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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This was based on a part of history I wasn’t familiar with. The characters seemed very real to me and I enjoyed their journey. I actually listened to the audio version in the car and loved the narration as well as the story. Was a great vacation read.
I enjoyed the originality of this story and was drawn in to the progress of the characters. Good read.
Such a beautiful, touching story of strangers, who become friends, and eventually become family. I loved the story, the characters and the Early Western Texas setting…enjoy
Another winner by Paulette Jiles. Her writing style is refreshing, never too gimmicky or embellished. Characters were sympathetic, plot was interesting and ending was realistic.
A perfect story
This book was Our Cities one book to read this summer. Absolutely wonderful. A true book that any one interested in Genealogy will enjoy. I could hardly put it down to sleep.
I am a big reader, and this was my favorite book of the last two years, a charming and unpredictable story of an older, educated man taking a child who had been kidnapped my Indians, to live with telatyshe had never
met. The developing relationship between the two is endearing.
I loved this book. The situation and the characters were compelling. I want to read more of this author.
Could not put it down. Touches the heart too.
Enjoyed
Didn’t finish it. Didn’t turn me on.
I loved this book!!! For one thing, it gave me a window on part of US history that I didn’t know about. I loved the relationship between the old man and the young girl. And I thought the author was extremely clever to have used this very atypical profession as a way for her protagonist to have moved around the wild and generally lawless region of Texas at that point in time. Very, very well-written. I would like to read more by this author.
My highest recommendation. Marvelous.
Excellently written voyage into history. I highly recommend this book! Characters and story wonderfully spun.
I loved this book. My book club read it and I’m not usually interested in historical novels but this one is great. Very interesting- I had no knowledge of news readers! Heartwarming and interesting at the same time! It is written without quotation marks, which I’d never seen before.
A most enjoyable and interesting story and the characters were beautifully done. I rode along all 400 miles with the characters and had my heart in my mouth some of the times when they ran into the outlaws. Beautiful historical novel.
I enjoyed this book much more than I thought that I would. A look into frontier life and interpersonal relationships.
I. Love. This. Story.
Different. Odd but OK
I did not think I would like this book – I don’t know why – but I can honestly say I only read it because it was for book club. Actually, I listened to this one. What a beautiful, heartbreaking, chuckled-more-than-a-few-times, story. The gentleman narrating the audio did a wonderful job. He had the right voice to do a 71-year-old man. At the same time, he did a fine job with the 10-year-old girl who thought she was Native American Indian. Their interactions and the historical background of Texas after the Civil War is worth the read. I highly recommend.