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Lois Lenski
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Indian Captive: The Story of Mary Jemison Paperback – February 18, 1995

by Lois Lenski (Author, Illustrator)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 628 ratings
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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 among the Seneca Indians.

Meticulously researched and illustrated with many detailed drawings, this Newbery Honor novel is an unforgettable tale.

Twelve-year-old Mary Jemison took for granted her peaceful days on her family's farm in eastern Pennsylvania. But on a spring day in 1758, something happened that changed her life forever.

When a band of warriors invades the Jemisons' house and takes the family captive, Mary is separated from her parents and siblings. She travels with the Indians to southern Ohio and later to a Seneca village on the Genesee River in what is now western New York.

Mary's new life is not easy. She misses her family terribly and is unaccustomed to Seneca ways. But even after her several unsuccessful attempts to run away, the Indians are kind to Mary and teach her many things about the earth, its plants, and its creatures. She develops deep bonds with the animals and even her captors. When Mary is finally given the chance to return to the world she had inhabited, she struggles with her newfound feelings.

Previous page
  1. Reading age
    9 - 13 years, from customers
  2. Part of series
    Trophy Newbery
  3. Print length
    320 pages
  4. Language
    English
  5. Grade level
    5 - 6
  6. Lexile measure
    800L
  7. Dimensions
    5.12 x 0.64 x 7.62 inches
  8. Publisher
    HarperCollins
  9. Publication date
    February 18, 1995
  10. ISBN-10
    0064461629
  11. ISBN-13
    978-0064461627
  12. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

In this classic frontier adventure, Lois Lenskireconstructs 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.

About the Author

In addition to illustrating the first four Betsy-Tacy books, Lois Lenski (1893-1974) was the 1946 Newberry Medal winning author of Strawberry Girl.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ HarperCollins; Reprint edition (February 18, 1995)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 320 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0064461629
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0064461627
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 9 - 13 years, from customers
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 800L
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ 5 - 6
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 7.4 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.12 x 0.64 x 7.62 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 628 ratings

About the author

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Lois Lenski

Lois Lenski

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In addition to illustrating the first four Betsy-Tacy books, Lois Lenski (1893-1974) was the 1946 Newberry Medal winning author of Strawberry Girl.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
628 global ratings
True Story that takes place during the French and Indian War
5 Stars
True Story that takes place during the French and Indian War
This book has seen better days, but its worn cover, loose binding, and dog-eared pages speak volumes (no pun intended); Indian Captive, The Story of Mary Jemison by Lois Lenski is a well-loved living book that I’ve enjoyed since I was as young as our children are now!The story is always moving quickly, so it’s an excellent choice for keeping the attention of boys, younger children, or anyone who bores easily!Based on the real life of Mary Jemison (“Molly”), this work of historical fiction takes place during the French and Indian War during the mid 1750s.Molly was captured for retribution to replace a Seneca boy who was killed by the British. The Senecas love and care for this blonde haired American girl as one of their own, but she struggles with real feelings of grief, loss, and abandonment.When she learns that her family has died, Molly must choose whether or not to stay with the Senecas, or go back to her own culture.There are lots of emotions in Indian Captive! A treasured bed-time read aloud that can be enjoyed by the whole family!
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Top reviews from the United States

Annette
5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best by Lois Lenski
Reviewed in the United States on April 6, 2022
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I read this book several times as a child so when I came upon a Kindle version I grabbed it. It is a novelized version of the true story of Mary Jemison who was taken by Indians as an adolescent. While some of the facts have been changed for story telling purposes the core of the story remains true. Would be a great read for children 9 years or older. An easy read that might spark interest in more of the history of the times.
4 people found this helpful
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Not4alltheteainChina
5.0 out of 5 stars Main character very admirable. Many lessons.
Reviewed in the United States on February 22, 2024
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I haven't finished this book yet. It is hard to put down: so much meticulous research went into this book and the idea of stepping back in time to see how indigenous peoples of North America lived feels like such a luxury. I am making myself go slowly so soak in Indigenous details and wise lessons.
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A. Weishaar
4.0 out of 5 stars A 6th Grade Book Review
Reviewed in the United States on November 14, 2017
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Indian Captive
Book Review
By: Lilia, 6th grade

In the book Indian Captive by Lois Lenski a young girl named Molly is captured by the Seneca Nation Native Americans and is taken to live with them. There she learns how to be tough and grow up in a different culture.

After Molly is taken she struggles not to forget her family by repeating their names and talking to herself in English. While living with the Senecas Molly starts to notice how much she is starting to look and act like them. Molly starts going back and forth between wanting to like the Senecas and at the same time turning away their way of life. Molly’s biggest struggle is between adapting to the Seneca culture or holding on and never forgetting her own.

The book Indian Captive takes place during the French and Indian War around 1754, When Molly was captured. In this war the Senecas were on the French side and they were fighting against the British. Molly was captured to replace a young boy who was killed by the British. She was just one of the many children captured by the Senecas as retribution for the killing of a member of their tribe. Molly never really had a side because she was with the Senecas who now cared and loved her but she still wanted to go back to her white American family.

