The Diary of Mary Jemison: Captured by the Indians

In My Own Words

by Mary Jemison, Connie Roop (Editor), Peter Roop (Editor)

Many towering figures are credited with shaping the course of American history. For each of these celebrated lives, there were countless others -- writing the real story of America. In My Own Words introduces young readers to these lesser-known Americans and their stories. This exciting series reveals the tales of four ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances through their personal writings. Readers will be amused by the sly Yankee humor that Revolutionary War soldier Joseph Plumb Martin brings to his stirring account of the war for independence. The thrilling writings of John Wesley Powell -- the first white man to explore the Grand Canyon -- allow readers to sense the profound awe Powell and his crew felt discovering the Canyon's natural wonders, as well as the dangers and hardships they faced daily.

Genres: History

64 pages, Library Binding

First published January 1, 1995

Reviews

[Bo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a short book, edited from a first-hand account of Mary Jemison, who was captured by the Indians as a child, and then remained with them for the rest of her life. I enjoyed the book and found it interesting. I was saddened by the cruelty at times, but yet Mary herself received love and acceptance. The book is written for children, and there were a few places that I didn't feel appropriate for children. Read for yourself first before giving it to your child to read on their own.

[Malissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think enjoyment of this book depends somewhat on an interest in the life of Mary Jemison. It's a good companion to Lois Lenski's novel Indian Captive (which seems to be based on this account). This book is simply an account of the capture of pioneer girl Mary Jemison and the early part of her life with the Senca. It is in her words (with notes to explain outdated usage and other information about the time period) as transcribed by a doctor near the end of Mary's life. No manuscripts of the original interview are available, so the book is based on the doctor's published accounts. The information here is valuable as a first-hand account, but is not a comprehensive biography by any means.

[Rowan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mary Jemison had quite the eventful life. The struggles of getting the essentials in the colonial times were hard enough but mixing that with having to protect your family makes an exciting story. The persistence violence throughout the story may bother some but creates a different perspective that isn’t very common. Living in the present day it is hard to imagine what colonial life was like, hard to imagine the pain, hard to imagine living with Indians yet Mary gave us a first person view into that kind of life. She had one purpose, to inform others about living with Indians, and she tried to do so in some fascinating ways. Indians generate fear.

Something worth pointing out is how the Indians went about survival. Everyone had certain roles around the camp and within the tribe and Mary found herself right in the middle of it. The read was shorter than it could have been based on the detail from what the book does contain. There was a lot of skipping over time in her adulthood that could have been strung out to make a longer and better story. However, the information the book does include is detailed but succinct at the same time which is a pleasure to read. This book helped visualize the lifestyle and problems that early settlers faced as they tried to form a more perfect union.

Readers who enjoy adventure and don’t mind violence will find this book entertaining. It is short and sweet which would be good for some mature kids that can handle a little violence. The book advises you about how Indians lived but readers should be old enough to know that they shouldn’t try to live like the Indians.

[Msimone · Rating 5 out of 5]

The narration provides adolescent readers with a human perspective of settler life during French / Indian wars through the voice of a young child captured by the Seneca and raised by them as her adopted daughter. I think American schoolchildren would become be fascinated by Jemison’s diary which she recorded at the age of 80. Schoolteachers of American history to middle schoolers should incorporate it into their curriculum.

[Charlie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short book that recounts the history of a young girl who was kidnapped by Indians an adopted. Parts were a bit gruesome, but it gave good insight into that period of American history. I enjoyed and benefitted from the book.

[Kristine Rogers · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a fascinating look into life on the frontier from the perspective of a woman captured and raised by Native Americans. I was glad to be reading it aloud to my first grade child, as I significantly reduced the strength of the language describing violence. Otherwise, it is an interesting biography and worth reading. She grows up to marry and raise children among the tribe, so the story is complex, portraying both positive and negative sides to Native American culture at the time.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the early 1800's, Mary was taken captive by members of the Seneca Indian tribe. Her account brings to life the hardships faced by settlers and Native Americans alike. A moving portrait that reads like a novel, this book would be fascinating reading for children up to 6th grade.

[Kirsten · Rating 3 out of 5]

Always interesting to read a first-person narrative, but they left so much out in those days! I couldn't help wanting more.