Reviewed by phyllish on
After her stagecoach is robbed, leaving Hattie as the only witness of the murders, she flees into the wilderness. When she is rescued by friendly Arapaho, she mistakenly believes they are going to kill her. Her attempts to escape and reactions to the food they try to feed her are hilarious and even funnier is the name they bestow on her as a result.
Jack, the boy-now-lieutenant, who had been so in love with her when they were in school together, has no idea Hattie is the one going to take off the local tribe’s hands. While he understands some of the Arapaho language, there is much he doesn’t know and his attempts at impressing her don’t turn out quite like he planned.
The interactions between Hattie and Jack are so comical! They are also tender and sweet as he is the only one who is able to make her feel secure after her trauma. I loved the way Jack appeared so in control and fastidious, and yet his house was a bit of a disaster with books piled up everywhere. When Hattie attempted to help him straighten up (without his knowledge, of course!), the results were hilarious. Who but an artist would ever think to organize books like that?
In addition to the great story and personal interactions, the book is also carefully researched and has so many details about the interactions between the “Indians” and the settlers in the Oklahoma Territory. The details of the missionary school and the tenuous relations with the tribes were not only fascinating and illuminating, they were also woven into the story very naturally.
Historical fiction readers who enjoy humor, adventure, and spiritual lessons should put this book on their must-read list!
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I was given a copy of this book for free. I was not required to give a favorable review nor was any money received for this review. All comments and opinions are my own.
Reading updates
- Started reading
- Finished reading
- 18 December, 2018: Reviewed