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Never Let Go: Survival of the Lake Shetek Women
Sacrificing dreams and risking family, five women follow their husbands to an isolated Minnesota settlement. Struggling to survive, they develop resilience but none are prepared for the challenges they face when starving bands of Santee Sioux (Dakota) take up arms against the whites during the 1862 Dakota Conflict.
Laura Duley left Indiana as a newlywed. Promised a perfect life, she endured years on the hostile frontier and the loss of family only to be taken captive by the Dakota. Independent and protective, Lavina Eastlick was shot, beaten, and left for dead after witnessing the death of several of her children. In the hope that two still survived, she stumbled miles to reach safety. Christina Koch was a headstrong German immigrant determined to make a new life in America. Challenging her captors at every turn, she finally escaped to safety. Almena Hurd, unwavering in her commitment to family, was already dealing with a missing husband when she was sent alone onto the prairie with two small children. She survived by carrying one, then returning for the other, a quarter mile at a time. Julia Wright, the honest, practical wife of an unscrupulous trader, used her language skills and understanding of the Dakota to help the captives during their ordeal, becoming so valuable that her captor refused to release her to her rescuers, the Yankton Sioux Fool Soldier Band.
Their braided stories reveal a common will that allowed them to hold on no matter what and to never let go.
Laura Duley left Indiana as a newlywed. Promised a perfect life, she endured years on the hostile frontier and the loss of family only to be taken captive by the Dakota. Independent and protective, Lavina Eastlick was shot, beaten, and left for dead after witnessing the death of several of her children. In the hope that two still survived, she stumbled miles to reach safety. Christina Koch was a headstrong German immigrant determined to make a new life in America. Challenging her captors at every turn, she finally escaped to safety. Almena Hurd, unwavering in her commitment to family, was already dealing with a missing husband when she was sent alone onto the prairie with two small children. She survived by carrying one, then returning for the other, a quarter mile at a time. Julia Wright, the honest, practical wife of an unscrupulous trader, used her language skills and understanding of the Dakota to help the captives during their ordeal, becoming so valuable that her captor refused to release her to her rescuers, the Yankton Sioux Fool Soldier Band.
Their braided stories reveal a common will that allowed them to hold on no matter what and to never let go.
453 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 27, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
June 9, 2022
Great Historical Detail & Wonderful Characters
I loved this look into another time. These women seem to spring from the page, and the story of how they all got to the Lake Shetek community is as fascinating as the confrontation that occurred there--and the time in captivity among the Dakota afterward.
I did, sometimes, find it a little difficult to keep all the shifting POV characters straight (though I never had confusion when Laura, Julia, or Christina was the one telling story). Also, I found the movement from first to third person and in and out of past and present tense somewhat grating.
Even with that, this was a wonderful, intense, well-researched story. I'd strongly recommend it for anyone who likes historical fiction, especially anyone who enjoy tales about ordinary women--or stories from the mid-1800s US frontier
I loved this look into another time. These women seem to spring from the page, and the story of how they all got to the Lake Shetek community is as fascinating as the confrontation that occurred there--and the time in captivity among the Dakota afterward.
I did, sometimes, find it a little difficult to keep all the shifting POV characters straight (though I never had confusion when Laura, Julia, or Christina was the one telling story). Also, I found the movement from first to third person and in and out of past and present tense somewhat grating.
Even with that, this was a wonderful, intense, well-researched story. I'd strongly recommend it for anyone who likes historical fiction, especially anyone who enjoy tales about ordinary women--or stories from the mid-1800s US frontier
June 29, 2022
WOW!! I am NOT a historical fiction reader, but... I live on Lake Shetek and the author was in my brother's class in HS.
The settlers settled on my side of the lake, the Hurd cabin spot is not more than a mile up the road from where I live today on Lake Shetek. I know about Slaughter Slough, but... well, history was never my thing, and really didn't know that much about it.
Pam really brought the characters to life, yet at the same time documented the history of what happened. An intense book at times. I often wondered... what would I have done had I been in that situation.
Highly recommend this book, especially if you live in Southwest Minnesota area!!
The settlers settled on my side of the lake, the Hurd cabin spot is not more than a mile up the road from where I live today on Lake Shetek. I know about Slaughter Slough, but... well, history was never my thing, and really didn't know that much about it.
Pam really brought the characters to life, yet at the same time documented the history of what happened. An intense book at times. I often wondered... what would I have done had I been in that situation.
Highly recommend this book, especially if you live in Southwest Minnesota area!!
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews