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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Jiles paints a vivid portrait of the 1870s Texas landscape in this completely captivating story of a retired Army Captain who makes his living traveling from town to town reading the “news of the world,” and a wild young orphan girl who has been living with the Kiowa for the past four years. At a stop in North Texas, the Captain takes on the task of returning the girl to relatives who live in San Antonio. The two must learn to communicate and build trust during the arduous 400-mile journey. The language is lyrical and spare and wonderfully evocative, so that by the end of the book, readers will have a hard time returning to the contemporary world. Surely one of the best books of the year
One wonders how news was spread before the era of mass media, especially in out-of-the-way places, like Texas post-Civil War. Also, what was life like, what were the every day challenges of navigating through life, what sort of relationships existed? On a basic human level, how does an elderly gentleman relate to a youngster who lived with “savage” Indians for several years before being returned to “civilized” society? A really engaging story with some basis in fact.
Such an interesting and captivating story. It was a great read!
Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd may be the most endearing protagonist ever created. Tasked with returning a ten-year-old white girl recaptured from an Indian tribe to her relatives, these two unlikely characters set out on a four hundred mile journey.
Easy read. Not much to it.
Reading the “news of the world” to audiences in Texas was new to me. Captain Kidd was a well developed character. His personality, life style and experience were well suited to aid Johanna to make the transition back into the “civilized” world.. I enjoyed reading this book.
Loved it!
I want more stories about the Captain.
loved this book.
Good main character. Story of rescue, survival in a harsh environment.
I give this book 5 stars. Beautifully written. Such an unusual story. Never thought about a person making a living by traveling the back roads and reading the news to paying customers in back woods towns. I guess few people knew how to read and this was a useful service. Most of the people treated his readings as entertainment. Which I guess it was and maybe we are somewhat entertained by the News.
Loved the characters and the whole story. Maybe my favorite book in a long time
This book narrates events during post civil war Texas when an elderly Captain Kidd agrees to transport a young girl, who had lived with the Kiowa for several years, back to her family. The story will take you back in time to places and events that will live for a long time in your imagination and will remind you why reading can be so satisfying.
The two main characters were well developed and the plot was interesting: White children who are kidnapped by Native Americans and then returned to the White community after years of captivity. The book ended very abruptly and was not satisfying.
Can’t recommend this highly enough; great dialogue, original characters, great story.
Loved it. Great book group book. They all loved it.
This book fleshes out a neglected part of our history of the west. It defines some of the differences between the first nation cultures and western culture.
Memorable and one of the best books I have read. I recommend to my book club and it was given high scores.
Two interesting characters that keep you reading.
I would give this 5 stars if the author would have used more punctuation. I understand it was a tool to leave it out, but I found it a struggle to read. Really excellent story. Very realistic. Likeable characters.
This is a book I probably would not have picked up. It was recommended by a friend’s daughter and I am so glad it was one of my favorite books, I highly recommend it.