Matty O's Book Review:

Indian Captive, The Story of Mary Jemison

By: Lois Lenski

Reviewed by: Madeleine Ota

Rating: O O O O (Out of 5)



Everything was just a normal day for Molly until the Seneca Indians raided her house and adopted her as one of their own. Little Molly was taken away from her home, her parents, and everything she knew and loved. She was taken to stay with the Seneca Native American tribe for the rest of her life, for the English had taken one of their children, and Molly would have to be the replacement. As she tried to find a way to escape her masters, Molly began to adapt to the Seneca ways. Before long, she had picked up almost all of their language, learned most of the village by heart, and accepted the ways of the Seneca parents that adopted her. Throughout the novel, Molly meets new Native American friends and begins to understand and get a different perspective on the Seneca ways. "But will she ever go home before forgetting all about everything she once new?" is the big question.



I really loved this book! I felt the whole story was suspenseful with new events every chapter! To be honest, I usually like fantasy better than historical fiction (and this book was in the historical fiction genre), but this story was amazing to me. I enjoyed following the characters and seeing them change over time throughout the book. For example, Molly a little white girl, learned the Seneca ways and was raised to be a one from the moment she was captured. She began to become a Seneca: she spoke their language, followed their religion, and interacted with the other Senecas. I also learned a lot from the facts in this story. I learned the daily life of both the English and the Seneca and their feelings about each other. Lastly, I thought that the characters had their own individual personalities. They were all fully developed and that is what made the plot interesting. For instance: Squirrel Woman was a grumpy Seneca Indian who always thought the glass was half empty. Molly feared her, for when Molly spoke English or did something against the rules, Squirrel Woman would punish her by giving her a good kick or whack. She even threatened to dump Molly into the pond. Then there is Shining Star, who is the opposite of Squirrel Woman. She is very kind and Molly feels comfortable around her. Shining Star is the person to look to for advice or help.



I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a good story, especially those who are into historical fiction. If you want to get a glimpse of Seneca life, read "Indian Captive". Readers will also be able to experience themes that are even around today; love, hope, happiness, and trust.