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Indian Captive: The Story of Mary Jemison
In this classic frontier adventure, Lois Lenski reconstructs the real life story of Mary Jemison, who was captured in a raid as young girl and raised amongst the Seneca Indians. Meticulously researched and illustrated with many detailed drawings, this novel offers an exceptionally vivid and personal portrait of Native American life and customs.
298 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1941
250 people are currently reading
4318 people want to read
About the author
Lois Lenski
180 books196 followershttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lois_Lenski
Many of Lenski's books can be collated into 'series' - but since they don't have to be read in order, you may be better off just looking for more information here: http://library.illinoisstate.edu/uniq...
Probably her most famous set is the following:
American Regional Series
Beginning with Bayou Suzette in 1943, Lois Lenski began writing a series of books which would become known as her "regional series." In the early 1940s Lenski, who suffered from periodic bouts of ill-health, was told by her doctor that she needed to spend the winter months in a warmer climate than her Connecticut home. As a result, Lenski and her husband Arthur Covey traveled south each fall. Lenski wrote in her autobiography, "On my trips south I saw the real America for the first time. I saw and learned what the word region meant as I witnessed firsthand different ways of life unlike my own. What interested me most was the way children were living" (183).
In Journey Into Childhood, Lenski wrote that she was struck by the fact that there were "plenty of books that tell how children live in Alaska, Holland, China, and Mexico, but no books at all telling about the many ways children live here in the United States"
Bayou Suzette.
Strawberry Girl.
Blue Ridge Billy.
Judy's Journey.
Boom Town Boy.
Cotton in My Sack.
Texas Tomboy.
Prairie School.
Corn-Farm Boy.
San Francisco Boy.
Flood Friday.
Houseboat Girl.
Coal Camp Girl.
Shoo-Fly Girl.
To Be a Logger.
Deer Valley Girl.
Many of Lenski's books can be collated into 'series' - but since they don't have to be read in order, you may be better off just looking for more information here: http://library.illinoisstate.edu/uniq...
Probably her most famous set is the following:
American Regional Series
Beginning with Bayou Suzette in 1943, Lois Lenski began writing a series of books which would become known as her "regional series." In the early 1940s Lenski, who suffered from periodic bouts of ill-health, was told by her doctor that she needed to spend the winter months in a warmer climate than her Connecticut home. As a result, Lenski and her husband Arthur Covey traveled south each fall. Lenski wrote in her autobiography, "On my trips south I saw the real America for the first time. I saw and learned what the word region meant as I witnessed firsthand different ways of life unlike my own. What interested me most was the way children were living" (183).
In Journey Into Childhood, Lenski wrote that she was struck by the fact that there were "plenty of books that tell how children live in Alaska, Holland, China, and Mexico, but no books at all telling about the many ways children live here in the United States"
Bayou Suzette.
Strawberry Girl.
Blue Ridge Billy.
Judy's Journey.
Boom Town Boy.
Cotton in My Sack.
Texas Tomboy.
Prairie School.
Corn-Farm Boy.
San Francisco Boy.
Flood Friday.
Houseboat Girl.
Coal Camp Girl.
Shoo-Fly Girl.
To Be a Logger.
Deer Valley Girl.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 602 reviews
November 19, 2009
Civil rights and equality have made a lot of headway against racism in the last century.
"Well, duh," some might say.
"But there's still so far to go!" others might protest.
I personally grew up without any particularly scarring incidents of racism. Sure, I got made fun of for my small eyes and flat face, but so did the white girl with the big nose and, personally, I think she took it a lot harder than I did.
It's great that the social norm is no longer racism and that we're seeing more diversity in media, arts, and culture. It no longer amazes me to see unbiased news reports about minorities or television shows featuring more ethnic characters.
What amazes me is when I find fair treatments of minorities from books written over fifty years ago, before the civil rights movement was in full swing.
Lois Lenski wrote and illustrated Indian Captive in 1941. The new cover makes it look all modern (and kinda creepy, actually), but the story is old.
It's based on the true story of Mary "Molly" Jemison, who was captured and then adopted by Seneca Indians. Her family was killed in that very raid. Instead of fighting against her captors and hating them and escaping at the first opportunity (although she certainly did try), she learned to love them and appreciate their culture. After a while, she adopted the Seneca right back.
The real Mary Jemison lived with the Seneca for the rest of her life. She married twice, to Indian men both times. She finally gave an interview at the age of eighty to describe her capture and eventual assimilation into the Seneca tribe.
The book is a pretty faithful treatment of Seneca life. The Indians that adopted Molly were mostly kind, but there were certainly some exceptions. There were parts of their culture that Molly learned to love, but other parts with which she was unable to reconcile herself.
It's a children's book, so don't expect to see any gory scalpings, and some might argue that the book is biased toward Native American culture. But considering when it was written, I'd say that it's pretty remarkable that a book this kind to an Indian tribe that kidnapped a young white girl and killed her family was even published.
Is it the most compelling book ever? Probably not; it was a little plainly written, even for 1940s children's lit. But it was interesting and educational and a darned entertaining read.
Mary Jemison would approve.
"Well, duh," some might say.
"But there's still so far to go!" others might protest.
I personally grew up without any particularly scarring incidents of racism. Sure, I got made fun of for my small eyes and flat face, but so did the white girl with the big nose and, personally, I think she took it a lot harder than I did.
It's great that the social norm is no longer racism and that we're seeing more diversity in media, arts, and culture. It no longer amazes me to see unbiased news reports about minorities or television shows featuring more ethnic characters.
What amazes me is when I find fair treatments of minorities from books written over fifty years ago, before the civil rights movement was in full swing.
Lois Lenski wrote and illustrated Indian Captive in 1941. The new cover makes it look all modern (and kinda creepy, actually), but the story is old.
It's based on the true story of Mary "Molly" Jemison, who was captured and then adopted by Seneca Indians. Her family was killed in that very raid. Instead of fighting against her captors and hating them and escaping at the first opportunity (although she certainly did try), she learned to love them and appreciate their culture. After a while, she adopted the Seneca right back.
The real Mary Jemison lived with the Seneca for the rest of her life. She married twice, to Indian men both times. She finally gave an interview at the age of eighty to describe her capture and eventual assimilation into the Seneca tribe.
The book is a pretty faithful treatment of Seneca life. The Indians that adopted Molly were mostly kind, but there were certainly some exceptions. There were parts of their culture that Molly learned to love, but other parts with which she was unable to reconcile herself.
It's a children's book, so don't expect to see any gory scalpings, and some might argue that the book is biased toward Native American culture. But considering when it was written, I'd say that it's pretty remarkable that a book this kind to an Indian tribe that kidnapped a young white girl and killed her family was even published.
