This book is based on the true story of a young girl captured by Indians in the spring of 1758. After her home was invaded, Mary Jemison and her family were captured they led off into the wilderness by Indians who were careful to cover their trail. After a few days of relentless walking and hunger, the family is separated when Mary is given a pair of moccasins and lead away from her parents, sister, and baby brother. Unbeknown to Mary, her family will soon suffer an unfortunate death by the hand of the Indians. Mary’s new life is not easy. She misses her family while having a hard time adjusting to the Seneca ways. Now know as Corn Tassel, Mary tries with no success to run away for the Indians. She knows she would never make it on her own if she ran away. Throughout the year, Mary begins to learn many things from the kind Indian family who has adopted her as their own. Mary eventually learns the truth of her birth family’s demise. When she has the opportunity to return to the “white faces”, Mary must weigh her options. Will she stay with the Indians or return to a world she was once accustomed to.

This book was a joy to read. By reading this story, I learned a few details of the early Indian culture. This chapter book provides black and white pictures throughout the story. Literature circle questions and other activities are presented at the end of the book. While reading this story, I put myself in Mary’s shoes so to speak. I could feel the pain of this frighten young girl. Because of her strong will, I was driven to read in order it find out how Mary would overcome the obstacles she faced. This book will defiantly be passed along to my daughter who is ten years of age.

While reading this story, students can create a line graph to illustrate Mary’s first year living with the Seneca’s. Students could create a dictionary by illustrate and label tools and gear Mary was introduce to while living with the Seneca’s. Students could have a class discussion comparing Mary’s life before and after her capture. I would have Students to write an essay explaining their views about the end of the story. Did she make the right choice by staying with the Indians? Why or why not?

Well-written telling of the true story of a white girl captured by Native Americans. Lenski is sympathetic to the girl, but also doesn't demonize the Natives. I reread this many times growing up. ( )

Mary Jemison is pulled away from her family and adopted by a tribe of Seneca Native Americans. She rebells against her captivity and dreams for years of returning to her family. She slowly begins to make friends among the tribe and to think of them as her family, and when she finds out that her original family is long dead, she feels like she has no choice. Later, however, a choice is offered to her to be raised as a white girl and return to the ways of her childhood, or to stay with the new family she has come to care for. ( )

This story is a fictionalized account of Mary Jemison, who was kidnapped and then adopted into the Seneca tribe in Ohio in the mid 1700s. The story paints a picture of her childhood with the tribe. Mary or Corn Tassel, is described and fleshed out in great detail. The author helps children understand the characters/time setting by using things such as clothing and good. A change in cutlure can be seen through the change in clothing and food, from a blue jean dress to buckskin clothing and corn prone to corn cakes. The plot is believable, Corn Tassel reacts as a period child would when faced with this situation. The book is based on true accounts of children that were kidnapped (including Mary Jemison). The theme reflects Mary's changing attitude toward her captors and how she starts to become family, as a replacement for a dead son. Many historical fiction books for children do not portray Native Americans in a good light, but Lenski seems to try to stay away from the trend. She shows that there are good and bad people among them, just as there are among "Englishmen". I feel that this is a good historical fiction book for a older elementary school student. ( )

Lois Lenski was one of my favorite authors when I was a child. At our neighborhood reading group when a teacher recommended this book as a good one for readers of all ages, I felt like I'd just run into an old friend after a long absence. Mary Jemison, the sole survivor of her family, was adopted by Seneca Indians and treated as a tribe and family member . Her story is compelling, and less fictionaized accounts of her life can be found on the internet (Google Mary Jemison), including a book written in 1824 from interviews with her when she was in her 80s. . ( )