Winner of the North American Book Award for Best Historical Fiction“An elegiac, hopeful historical novel… hypnotic.” -Kirkus Reviews “An extraordinary new historical novel.” -Akron Beacon JournalOn a humid day in June 1806, on the edge of Ohio’s Great Black Swamp, seventeen-year-old Susanna Quiner watches from behind a maple tree as a band of Potawatomi Indians kidnaps her four older sisters … her four older sisters from their cabin. With both her parents dead from Swamp Fever and all the other settlers out in their fields, Susanna makes the rash decision to pursue them herself. What follows is a young woman’s quest to find her sisters, and the parallel story of her sisters’ new lives.
Over the course of one summer, the lives of all five women are transformed as they contend with starvation, slavery, betrayal, and love. Fast-paced, richly detailed, this is a riveting novel that demonstrates the true wildness of the wilderness, and the rugged perseverance of those who find themselves there.
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Didn’t think I would like it but I loved it.
A unique look at life on the frontier. Such interesting revelations into the lives of native American and their way of life. Not at all what I expected but was thrilled to find.
Loved it, saved it, forgot and bought it again!
Martha Conway has a unique talent of blending a story into an adventure, romance, and historical settings. This is my first book in which I became acquainted with her writing. I could not put the book down. I wanted to find out if the sisters were reunited in the end. I highly recommend her books.
Gripping. Haunting. Each twist and turn keeps you reading, waiting to see what happens next.
With so many characters, I usually have a hard time remembering each ones story line. I did not have that problem with this book! It was so well written. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and it’s story, and I highly recommend it.
i could not put it down , finished it in 3 days
This book relied on strong characters who do what it takes to survive. There is loss, but there is also great satisfaction.
This was an entertaining look at the time and place in history.
I really liked this book with its complex characters and their unpredictable experiences.
The author was able to transport me into the time and location.
I have not researched the background of the book but the author’s attention to detail makes you a believer.
Good historic fiction.
One of the best books I’ve read all year and that’s saying a lot. This gave me a whole new view of what the Ohio Frontier of 1806 might have been, some 40 years befor my several time great-grandfather immigrated fromEngland overland from Toronto. Wonderful story line, kept me at times appalled, intrigued and and completely enthralled for what …
I liked the way the characters developed. It felt very realistic & was interesting.
Loved this book. Hard to put down. Missed reading it when I was finished.
Intense book with believable characters living in very trying times. Illustrates various choices to survive extreme challenge, Reveals how character building can change goals and skills even when options seem few and hope desperately slim. Some exploration of reparation, guilt and love.
I really enjoyed this historical novel about white girls being abducted by natives and surviving in the Great Swamp.
I really liked this book. I kept wanting to put aside things I needed to do so I could read it.
Interesting premise of girl’s abducted by Indians and their desperate attempts to find one another after they are sold and traded off.