Is it the most compelling book ever? Probably not; it was a little plainly written, even for 1940s children's lit. But it was interesting and educational and a darned entertaining read.
Mary Jemison would approve.
April 18, 2022
TW//
I was a little skeptical going into this book. It’s pretty obvious from just the title alone that there’s several outdated terms being used in this book, but I surprisingly enjoyed the majority of this book despite its flaws. This book didn’t paint all Native Americans in a bad way, which was a big deal at the time that this book was published. There were Native American characters portrayed as friendly and nice while some were portrayed as mean. It seemed that the representation of Native American people in this book managed to capture how every group of people has both good and bad people in it. It’s also clear from the introduction to this book and the information presented in this book that the author went out of her way to make sure that the information in this book was as accurate and respectful as possible. It’s not perfect, but again, this book was originally published in 1941 so the portrayal of Native Americans in this way was a big deal for the time that the book was published.
Mary Jemison’s story is fascinating. She was captured as a young teen and her family was killed but instead of escaping when she had the chance, she chose to stay with the family who adopted her and she learned to be happy with where she ended up in life. Her story is tragic in parts, but it’s also very unique and I’d love to read more stories about her in the future.
I really enjoyed reading the scenes with Little Turtle and Shining Star. They’re two members of the Seneca tribe who Mary gets to know very well and I almost feel that if it weren’t for them, she wouldn’t have assimilated into the Seneca tribe as well. Little Turtle and Shining Star have very different personalities, but they’re kind and patient with Mary while she’s struggling with her new place in life. They are a major reason why I enjoyed this book as much as I did.
I wasn’t a super huge fan of the writing style in this book. Even though it was easy to understand, it felt very awkward in some places. The first part of the book is particularly challenging to get through because of sentences that felt incomplete and jarring, but I was able to get so invested in the story that eventually I stopped focusing so much on the writing style.
This book is a kid’s book, but I overall enjoyed it and I think a lot of people will enjoy it, too. It’s a story that’ll have you drawn in from the first chapter and what makes it super interesting is the fact that this story seems so implausible yet it's actually a true story.
I was a little skeptical going into this book. It’s pretty obvious from just the title alone that there’s several outdated terms being used in this book, but I surprisingly enjoyed the majority of this book despite its flaws. This book didn’t paint all Native Americans in a bad way, which was a big deal at the time that this book was published. There were Native American characters portrayed as friendly and nice while some were portrayed as mean. It seemed that the representation of Native American people in this book managed to capture how every group of people has both good and bad people in it. It’s also clear from the introduction to this book and the information presented in this book that the author went out of her way to make sure that the information in this book was as accurate and respectful as possible. It’s not perfect, but again, this book was originally published in 1941 so the portrayal of Native Americans in this way was a big deal for the time that the book was published.
Mary Jemison’s story is fascinating. She was captured as a young teen and her family was killed but instead of escaping when she had the chance, she chose to stay with the family who adopted her and she learned to be happy with where she ended up in life. Her story is tragic in parts, but it’s also very unique and I’d love to read more stories about her in the future.
I really enjoyed reading the scenes with Little Turtle and Shining Star. They’re two members of the Seneca tribe who Mary gets to know very well and I almost feel that if it weren’t for them, she wouldn’t have assimilated into the Seneca tribe as well. Little Turtle and Shining Star have very different personalities, but they’re kind and patient with Mary while she’s struggling with her new place in life. They are a major reason why I enjoyed this book as much as I did.
I wasn’t a super huge fan of the writing style in this book. Even though it was easy to understand, it felt very awkward in some places. The first part of the book is particularly challenging to get through because of sentences that felt incomplete and jarring, but I was able to get so invested in the story that eventually I stopped focusing so much on the writing style.
This book is a kid’s book, but I overall enjoyed it and I think a lot of people will enjoy it, too. It’s a story that’ll have you drawn in from the first chapter and what makes it super interesting is the fact that this story seems so implausible yet it's actually a true story.
January 18, 2022
"Any work concerning the life and romance of Indian days requires a rather accurate knowledge of what these native people produced and how they lived. To weave a narrative of any consequence, the author must be familiar with the implements, utensils and the daily routine of the people. This seems self-evident but many writers have ignored this basic necessity and written purely from imagination, filling in the gaps with pre-conceived knowledge or basing it upon modern adaptations of European practices." (Introduction)
This should be a swear in for authors especially historical fiction authors. Write about whatever floats your boat but study your timeline and the character descriptions.
Newbery Honor book- 1941 YA
It is 1758 and Mary "Molly" Jemison, 12, is living the early settlement life in Pennsylvania with her large family. One day, though, the Indians come and take her whole family, plus a few neighbors that happened to be staying there, captive. The Indians (Natives bc Christopher Columbus was a cretin) take them through mountains and forests and lakes and rivers before stopping, deciding that Molly and another little boy will go along to the Indian settlement. We find out that the Natives killed and scalped the whole family. Basically "an eye for an eye."
Molly is adopted into the Seneca Tribe, as "Corn Tassel" for her beautiful yellow hair, and more than once tries to run away but to no avail. The Natives are kind to Molly and love her. They teach her their simple ways and to appreciate nature and respect the living as well as the dead. She gradually learns the Indian way and cannot imagine going back to her white, complicated ways, especially not having family to return to.
The book is written for children so it is quite simple yet such a complicated concept. (Although modern life shows us day after day that people kidnap other people especially helpless children)
"Will I ever be well again?" asked Molly. She knew in that moment that there are two kinds of sickness-sickness of the heart as well as the body. (PG. 150)
While I didn't love the book I did enjoy the time period and the reasons for such captivity. I went down the rabbit hole learning about other white children that were taken and never wanted to return to their old lives. The ones that managed to get found and returned to their white families would run away and go back to the Natives, a high percentage of white children not just one or two.
Tidbit: Molly Jemison finally told her story at the age of 80. She married twice, both times to Indian men. She had seven total children, all with white names. Her son John was troubled and killed his brother Thomas in 1811, then killed his brother Jesse in 1812, and was later killed. Her descendants live on to this very day.
Jemison died on September 19, 1833, aged 90. She will forever be known as the "White Woman of the Genesee."
This should be a swear in for authors especially historical fiction authors. Write about whatever floats your boat but study your timeline and the character descriptions.
Newbery Honor book- 1941 YA
It is 1758 and Mary "Molly" Jemison, 12, is living the early settlement life in Pennsylvania with her large family. One day, though, the Indians come and take her whole family, plus a few neighbors that happened to be staying there, captive. The Indians (Natives bc Christopher Columbus was a cretin) take them through mountains and forests and lakes and rivers before stopping, deciding that Molly and another little boy will go along to the Indian settlement. We find out that the Natives killed and scalped the whole family. Basically "an eye for an eye."
