Soon to be a Major Motion Picture
National Book Award Finalist—Fiction
In the aftermath of the Civil War, an aging itinerant news reader agrees to transport a young captive of the Kiowa back to her people in this exquisitely rendered, morally complex, multilayered novel of historical fiction from the author of Enemy Women that explores the boundaries of family, responsibility, honor, and trust.… the boundaries of family, responsibility, honor, and trust.
In the wake of the Civil War, Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd travels through northern Texas, giving live readings from newspapers to paying audiences hungry for news of the world. An elderly widower who has lived through three wars and fought in two of them, the captain enjoys his rootless, solitary existence.
In Wichita Falls, he is offered a $50 gold piece to deliver a young orphan to her relatives in San Antonio. Four years earlier, a band of Kiowa raiders killed Johanna’s parents and sister; sparing the little girl, they raised her as one of their own. Recently rescued by the U.S. army, the ten-year-old has once again been torn away from the only home she knows.
Their 400-mile journey south through unsettled territory and unforgiving terrain proves difficult and at times dangerous. Johanna has forgotten the English language, tries to escape at every opportunity, throws away her shoes, and refuses to act “civilized.” Yet as the miles pass, the two lonely survivors tentatively begin to trust each other, forming a bond that marks the difference between life and death in this treacherous land.
Arriving in San Antonio, the reunion is neither happy nor welcome. The captain must hand Johanna over to an aunt and uncle she does not remember—strangers who regard her as an unwanted burden. A respectable man, Captain Kidd is faced with a terrible choice: abandon the girl to her fate or become—in the eyes of the law—a kidnapper himself.
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Wonderful story about a part of American history that most Americans know nothing about. Fell in love with the main character who represents the best of men.
Interesting story with heart warming characters.
I LOVED this book, have read it twice in 3 weeks, and I am tempted to read it again. I just wish the author had continued the story. I loved the characters and the little girl was adorable.
If I could, I would give this book ten stars out of five!
This book gives a wonderful look at post-Civil War Texas. Captain Kidd journeys through that area reading news to people. His journey with the young girl rescued from the Indians and returned to her family shows their growing dependence on each other and the affection that develops. In a way, they rescued each other. This story moves quickly and is well worth your time.
This was a recent selection for my local book club. It was quite thought- provoking and somewhat tragic. Takes place in post-Civil War Texas, with all of the political corruption evident during that time. I’ve also read this author’s book, Enemy Women, which was also very good.
Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd is a solitary, independent veteran of 2 wars. He makes a living reading newspapers in small towns across northern Texas. In one such town, he is offered money to take a young girl, rescued from Indians, to her relatives in southern Texas. Reluctantly, he does so. The story then is about their many adventures along the way & the bond they form. The ending I found to be a tear-jerker & bittersweet. A great, original story that is not easily forgettable. Written in a unique style & not using quotation marks for conversations can make it a little challenging but still worthwhile. I chose this for my book club which l highly recommend for all book clubs. A must-read for everyone!
This is about two totally opposite personalities gradually coming to see each other as humans and to more clearly understand themselves. I liked it very much.
This is a beautifully written story set in post Civil War North Texas whose two main characters – an old man and a young girl- entwine themselves around your heart.
One of my most enjoyable reads of 2017. Based on true events, characters that I cared deeply about, beautiful writing.
This was a lovely book, nice prose and plot. Great central characters.
A very timely Western!
Poetic and history-based.
In a nut shell…..little girl aged 10 is returned from being captive from some Indians. Although she thinks of them as being her family and not remembering her white family at all, who were massacred 6 years earlier. In comes and old ex Army Ranger who goes from town to town reading newspapers to folks who turn out in large crowds to here the news of the world. He is asked to take this wild child back to her white relatives. Together the two face bandits, and harsh times and grow to really bond together as a grandpa and granddaughter. He reteaches her English and she shows him some innovative strategies for armed combat….lets just say, it was an interesting and heartfelt read. I really enjoyed it.
A story of how news traveled throughout the Southwest in the late 1800’s and the plight of European children who were kidnapped by Native Americans.
“Maybe life is just carrying news. Surviving to carry the news. Maybe we just have one message, and it is delivered to us when we are born and we are never sure what it says, it may have nothing to do with us personally but it must be carried by hand thorough a life, all the way, and at the end handed over,sealed”
Why have I let this book languish on the shelf since 2016 I will never know. What a marvelous little story! It focuses on the story of Johanna Leonberger, captured by the Kiowa as spoils of a raid on her family, and held captive for over four years until she was rescued by soldiers and then passed to others in hopes of returning her to her relatives.
It is also the story of Captain Jefferson Kidd, his ability to share the news of the world as men did in those days, and being asked to take the ten year old to her uncle and aunt. Along the way they see the loner caring for the girl and vice versa as the world “recovers” from the Civil War.
How are they treated, both separately and together? How do they see the world with and without each other? In just over 200 pages the reader is literally transported to right where this is happening in time and place, a good hallmark of well done historical fiction. Highly recommended.5/5
This is a perfect summer read— warm, literary, and informative. You will recommend it to your friends and family.
A beautiful tale of a 71 year old veteran of the Civil war escorting a 10 year old former Indian captive back to her aunt and uncle south of San Antonio.
This is my favorite book of all the books I’ve read over the last few years (and I read 30-40 books each year). It has a terrific plot and lots of action, but what is most unforgettable are the two main characters and their incredibly touching relationship. After I finished this (and I was sad to finish it!), I went back and reread the ending about a dozen times. I love, love, love this book!
NEWS OF THE WORLD presented a gripping picture of Texas after the Civil War. This is a time period that even native Texans are hazy about, and we studied Texas history in both the third and the seventh grades.
In it an elderly veteran called Capt. Jack proceeded to do his duty even in the face of adversities. He made a living in a way I had never heard of, but it fit with the times when settlers had limited ways of knowing the “news of the world.”