Indian Captive: The Story of Mary Jemison

Indian Captive: The Story of Mary Jemison is a children's biographical novel written and illustrated by Lois Lenski. The book was first published in 1941 and was a Newbery Honor recipient in 1942.[1] It tells the story of Mary Jemison in a highly fictionalized form.

First edition (publ. J.B. Lippincott)

Plot summary

Twelve-year-old Mary Jemison took her peaceful days on her family's farm in eastern Pennsylvania for granted. But on a spring day in 1758, something happened that changed her life forever. A band of warriors invaded the house and took the Jemison family captive. Mary was separated from her parents and brothers and sister. Renamed Corn Tassel, she traveled 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 was not easy. She misses her family terribly, and she was unaccustomed to Seneca ways. Several times she even tried to run away. But the Indians were kind to her and taught her many things about the earth, its plants, and its creatures. They even named her "Corn Tassel" after the tassels of corn, one of her favorite things. They named her that because of her bright yellow hair. She became a sister to animals and to all growing things. An old friend came and delivered the news of the death of her family. Then Mary was finally given the chance to return to the world of white men. But she had also become a sister to the Indians. How could she leave them? And besides, there was no place to go now. Her family was dead, as were her beloved neighbors. She decides that she will stay with her new, Seneca, family.

They renamed her Little-Woman-of-Great-Courage, in honor of her courage to stay with Native Americans instead of going to stay with whites, like her.

References
  1. "Newbery Medal and Honor Books, 1922-Present". American Library Association. Retrieved 2009-12-30.


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