Molly is adopted into the Seneca Tribe, as "Corn Tassel" for her beautiful yellow hair, and more than once tries to run away but to no avail. The Natives are kind to Molly and love her. They teach her their simple ways and to appreciate nature and respect the living as well as the dead. She gradually learns the Indian way and cannot imagine going back to her white, complicated ways, especially not having family to return to.
The book is written for children so it is quite simple yet such a complicated concept. (Although modern life shows us day after day that people kidnap other people especially helpless children)
"Will I ever be well again?" asked Molly. She knew in that moment that there are two kinds of sickness-sickness of the heart as well as the body. (PG. 150)
While I didn't love the book I did enjoy the time period and the reasons for such captivity. I went down the rabbit hole learning about other white children that were taken and never wanted to return to their old lives. The ones that managed to get found and returned to their white families would run away and go back to the Natives, a high percentage of white children not just one or two.
Tidbit: Molly Jemison finally told her story at the age of 80. She married twice, both times to Indian men. She had seven total children, all with white names. Her son John was troubled and killed his brother Thomas in 1811, then killed his brother Jesse in 1812, and was later killed. Her descendants live on to this very day.
Jemison died on September 19, 1833, aged 90. She will forever be known as the "White Woman of the Genesee."
June 13, 2021
“It don't matter what happens, if you're only strong and have great courage.”
― Lois Lenski, Indian Captive: The Story of Mary Jemison
Most of my reviews are rather long. In the case of this book however, I can't really do that. I read this a long time ago and realized I did not really do a review. I really liked it and want to recommend it but I cannot go into specifics because it was read so long ago. I need to do a reread.
This is the story of Mary "Molly" Jemison. Mary was captured by Seneca Indians in a raid. Her family was killed but she was taken alive and adopted by the Senecas.
Eventually, Mary came to embrace the Indian customs and way of life and came to love her family.
I enjoyed reading the true story of Mary Jemison. I have an interest in Native American History and this book, which I read so long ago, was very educational as well as being a great read in general.
I should add that there is tragedy and some scenes that are difficult to deal with. The book is also illustrated with pictures and I loved it and would recommend it to anyone with an interest in the subject matter.
― Lois Lenski, Indian Captive: The Story of Mary Jemison
Most of my reviews are rather long. In the case of this book however, I can't really do that. I read this a long time ago and realized I did not really do a review. I really liked it and want to recommend it but I cannot go into specifics because it was read so long ago. I need to do a reread.
This is the story of Mary "Molly" Jemison. Mary was captured by Seneca Indians in a raid. Her family was killed but she was taken alive and adopted by the Senecas.
Eventually, Mary came to embrace the Indian customs and way of life and came to love her family.
I enjoyed reading the true story of Mary Jemison. I have an interest in Native American History and this book, which I read so long ago, was very educational as well as being a great read in general.
I should add that there is tragedy and some scenes that are difficult to deal with. The book is also illustrated with pictures and I loved it and would recommend it to anyone with an interest in the subject matter.
October 23, 2021
Just finished reading this to my 10 year old. I asked him how’s he rate it and he said 20 stars.
January 17, 2010
I went into this book a bit skeptical of its choice as one of the books for our county-wide read this year, the theme of which is "Native American Culture." I couldn't help thinking that a book by a white author written about a white girl taken captive by Native Americans might not really fit the theme. However, I was really impressed with this book.
It's based on the true story of Mary Jemison, a pioneer girl who as taken captive by the Senecas around the age of 13. In the introduction, the author tells us that the Mary lived out her life with the Senecas until a very old age. Still, this doesn't really take away from the story because the question becomes not "will she stay?" but "will her broken heart and longing for home ever heal and how?" Mary (or Molly as she is called throughout much of the book) very realistically struggles between conflicting feelings of anger and bitterness at being held captive and being "made into an Indian" and growing love and respect for her new Seneca family. Her struggles continue until the end of the book when she learns that her birth family was killed shortly after she was taken. But instead of falling back into anger and despair, Mary has grown as a person and reacts with sadness and acceptance. Her final feelings are summed up well in the line
"Perhaps the Englishman was right--she ought to hate the Indians for the crime which they had committed against her--but in her heart there was no feeling of revenge, no hate. It was only war that she hated--war which set nation against nation; the French against the English, and the poor Indians between them both."
Mary comes to not only love her Seneca family, but to truly respect the Seneca way of life and the ways in which she has grown under their guidance.
This is a very good book for upper elementary to junior high readers with a difficult subject matter that is dealt with realistically but gently enough for the intended audience.
It's based on the true story of Mary Jemison, a pioneer girl who as taken captive by the Senecas around the age of 13. In the introduction, the author tells us that the Mary lived out her life with the Senecas until a very old age. Still, this doesn't really take away from the story because the question becomes not "will she stay?" but "will her broken heart and longing for home ever heal and how?" Mary (or Molly as she is called throughout much of the book) very realistically struggles between conflicting feelings of anger and bitterness at being held captive and being "made into an Indian" and growing love and respect for her new Seneca family. Her struggles continue until the end of the book when she learns that her birth family was killed shortly after she was taken. But instead of falling back into anger and despair, Mary has grown as a person and reacts with sadness and acceptance. Her final feelings are summed up well in the line
"Perhaps the Englishman was right--she ought to hate the Indians for the crime which they had committed against her--but in her heart there was no feeling of revenge, no hate. It was only war that she hated--war which set nation against nation; the French against the English, and the poor Indians between them both."
Mary comes to not only love her Seneca family, but to truly respect the Seneca way of life and the ways in which she has grown under their guidance.
This is a very good book for upper elementary to junior high readers with a difficult subject matter that is dealt with realistically but gently enough for the intended audience.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 13, 2017
I read this several times when I was a kid, fascinated by the story of a girl who ended up living with the Indians in western New York State, where I grew up. I still love this story.
August 10, 2021
TRUE story of Mary Jemison, a 12 year old blonde girl, separated from her family and taken by the Seneca Indian tribe, formally adopted into the tribe to become one of their own. She is expected to shed all white people ways, must work, talk, eat, dress and think as a Seneca - something she intends never to do and is disgusted by that prospect. Given the eventual chance and choice, will she take it?
Fascinating account I really enjoyed reading, but the ending felt rushed and incomplete. The book concentrates mainly on the initial time period that she was taken captive, getting use to tribal customs and ways, up to her decision with her choice to return, or not to return to go back to white society. So the reader knows her decision, but the book fails to speak further of any of her life events after that as an adult - there is no epilogue. Just wish the author would have followed up with a bit more history of Mary and the life she had thereafter.
However, still an unforgettable account that was most interesting to read!
