A Country of Strangers

The Light in the Forest #2

by Conrad Richter

The decree read that all white captives must be returned and Stone Girl had to leave her husband for an unknown way of life

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Historical, Young Adult, Adventure

169 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 1966

About the author

Conrad Michael Richter (October 13, 1890 – October 30, 1968) was an American novelist whose lyrical work is concerned largely with life on the American frontier in various periods. His novel The Town (1950), the last story of his trilogy The Awakening Land about the Ohio frontier, won the 1951 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.[1] His novel The Waters of Kronos won the 1961 National Book Award for Fiction.[2] Two collections of short stories were published posthumously during the 20th century, and several of his novels have been reissued during the 21st century by academic presses. (wikipedia.org)

Reviews

[Bren fall in love with the sea. · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Sometimes the clouds thinned a little, not much, barely enough to make out strange forms behind them. One was a house of pink stones, all the same shape and size, a house far bigger than her own Indian bark cabin".


A Country of Strangers by Conrad Richter

This book is about a native american girl named Stone Girl and is also the companion piece to "The Light in the forest". Although it is young adult, anyone with an interest in Native American History can enjoy this.

I really enjoyed Stone girl's story and while I will not leave any spoilers about it, I will drop one little nugget.

Spoiler:

True Son does indeed make an appearance in this story and it is unexpected and very gratifying when he does. Light in the forest is up there as one of my all time favorites and for years I was unaware that this book existed. It is a lovely read and I'd recommend it.

[Klr · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE Conrad Richter. What a great writer. Why is he not better known?

[Sameera · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Country of Strangers by Conrad Richter is now probably one of the nicest books that I have read. The book is about a girl, Stone Girl and her journey from the land of the Indians to the land of the Whites. The story is very touching as the relationship between Stone Girl and her son, Otter Boy, is developed in a beautiful way. Initially, I found it hard to read the book as the language was difficult to understand. Nonetheless, as the book progressed, I became familiar with the language and enjoyed the book thoroughly. The ending was very sad and it really touched me. I would sincerely recommend this book to everyone as it truly is a great book.

[Joann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the writing— such use of language is rare. Also rare to have harsh and strong emotions so crushingly and clearly presented. Published in 1968, a very complex story and no warm fuzzy resolution, this is companion book to Light in the Forest.

[Ruth Soz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the follow up to Light in the Forest, which remains one of my favorite assigned books from school. I was particularly excited to read this copy, which is a 1966 edition and was sent from my alma mater (Western Michigan University) through the Michigan inter-library loan system. There was something special about seeing those due date stamps from the 1970s and knowing that this book was nestled somewhere in the stacks when I spent my time at the Waldo Library as a student...but I digress. This story felt hauntingly relevant in today's political climate and brought up a lot of questions and issues around identity in the United States. I wish the ending had been more uplifting, but then perhaps it wouldn't have been as realistic.

[Midge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short read of a 5 year old white girl captured by Indians. Lived with them until she was found at age 15 and returned to her white family along with her Indian son. But that does not turn out good for her. Book starts slow, then picks up and gets good but parts were sad.

[Jeffrey Franks · Rating 5 out of 5]

An insightful story of a white female child who was captured and raised by Native Americans in the Ohio territory, this story illustrates the conflict between early American settlers and Native Americans from both perspectives. Stone Girl, as she was named by her captors, must adapt as her stable life among the Delaware people changes when Native tribes agree to relinquish their white captives to English General Bouquet. The story, which is told from the young woman's perspective, is based upon true historical events and cultural norms of the period.

[Deacon D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This "companion novel" to The Light in the Forest is much like its predecessor, but features a female protagonist.

I don't recall whether or not I previously read this novel when I was a young boy, but this old man very much enjoyed A Country of Strangers.

[Gregory Strong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another spare, moving novel about cultural differences, conflicts, goods, and evils between Native Americans and European colonists in the 1760s in south central Pennsylvania, west to eastern Ohio. Richter does not provide a thorough, extensive, intellectual consideration of the complex and often terrible ambiguities of the Native American-European history. Rather, he moves the reader to consider those ambiguities through the sorrowful tale of a young white girl captured and raised to be Native American, but who will never be fully at home in white or Native American culture, and who will live and eventually die in "a country of strangers."

[Sue Lanier · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first read this book as a child 60 years ago. When I recently picked it up and re-read it, I found that it had the same emotional impact as before. A beautifully written novel of a childhood stolen, an epic journey, and the longing for acceptance.

[Trisha Owens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this story of a White girl raised by Indians and returned to the White society, along with her Indian son, Otter Boy.

[Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, I could relate to this in present day. We are afraid of the unknown.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this in childhood, sort of a follow up/sequel to A Light in the forest. I remember liking it very much.

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Richter gives the harsh realities of life in his books. He is a national treasure.

[Linda Corrigan]

I could not put this book down!

[Bradley Lawson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bleak book but poetic writing style. I liked how stone girl taught the worlds' lore to otter boy. It was a pretty motherly storytelling narrative device.

[Debbie is on Storygraph · Rating 3 out of 5]

I remember reading The Light in the Forest back in middle school, which is nearing a decade ago. I remember vaguely the teacher saying there was another book Richter wrote that was pseudo sequel, and for some reason, 10 years later I decided to look it up.

This book tells the story of another young person who was adopted by the Indians, and is forced to return to the white world. Unlike True Son in The Light in the Forest, Stone Girl is not welcomed by her white family, who do not believe her to be the missing Mary Stanton thanks to an impostor taking her place.

This duplicity is a secondary plot that is unresolved. The book instead focuses on Stone Girl's existence straddling two worlds. She's too Indian to be white, and after spending time with her white family, becomes too white to be accepted by her old Indian tribe.

This was a very quick read, and an interesting one but, like The Light in the Forest, is ultimately unsatisfying in the end - the main character learns s/he does not fit into either society.

[Alan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lot of middle school teachers have heir students read this author's classic, The Light in the Forest, but this companion book is much better. A white girl is captured and raised by Lenni Lenape Indians in western Pennsylvania. Due to the never ending war between the white settlers and the native Americas, the girl can live in neither world. Richter tells her story poetically and sympathetically. He made me wonder how he could know so much about women and about the Lenni Lenape Indians. Super book!

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poignant, if a trifle melodramatic. Captures that feeling of not belonging anywhere

[Emily D · Rating 5 out of 5]

A true storyteller's book written in the late '60's. Great pacing, plotting, and with an honest ending.

[Jenna]

I have to read this one again. I was quite shocked by it as a child