One day in April, 1812, 13-year-old Rebecca Carver returns to her home on Crooked River in Ohio, to discover that her father, mean 'Major' Carver, has captured an Indian and is holding him under arrest in the loft of their family cabin. The people of their settlement claim that the Indian is responsible for murdering a trapper. Rebecca and her sister Laura are terrified that they too will be murdered in their beds and go to sleep with what weapons they can devise. When they are told to feed the Indian the next morning they carry their weapons with them, but Rebecca sees that he is nothing to fear. Over the next few weeks, Rebecca makes a silent friendship with the Indian and comes to question whether he actually murdered anyone. When a young lawyer, who says he is the Indian's friend, comes to defend him in his trial, Rebecca and Laura hope that he will be successful. The story is told alternately by Rebecca and Amik, the Indian, and paints a realistic and gripping picture of life in the early years of our country's history.
Date read: 4/28/2009
ISBN-10: 0375823891
ISBN-13: 9780375823893
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