Fascinating account I really enjoyed reading, but the ending felt rushed and incomplete. The book concentrates mainly on the initial time period that she was taken captive, getting use to tribal customs and ways, up to her decision with her choice to return, or not to return to go back to white society. So the reader knows her decision, but the book fails to speak further of any of her life events after that as an adult - there is no epilogue. Just wish the author would have followed up with a bit more history of Mary and the life she had thereafter.
However, still an unforgettable account that was most interesting to read!
January 31, 2012
Indian Captive is one of my favorite Newbery Honor Awards book especially while studying early American history. It is a glimpse into the life of the Seneca Indian tribe during the mid to late 1700s.
In this classic Newbery Honor Award book, Lois Lenski authentically reconstructs the fascinating story of Mary Jemison's capture, flight, and early years with the Seneca Indians. Lenski has brought her special talents for research, for writing, and for drawing to this true American story of a white girl's life among Native Americans.
The real Mary Jemison, at the age of 80, told her memories of her experiences in detail to James Everett Seaver, M.D., and the book was first published at Canandaigua, NY in 1824. She was one of a few Indian captives who refused to return the "pale face" world. Mary Jemison, aka 'Little-Woman-of-Great-Courage,' lived to be 91 and was buried in the Seneca churchyard at South Buffalo, and later re-buried at Letchworth Park in her beloved Genesee Valley. Her descendants still live on the Indian reservations in western New York.
Click HERE for more information on Indian Captive and Lois Lenski.
I received a complimentary copy of Indian Captive from Open Road Media and NetGalley for my honest review.
In this classic Newbery Honor Award book, Lois Lenski authentically reconstructs the fascinating story of Mary Jemison's capture, flight, and early years with the Seneca Indians. Lenski has brought her special talents for research, for writing, and for drawing to this true American story of a white girl's life among Native Americans.
The real Mary Jemison, at the age of 80, told her memories of her experiences in detail to James Everett Seaver, M.D., and the book was first published at Canandaigua, NY in 1824. She was one of a few Indian captives who refused to return the "pale face" world. Mary Jemison, aka 'Little-Woman-of-Great-Courage,' lived to be 91 and was buried in the Seneca churchyard at South Buffalo, and later re-buried at Letchworth Park in her beloved Genesee Valley. Her descendants still live on the Indian reservations in western New York.
Click HERE for more information on Indian Captive and Lois Lenski.
I received a complimentary copy of Indian Captive from Open Road Media and NetGalley for my honest review.
June 25, 2022
I read most of Lois Lenski's books when I was growing up but this was her debut and one I missed. It was awarded the Newbery Honor Medal in 1942. I feel that historical fiction written for children is a great way to teach history, as long as it is fairly accurate.
Based on a real life story, it concerns the capture of a white child by Seneca Indians when she was just 12 years old. Mary (or Molly, as her family called her) lived with her family on a farm in eastern Pennsylvania in 1758. The rest of her family was killed.
The story follows her life with the Indians. Though she carried deep sorrow from losing her family and the life she had known, she also found strengths she didn't realize she had. The natives named her Corn Tassel because of her white blonde hair.
I loved the ways Lois Lenski portrayed her learning their language and their approach to living in harmony with the earth, the plants and other creatures, as well as their methods of discipline and justice. As in all of her books, Lenski deals sensitively with Mary's conflicted emotions.
The actual Mary Jemison wrote the story of her capture by Indians, published in 1824. Lenski used that and other research to create Indian Captive. I felt she gave a fair and balanced historical account of the conflicts between the British, the French, the settlers and the natives in a way young readers could understand.
The book made a good follow up to my last book read, Love Medicine by Louise Erdrich.
Based on a real life story, it concerns the capture of a white child by Seneca Indians when she was just 12 years old. Mary (or Molly, as her family called her) lived with her family on a farm in eastern Pennsylvania in 1758. The rest of her family was killed.
The story follows her life with the Indians. Though she carried deep sorrow from losing her family and the life she had known, she also found strengths she didn't realize she had. The natives named her Corn Tassel because of her white blonde hair.
I loved the ways Lois Lenski portrayed her learning their language and their approach to living in harmony with the earth, the plants and other creatures, as well as their methods of discipline and justice. As in all of her books, Lenski deals sensitively with Mary's conflicted emotions.
The actual Mary Jemison wrote the story of her capture by Indians, published in 1824. Lenski used that and other research to create Indian Captive. I felt she gave a fair and balanced historical account of the conflicts between the British, the French, the settlers and the natives in a way young readers could understand.
The book made a good follow up to my last book read, Love Medicine by Louise Erdrich.
November 24, 2009
I recently found a box of books that I hadn't opened for many years. In it were several books from my youth that I had wanted to read at some point. Indian Captive was one of them.
I really enjoyed this story much more than I thought I would. Lois Lenski did a good job of helping me feel a little girl's turmoil at being kidnapped from her family and forced to live among people she didn't look like or understand. Lenski did a lot of research for this novel, and so I felt as though I learned quite a bit while reading. I had no idea that Native Americans used a kind of "eye for an eye" system when it came to human lives: for every Indian the white men struck down and took away from an Indian family, the Indians would capture a white person in exchange. This white person would be scalped with the scalp presented to the lost Indian's family, or the captive would be presented to the family so that they could decide to torture him or her to death or to raise him or her in place of their lost loved one.
Mary Jemison was lucky: her Indian family decided to raise her as their own. They nurtured her and taught her their ways. Several years after she first came to the Indians, Mary was offered the choice of leaving to resume living with the "pale-faces" (though she had learned by this time that her family had been murdered a day or two after she was separated from them). But she chose to stay with her Indian family.
At any rate, this book made me curious enough to search out more about Mary (Molly) Jemison. Someone was smart enough to get her account of her life before she died, and it is available through the Gutenburg Project online. I read through that as well, and it was every bit as fascinating as this fictitious account led me to believe it would be.
I really enjoyed this story much more than I thought I would. Lois Lenski did a good job of helping me feel a little girl's turmoil at being kidnapped from her family and forced to live among people she didn't look like or understand. Lenski did a lot of research for this novel, and so I felt as though I learned quite a bit while reading. I had no idea that Native Americans used a kind of "eye for an eye" system when it came to human lives: for every Indian the white men struck down and took away from an Indian family, the Indians would capture a white person in exchange. This white person would be scalped with the scalp presented to the lost Indian's family, or the captive would be presented to the family so that they could decide to torture him or her to death or to raise him or her in place of their lost loved one.
Mary Jemison was lucky: her Indian family decided to raise her as their own. They nurtured her and taught her their ways. Several years after she first came to the Indians, Mary was offered the choice of leaving to resume living with the "pale-faces" (though she had learned by this time that her family had been murdered a day or two after she was separated from them). But she chose to stay with her Indian family.
At any rate, this book made me curious enough to search out more about Mary (Molly) Jemison. Someone was smart enough to get her account of her life before she died, and it is available through the Gutenburg Project online. I read through that as well, and it was every bit as fascinating as this fictitious account led me to believe it would be.
February 16, 2012
I was delighted with how approachable this book still is for today's audiences. Published in 1941, this book is more than 70 years old--how would its treatment of Native Americans, for one, translate to today's sensibilities and politically correct emphasis? Quite well. This is a wonderful novel based on the true story of a young girl taken captive by Indians the day before her family was killed by the same group of Indians; after two years in captivity with the Seneca Indians, Molly Jemison, aka Corn Tassel, chose to stay with them. She'd learned much from her Indian family, had grown to love them, and realized that she could indeed make a life as a white girl amongst an Indian tribe. They accepted her as their own, even though she'd been technically a captive. The Seneca Indians are shown to be a hard-working, beauty-loving, stern-yet-loving people. I read this from a netgalley ARC from Open Road Media--I believe they're reissuing the book as an e-book. It had a nicely done short biography of Lenski complete with some author photos. All of Lenski's original illustrations are also in the e-book format. I've labeled it historical fiction partly because I think it would be shelved with fiction in a traditional library; it's really closer to a biography covering 2 years of Mary/Molly Jemison's extraordinary life.
October 20, 2021
Mary, or Molly, Jemison, with hair the color of corn tassels, lives a normal life on the frontier until one fateful day in the 1700s. Then the Indians attack her family's cabin, and her entire life changes. She is taken on a long, fast journey under the strict watch of her Indian captors, until all of the world she knows is left far behind. Now she must begin a new life, in a village of her lifelong enemies, with a culture she doesn't know.
Molly begins to understand her new life as an Indian, but she never forgets her heritage. She waits restlessly for a chance to leave her captors, to return to her white people.
But, is that what she really wants?
This story is a bit slow when it comes to plot, as it is very heavy with details and tells the story of Mary Jemison purely as it happened. Still, it is a wonderful and realistic story of life in the 1700's, and shows the relationship between the natives and the white settlers. I would recommend if you like character driven stories, but if you are looking for plot driven stories, this isn't quite the one for you. Over all, I definitely enjoyed this book!
Molly begins to understand her new life as an Indian, but she never forgets her heritage. She waits restlessly for a chance to leave her captors, to return to her white people.
But, is that what she really wants?
This story is a bit slow when it comes to plot, as it is very heavy with details and tells the story of Mary Jemison purely as it happened. Still, it is a wonderful and realistic story of life in the 1700's, and shows the relationship between the natives and the white settlers. I would recommend if you like character driven stories, but if you are looking for plot driven stories, this isn't quite the one for you. Over all, I definitely enjoyed this book!
May 31, 2017
This is a wonderful, well researched, tear-jerking, historical novel. Based on the true story of Mary Jemison, Indian Captive is a powerful powerful novel because....
-of the strong theme of tension between the English and the American Indians. Lois Lenski writes about it beautifully, sharing insights from both sides. Other books have portrayed the Indians as much more violent and harsh (I e Pocohantas), and I am not quite sure who is more correct, but their culture is not sugar coated or downplayed in this book. The takeaways from this book on race and love are amazing!
-the emotional horse carriage journey she rides you on. Wow this is one of the few books I've cried over (I broke when Mary's mother gave Mary a last speech before her daughter was torn away), and even reading it a second time I still get tears in my eyes at different points. Lenski's writing is powerful. She rarely explicitly states, 'Mary thought'. The thought process of the character is the running arc of the story, and I totally got inside Mary's head without Lenski using any of those overused verb disclaimers. Mary's emotions were very realistic and well stated. Sometimes, the thought process did feel a little overdone, like Lenski was trying too hard, but those moments were rare xD.
-beautiful characters. They say one of the greatest factors in a story that a writer must make is empathy. And boy, that's true. The plot of this story is insane--Molly wants to go home for almost the entire book, and she gets about a hundred chances to. The reader is just banging his head on the table each time the poor girl's hopes are dashed. Lenski really breaks her characters, but she grows them. I even empathized with the Indians--she puts this amazing people in a honest light.
Yet it is at the end, the beautiful end, well prepared by Lenski, that we see how she has led us, all along, through the entire story to this point! Mary makes her decision, but for once, it is free and uncoerced.
And I rooted for her.
-of the strong theme of tension between the English and the American Indians. Lois Lenski writes about it beautifully, sharing insights from both sides. Other books have portrayed the Indians as much more violent and harsh (I e Pocohantas), and I am not quite sure who is more correct, but their culture is not sugar coated or downplayed in this book. The takeaways from this book on race and love are amazing!
-the emotional horse carriage journey she rides you on. Wow this is one of the few books I've cried over (I broke when Mary's mother gave Mary a last speech before her daughter was torn away), and even reading it a second time I still get tears in my eyes at different points. Lenski's writing is powerful. She rarely explicitly states, 'Mary thought'. The thought process of the character is the running arc of the story, and I totally got inside Mary's head without Lenski using any of those overused verb disclaimers. Mary's emotions were very realistic and well stated. Sometimes, the thought process did feel a little overdone, like Lenski was trying too hard, but those moments were rare xD.
-beautiful characters. They say one of the greatest factors in a story that a writer must make is empathy. And boy, that's true. The plot of this story is insane--Molly wants to go home for almost the entire book, and she gets about a hundred chances to. The reader is just banging his head on the table each time the poor girl's hopes are dashed. Lenski really breaks her characters, but she grows them. I even empathized with the Indians--she puts this amazing people in a honest light.
Yet it is at the end, the beautiful end, well prepared by Lenski, that we see how she has led us, all along, through the entire story to this point! Mary makes her decision, but for once, it is free and uncoerced.
And I rooted for her.
January 8, 2020
If I had read this as a youngster I would have been enthralled. As an adult reading it for the first time I am impressed with Lenski's research and empathy.
February 6, 2023
I read this book because I need a book that is set in Pennsylvania. I love historical fiction so I thought I'd give it a try. The author tells more about Mary Jemison and the Seneca Indians prior to chapter 1 which I found interesting and informative.
Mary Jemison, aka Molly, is a young girl whose family was close-knit. She had two brothers named Tom and John and a sister named Betsey. One day a group of Seneca Indians and Frenchmen raided their property and took Molly and a little boy named Davey.
It would be so hard to be taken captive by a group of people whose language and culture and rituals that you don't know or understand, but Molly was with them for about two years during the course of the book. I guess I'd say that Molly's life ended up bittersweet for me. I was hoping for a different ending.