In the end, Molly learned her family died and is faced with possibly one of the hardest decisions in her life. Should she stay with the Senecas that have raised her? Or go back to the culture she was raised in? Throughout the book, she wants to adapt to the culture of the Senecas but also doesn't want to forget her own culture. This is the struggle molly continues to have. The choice Molly makes really reflects on her internal struggle.

Think this book was great because it is always moving. I found it hard to get bored while reading this because I was always wondering what would happen next. Another reason I liked this book is that even though this book is partially fictional it takes an actual history of the French and Indian war into play. If you are looking for a book that is fun, intriguing, and historical I would definitely recommend this book to you.
20 people found this helpful
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Grandma
5.0 out of 5 stars Superbly Done - And Still A Treasure!
Reviewed in the United States on September 5, 2013
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It was only just a few days ago that I happened to mention  Indian Captive: The Story of Mary Jemison (Trophy Newbery)  in another book review. My own treasured copy is with my granddaughter, so I can't tell you how delighted I was to find the Kindle version of this dear old friend on a Daily Deal bright and early this morning!

I first met Lois Lenski's beautifully told story of Mary Jemison, White Captive of the Genesee, as a girl myself. The story was originally published in 1941 and was a 1942 Newbery Honor Book. First, Mary Jemison was real. She was captured by the Shawnee in 1755 while the French & Indian War was at its peak at about the age of 12. Mary remained all of her long life with the Seneca, mostly in what is now New York state, and is buried in Letchworth State Park in Castile, New York.

Lenski took huge pains to make her fictionalized account of Mary Jemison's story as accurate a portrayal of life among the Seneca as possible, spending countless hours in various museums examining the various objects in their extensive collections, speaking with artists and even interviewing Mary Jemison's descendants. The drawings in the book are Lenski's own and this beautifully done Kindle version includes all of them, exactly as the original did. If you happen to visit the New York State Museum at Albany, you can see many of the objects that Lenski used as models for her illustrations, nearly all of them collected by the same Arthur C. Parker who wrote the introduction to  Indian Captive: The Story of Mary Jemison , himself a member of the Seneca tribe and even today recognized as a - perhaps even "the" - noted authority on American Indian culture. To this date, no better or more accurate account of life among the American Indians has been written for young people. While the story is a fictionalized adaptation of Mary Jemison's own telling of her history, Lenski's presentation of native culture is accurate right down to the food preparation, clothing and toys.

Suitable for Grades 4 and up.

Very Highly Recommended
9 people found this helpful
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Juanita B.
5.0 out of 5 stars Great read
Reviewed in the United States on November 20, 2023
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I enjoyed the entire book. I believe it to be very true also. So sad the Indians shared and taught the pilgrims so much and never got credit or reward for their sacrifice.
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Jordan
5.0 out of 5 stars Good
Reviewed in the United States on February 21, 2023
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I read this book over 11 years ago and had it in the back of my mind for years now. Found it on here after looking in various stores and couldn't beat the price! This book is filled with history and raw truth. I highly recommend it for those who want to read a little something about people of the past.
2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Allen Terence
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 1, 2016
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excellent
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ecke
1.0 out of 5 stars nicht zu empfehlen
Reviewed in Germany on December 16, 2012
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Ich habe das Buch auf Grund der sehr guten Bewertungen bestellt und erwartete eine Art Tatsachenbericht der damals entführten Frau. Diese Erwartung wurde schwer enttäuscht, das Buch ist absolut oberflächlich im Stil eines Kinderbuches geschrieben und wer die Geschichte von Blauvogel kennt, weiß in etwa was ihn erwartet. Auch die hochgelobten Illustrationen und die angeblich so aufwendigen Recherchen zu Werkzeugen u.s.w. erwiesen sich als absolut unbefriedigend.

Wer etwas über das Indianerleben lernen möchte ist hier völlig falsch.
One person found this helpful
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Harriet Smith
3.0 out of 5 stars Stockholm Syndrome?
Reviewed in Canada on September 5, 2013
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Today the Seneca captive would be considered a victim of Stockholm Syndrome! However, the book was written in 1941 (and re-released). As was the fashion, the opening chapter is written in a dialect that attempts to convey the limited education and means of Molly's frontier family. This makes for slow going at the start. The characterization of Molly's family members is pretty thin. Fortunately, the dialect falls away with Molly's capture. More successful is the attempt to convey the Seneca speech patterns and nature references.

The description of Seneca daily life in the eighteenth century is very detailed and carefully stated, to the point where it becomes the main subject of the book rather than a backdrop for the interactions between characters. Overall, the central tension around whether escape is possible for Molly is convincing and engrossing. A good read. Loosely based on a true story. Not certain whether this would appeal to today's tween and teen readers.
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Chantal Patenaude
3.0 out of 5 stars Three Stars
Reviewed in Canada on November 10, 2016
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more of a kid's book !
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