not certain about its cultural authenticity. I did find it fascinating to read and wondered what I might have done in her situation.

[Teresa Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another fantastic book in the "Based on a True Story" series. When Mary Jemison was 15 years old, her family and neighbors were attacked by Native American and French soldiers. Of those taken captive, only Mary and a young boy were kept alive. Though the deaths of the others aren't described, it is a traumatic occurrence and might be disturbing for younger readers. Mary comes to appreciate the Native American tribe that she lives with. She marries twice and names all her children after those family members who died. Much of the details in this book were taken from a recorded interview from Mary Jemison herself, that can be found in the book "A Narrative of the Life of Mrs. Mary Jemison" by James E. Seaver. I normally don't pick up historical books, but this one, and the entire series, is so well written that it captured my attention right away and I highly recommend it.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book a lot. It gave a many human emotions to something that actually happened to many people, but not a lot knows about. I think this was handled well considering some might think Mary suffers from Stockholm Syndrome, but over all well researched and an interesting read. I would recommend it. 4 out of 5 stars.

[Orchid · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was hesitant to read this one at first because fictionalized stories based on true stories can be hit-and-miss. But, I thought it was pretty well done (though my knowledge on Mary Jemison's story and Native American culture is nowhere near expert level).

[Keri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great retelling of the true story of Mary Jemison who was kidnapped by the Seneca during the French and Indian War. Perfect reading level for a 2-3rd grader.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Author's Note, at the end, was the very best.