Mary Jemison, aka Molly, is a young girl whose family was close-knit. She had two brothers named Tom and John and a sister named Betsey. One day a group of Seneca Indians and Frenchmen raided their property and took Molly and a little boy named Davey.
It would be so hard to be taken captive by a group of people whose language and culture and rituals that you don't know or understand, but Molly was with them for about two years during the course of the book. I guess I'd say that Molly's life ended up bittersweet for me. I was hoping for a different ending.
June 12, 2008
I found Indian Captive easy to put down. It had valuable and interesting info on what daily life was like in an Indian village. I got tired of reading that "she was a white girl in an Indian village" which was repeated often in the first half of the book. OK, we got the idea. The length of her grief was realistic. Her decision to want to stay with the Indians took all of 1 or 2 pages at the end of the book. Hmmm. If it would have grabbed me more, I would have given it 4 stars. I looked up her story in her own words on the internet and skimmed it. Search "Mary Jemison" and "Seaver" (the one who wrote down her story). Her real life is a sad one. Her childhood (the story of Indian Captive) was less than a chapter long, so the author's admitting she took liberties with the real story was an understatement.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 24, 2018
Indian Captive: The Story of Mary Jemison is based on a true story. The book reads fast and guides the reader through Molly’s emotions as a captive of the Seneca people. I highly recommend reading it to middle grade age kids.
June 20, 2025
It was very good. I liked how she was able to be brave. This is great book and I love how it is a true story.
May 19, 2022
A story set in Colonial America of a settlement that is raided by a tribe of Native Americans. The Seneca has suffered losses and they seek revenge and new tribe's members to replace the family members they have lost.
Young Mary called "Molly" is a happy little girl who suffers the loss of her family and is adopted by the Seneca tribe. She stays with them so long she forms new family bonds.
Young Mary called "Molly" is a happy little girl who suffers the loss of her family and is adopted by the Seneca tribe. She stays with them so long she forms new family bonds.
May 1, 2020
I picked this up at the library in my quest to read more Newbery/Newbery Honor books. Plus, my mom is a big Lois Lenski fan.
I have mixed feelings about this book. As a story, it was interesting and taught a lot about the Seneca way of life. It was published in 1941, and I am really impressed by Lenski's efforts to do extensive research into Seneca and Iroquois history and culture, and to represent that accurately onto the page. She portrays them very sympathetically as warriors, artisans and just generally good people, very knowledgeable about the land and growing crops. All of this is done within the commonly used vernacular of the time - in other words, she is still calling them Indians rather than Native Americans, for example. I questioned the authenticity of some of the words they used in this story because they sounded like they came straight out of an old "cowboys and Indians" type movie - like calling the white settlers pale-faces, and talking about those that died going to the "Happy Hunting Ground."
There were also discrepancies between this story and other sources about Mary Jemison. Most sources will say the name given to her by the Seneca was "De-ge-wa-nus" or some variation on that, which meant "pretty girl" or "pleasant thing," yet in the book they name her Corn Tassel because of her hair. Lenski herself also said she made some modifications to make the story better for younger audiences - it stops before Jemison's early marriage, and the attachment she makes to a young Seneca baby is to her new sister's child instead of her own. Lenski even said she pulled in events from other captives' stories, so really there's no knowing from the book alone which of these things actually happened to Mary and which didn't. I understand that Lenski was trying to create a more comprehensive story of white settlers' captivity, but maybe she could have just created a fictional character to sew all these depictions onto if that was the case, rather than using one real person and altering their story. When authors do this, I can't help but feel that there have to be kids who read (perhaps read and re-read) this book and grew up thinking this was that person's absolutely true history.
Overall, I did like the book and I appreciate what Lois Lenski was doing. Her illustrations are lovely and were touted by at least one field expert as being extremely accurate. Much of the research was done in upstate NY, in the Rochester area, and someday I'd like to go visit the museum whose archives she used (well, she used more than just one) and see what they have.
I have mixed feelings about this book. As a story, it was interesting and taught a lot about the Seneca way of life. It was published in 1941, and I am really impressed by Lenski's efforts to do extensive research into Seneca and Iroquois history and culture, and to represent that accurately onto the page. She portrays them very sympathetically as warriors, artisans and just generally good people, very knowledgeable about the land and growing crops. All of this is done within the commonly used vernacular of the time - in other words, she is still calling them Indians rather than Native Americans, for example. I questioned the authenticity of some of the words they used in this story because they sounded like they came straight out of an old "cowboys and Indians" type movie - like calling the white settlers pale-faces, and talking about those that died going to the "Happy Hunting Ground."
There were also discrepancies between this story and other sources about Mary Jemison. Most sources will say the name given to her by the Seneca was "De-ge-wa-nus" or some variation on that, which meant "pretty girl" or "pleasant thing," yet in the book they name her Corn Tassel because of her hair. Lenski herself also said she made some modifications to make the story better for younger audiences - it stops before Jemison's early marriage, and the attachment she makes to a young Seneca baby is to her new sister's child instead of her own. Lenski even said she pulled in events from other captives' stories, so really there's no knowing from the book alone which of these things actually happened to Mary and which didn't. I understand that Lenski was trying to create a more comprehensive story of white settlers' captivity, but maybe she could have just created a fictional character to sew all these depictions onto if that was the case, rather than using one real person and altering their story. When authors do this, I can't help but feel that there have to be kids who read (perhaps read and re-read) this book and grew up thinking this was that person's absolutely true history.
Overall, I did like the book and I appreciate what Lois Lenski was doing. Her illustrations are lovely and were touted by at least one field expert as being extremely accurate. Much of the research was done in upstate NY, in the Rochester area, and someday I'd like to go visit the museum whose archives she used (well, she used more than just one) and see what they have.
March 30, 2013
I read this book aloud to my son and thus became interested in the life of Mary Jemison, so I read her book "The Narrative of Mary Jemison." (a public domain book) It is good to read them in conjuction so you can see where Lois Lenski takes liberties.
The biggest liberty she takes is that she goes on and on and ON about Mary's "yellow" hair like a "corn tassel." In fact, the Indians name her corn tassel because they admire her blonde hair so much.
In reality, her hair was light brown, NOT yellow. In reality, the Indians did NOT name her Corn Tassel at all. They named her a name which I forget, but means something like like "Handsome girl, pretty girl, pleasant girl." She retained this name throughout her life so she was NEVER EVER Corn Tassel.
Definitely read both books together.
The biggest liberty she takes is that she goes on and on and ON about Mary's "yellow" hair like a "corn tassel." In fact, the Indians name her corn tassel because they admire her blonde hair so much.
In reality, her hair was light brown, NOT yellow. In reality, the Indians did NOT name her Corn Tassel at all. They named her a name which I forget, but means something like like "Handsome girl, pretty girl, pleasant girl." She retained this name throughout her life so she was NEVER EVER Corn Tassel.
Definitely read both books together.
July 16, 2020
Based on the true story of Mary (Molly) Jemison, the descriptions were clear and drew one into the story. The style seems similar to Laura Ingalls Wilder's writing. Lois Lenski did a wonderful job of not sensationalizing the capture of Mary but also helped us understand the confusion and "lostness" that Mary experienced when she was separated from her family.
One of the last things that Mary's mom tells her is "It don't matter what happens, if you're only strong and have great courage."
After two years with the Seneca tribe, Mary was offered the chance to go back to the Englishmen. When she chose to stay, Chief Burning Sky renamed her Little-Woman-of-Great-Courage.
Another great quote from the Chief is "No matter is so important that it should be decided in haste. The greater the matter, the more need for cool counsel, for slow and careful deliberation."
We have so much to learn....
One of the last things that Mary's mom tells her is "It don't matter what happens, if you're only strong and have great courage."
After two years with the Seneca tribe, Mary was offered the chance to go back to the Englishmen. When she chose to stay, Chief Burning Sky renamed her Little-Woman-of-Great-Courage.
Another great quote from the Chief is "No matter is so important that it should be decided in haste. The greater the matter, the more need for cool counsel, for slow and careful deliberation."
We have so much to learn....
October 22, 2022
Apparently based on a true story about a young girl (12?) who was captured and adopted by the Seneca in the 1700s. Considering the era it was written in (1941), it was a lot more respectful of Indigenous culture than I would have expected. Well illustrated, and moderately interesting.
There were some factual errors that I noticed (and probably many others that I didn't). For example, Molly was wearing a "blue jean dress" when she was captured, but denim hadn't been invented yet.
There were some factual errors that I noticed (and probably many others that I didn't). For example, Molly was wearing a "blue jean dress" when she was captured, but denim hadn't been invented yet.
October 28, 2010
Quite enjoyable--perhaps more so the second time 'round.(Read it for the first time as a child.) Lois Lenski was an author I wrote to as part of an assignment for school when I was in the 3rd or 4th grade. I was so thrilled when she wrote back, sending me book marks for several of the books she had written. As it turns out, she died only a year or two after I had written to her.
November 29, 2020
This is one of the best books I’ve read in a ling time. I love how in the foreword Lois Lenski states all the research she did to make the book as historically accurate as possible. This is a great story of courage, forgiveness, and adaptation. I couldn’t imagine being Molly. This book definitely made me want to read more about her life!
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February 18, 2017I've read this about 3 times
August 26, 2023
Fascinating history based on the true story of 12-year-old Mary "Molly" Jemison, who was taken captive by Indians, together with her family, in 1758 on the frontier of Pennsylvania. Separated from the rest of her family (who were almost immediately murdered, with the exception of two brothers who escaped the raid), she was marched for many long days to a Seneca settlement in Ohio, where she began her long life of captivity that bordered on slavery.
Homesick and unable to adjust to the changes, she tried several times to run away, but eventually became resigned to her new life among the Indians. Once she settled into the life of the Indian village, she was a quick learner and observer. But she never quit yearning for her family until she learned from a white trader that they had all been killed. After that, knowing she had nothing to go back to, she was content to remain with the Indians for the rest of her life. In fact, a few years later, when she had the opportunity to be ransomed and move to a white settlement, she chose her Indian family instead.
The story is based on Mary Jemison's diary, and the author has done extensive research into the lifestyles of the Indian people with whom she lived, producing some excellent illustrations for the book as well (with the exception of the cover of my edition - Mary is depicted as having brown hair, when several times in the book, her blonde "corn silk" hair is mentioned - in fact, it becomes the basis for her Indian name, Corn Tassel). Highly recommended for middle grade students, but can be enjoyed by older students through adults.
Homesick and unable to adjust to the changes, she tried several times to run away, but eventually became resigned to her new life among the Indians. Once she settled into the life of the Indian village, she was a quick learner and observer. But she never quit yearning for her family until she learned from a white trader that they had all been killed. After that, knowing she had nothing to go back to, she was content to remain with the Indians for the rest of her life. In fact, a few years later, when she had the opportunity to be ransomed and move to a white settlement, she chose her Indian family instead.
The story is based on Mary Jemison's diary, and the author has done extensive research into the lifestyles of the Indian people with whom she lived, producing some excellent illustrations for the book as well (with the exception of the cover of my edition - Mary is depicted as having brown hair, when several times in the book, her blonde "corn silk" hair is mentioned - in fact, it becomes the basis for her Indian name, Corn Tassel). Highly recommended for middle grade students, but can be enjoyed by older students through adults.
September 14, 2022
I decided to reread books from my childhood. As a young reader, I never really enjoyed books by Lois Lenski, especially when compared to historical fiction by Scott O'Dell or Elizabeth George Speare which are some of my favorites. With this reading, I have some insight into that feeling.
Lenski is short of character development. In the first chapter, Mary/Molly is introduced as someone with blonde hair who dislikes schoolwork and chores--while that might be enough to make Molly relatable to some children, it comes across as laziness by Lenski and also underestimates middle-grade readers. Furthermore, Molly's interactions with her family are so limited and disconnected that she seems more like an orphan recently taken in, than a member of the family. Later in the book, Lenski mentions that Molly never held her baby sister. Not only is this implausible for an 18th-century twelve-year-old girl in her class, but it further shows the family disconnect that I felt in the first chapter. Instead of quality character development for Molly and her family relationship, Lenski focuses on name-dropping or listing "ye olde" farm implements to convey a historic setting. It is possible, but unlikely, that the 1940s readers of this book knew what many of these items were without a dictionary. Certainly, readers will be unfamiliar with these implements eighty years later, making the first chapter uninteresting for today's readers. Other characters are developed based on stereotypes that I really don't want modern children to learn: Earth Woman is "pretty" and therefore "nice". Squirrel Woman is "unattractive" with a "thick" body type and is therefore mean".
Although the first chapter is horribly slow, the pace of the narrative picks up once the French and Shawnee arrive and Mary is captured. Lenski's description of the captives' journey is compelling and interesting. As noted in the introduction to the book, Lenski spent time researching Native American culture before writing this book, and her efforts to show in even the smallest of details. By occasionally shifting from Molly's perspective to that of Little Turtle, Lenski is able to explain aspects of Seneca life that Molly was unable to understand at that time. Despite her efforts, Lenski's writing shows a racial bias that does not sit well with my modern sensibilities. I am fine with the book being called Indian Captive--American Indian vs. Native American is really a moot point since the people covered by these labels use their tribal identity rather than the names selected by whites. Furthermore, Mary and her family might have referred to her captors as Indians.
So, my issue with Lenski is not whether she uses the term Native American or Indian, but that she had the Seneca refer to themselves as Indians. For example, Little Turtle wishes that Molly could speak the Indian language. Lenski's choice of words is interesting as it would have been just as easy to write "his language" or "the language of his people". Having the Seneca think of themselves as "Indians" happens again and again in the book. Another mistake Lenski makes is the use of the word captive. Upon arriving in the Seneca village, Mary is adopted by the tribe and given to two women as a sister. However, Lenski repeatedly has the Seneca refer to Molly as "their captive" or "the captive." Lenski's word choice implies a hostile relationship that simply was not present. As an adoptee, Molly or Corn Tassel would have been referred to affectionately as one of the Seneca.
Lenski also fails to accurately portray Molly as a girl of her time. For example, Molly gets upset when Little Turtle kills a turkey, rather than being excited about having meat to eat. An 18th-century farm girl living on the colonial frontier would be used to seeing animals such as chickens, geese, deer, and hogs killed and processed for consumption. Her overreaction (crying and begging for the animal's life) about the turkey and her talk of not killing or eating animals is pure 20th-century. Also, as mentioned above, Molly dislikes her choirs and wants time to play instead. Because the concept of children playing did not emerge in British culture until the late Victorian era, this again fails the historical accuracy test. Certainly, Mary could prefer some tasks over others, but a twelve-year-old farm girl in a large family or the era would be used to chores and accept them as a way of life. I also found the choice of Appalachian-type dialect for Molly's parents odd, given that her parents immigrated to Pennsylvania from Ireland. I am not expecting a children's book to be written in a Scots-Irish dialect but would expect the dialect used to be authentic given the author's claims of authenticity in the introduction.
Despite these flaws, Lenski does slowly build to a heart-wrenching conclusion Lenski's ending is dramatic, she changes historical facts in a way that depicts and perpetuates her cultural bias.
Mary Jemison's life is interesting and there is value in learning about the culture of native peoples. But this book no longer serves that purpose.
Lenski is short of character development. In the first chapter, Mary/Molly is introduced as someone with blonde hair who dislikes schoolwork and chores--while that might be enough to make Molly relatable to some children, it comes across as laziness by Lenski and also underestimates middle-grade readers. Furthermore, Molly's interactions with her family are so limited and disconnected that she seems more like an orphan recently taken in, than a member of the family. Later in the book, Lenski mentions that Molly never held her baby sister. Not only is this implausible for an 18th-century twelve-year-old girl in her class, but it further shows the family disconnect that I felt in the first chapter. Instead of quality character development for Molly and her family relationship, Lenski focuses on name-dropping or listing "ye olde" farm implements to convey a historic setting. It is possible, but unlikely, that the 1940s readers of this book knew what many of these items were without a dictionary. Certainly, readers will be unfamiliar with these implements eighty years later, making the first chapter uninteresting for today's readers. Other characters are developed based on stereotypes that I really don't want modern children to learn: Earth Woman is "pretty" and therefore "nice". Squirrel Woman is "unattractive" with a "thick" body type and is therefore mean".
Although the first chapter is horribly slow, the pace of the narrative picks up once the French and Shawnee arrive and Mary is captured. Lenski's description of the captives' journey is compelling and interesting. As noted in the introduction to the book, Lenski spent time researching Native American culture before writing this book, and her efforts to show in even the smallest of details. By occasionally shifting from Molly's perspective to that of Little Turtle, Lenski is able to explain aspects of Seneca life that Molly was unable to understand at that time. Despite her efforts, Lenski's writing shows a racial bias that does not sit well with my modern sensibilities. I am fine with the book being called Indian Captive--American Indian vs. Native American is really a moot point since the people covered by these labels use their tribal identity rather than the names selected by whites. Furthermore, Mary and her family might have referred to her captors as Indians.
So, my issue with Lenski is not whether she uses the term Native American or Indian, but that she had the Seneca refer to themselves as Indians. For example, Little Turtle wishes that Molly could speak the Indian language. Lenski's choice of words is interesting as it would have been just as easy to write "his language" or "the language of his people". Having the Seneca think of themselves as "Indians" happens again and again in the book. Another mistake Lenski makes is the use of the word captive. Upon arriving in the Seneca village, Mary is adopted by the tribe and given to two women as a sister. However, Lenski repeatedly has the Seneca refer to Molly as "their captive" or "the captive." Lenski's word choice implies a hostile relationship that simply was not present. As an adoptee, Molly or Corn Tassel would have been referred to affectionately as one of the Seneca.
Lenski also fails to accurately portray Molly as a girl of her time. For example, Molly gets upset when Little Turtle kills a turkey, rather than being excited about having meat to eat. An 18th-century farm girl living on the colonial frontier would be used to seeing animals such as chickens, geese, deer, and hogs killed and processed for consumption. Her overreaction (crying and begging for the animal's life) about the turkey and her talk of not killing or eating animals is pure 20th-century. Also, as mentioned above, Molly dislikes her choirs and wants time to play instead. Because the concept of children playing did not emerge in British culture until the late Victorian era, this again fails the historical accuracy test. Certainly, Mary could prefer some tasks over others, but a twelve-year-old farm girl in a large family or the era would be used to chores and accept them as a way of life. I also found the choice of Appalachian-type dialect for Molly's parents odd, given that her parents immigrated to Pennsylvania from Ireland. I am not expecting a children's book to be written in a Scots-Irish dialect but would expect the dialect used to be authentic given the author's claims of authenticity in the introduction.
Despite these flaws, Lenski does slowly build to a heart-wrenching conclusion Lenski's ending is dramatic, she changes historical facts in a way that depicts and perpetuates her cultural bias.
Mary Jemison's life is interesting and there is value in learning about the culture of native peoples. But this book no longer serves that purpose.
January 5, 2019
"Indian Captive" is the story of Mary Jemison who was taken by the Seneca from her family home in Pennslyvania in 1758. Her family was killed but she was spared. The story explains her challenges, anger, sadness, confusion, and eventual acceptance of life with the Seneca.
This book would be suitable for upper elementary and older, including adults. I would also suggest reading "The Narrative of the Life of Mrs. Mary Jemison" (https://www.gutenberg.org/files/6960/...) for a true account of her life as told by her November 29, 1823, to author James E. Seaver.
P.S. I started this last night but couldn't finish! I had to read the ending during my lunch!
This book would be suitable for upper elementary and older, including adults. I would also suggest reading "The Narrative of the Life of Mrs. Mary Jemison" (https://www.gutenberg.org/files/6960/...) for a true account of her life as told by her November 29, 1823, to author James E. Seaver.
P.S. I started this last night but couldn't finish! I had to read the ending during my lunch!
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