Calico Captive by Elizabeth George Speare
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Book Reviews of Calico Captive
Book Review: Calico Captive
Summary: 5 Stars
This is such a wonderful story!! Unlike so much of the weird stuff out there, this is actually interesting and, well, nourishing to the imagination, I think! It really made me daydream.
Sixteen-year-old Miriam Willard was having the time of her life at her first party, wearing a beautiful blue-flowered homespun dress. Phineas Whitney, a distinguished, well-adjusted young man who dreams of going to college, takes a fancy to her. But alas, that night while in bed Miriam, her sister, her two nieces, one nephew, and brother-in-law are captured by Indians! These Indians did not treat them badly, though. They were actually quite decent, having a sort of solemn dignity. One impudent young Indian is always trying to make the road harder for Miriam. He pulls her hair, puts worms in her food, and lets twigs snap back at her. Later at St. Francis, where the gantlets are run, he asked her to marry him! She refused emphatically!
Finally Miriam's sister's husband manages to arrange for them to get away from the Indians. They were to be sold to the French; and Miriam was taken to an exquisite, fancy French house with the haughty Madame Du Quesne. Her daughter Felicite, however, is the prettiest girl Miriam had ever seen. Felicite Du Quesne had a thousand admirers and went to all the parties of winter.
In the market with a servant of Madame's, Hortense, Miriam catches sight of her sister's husband! She dashes after him without thinking and is caught by a French soldier. Pierre Laroche, one of Felicite's beaux, a new officer of the King, tells the soldier to release Miriam and he laughs haughtily at her. The state of Miriam's clothing was horrible, so Madame Du Quesne must take her home in the carriage, and as they leave, Miriam catches sight of Pierre grinning at her.
Miriam was at first put to work in the kitchen, then to teach Felicite to read English; but later, as Susanna Willard's husband was a Captain and had spoken to the Governor, there were arrangements that they were prisoners of importance.
Thus Miriam was taken to parties with Felicite, and once, to a ball! She has the time of her life transforming a "last-year's second-best" dress of Felicite's into the most fashionable gown in Quebec. At the ball, however, Miriam suddenly finds herself face to face with Pierre Laroche! He insists on dancing with her, and dance with her he does - all night long. In the morning Madame Du Quesne and Felicite are infuriated. Every mother in Quebec would love to have her daughter marry a Laroche, so Madame was very angry. Miriam's sister Susanna, who had come to the Du Quesne house, was told that they also owed the Du Quesnes more than they could pay back in years! So Miriam, her sister, and her sister's baby Captive, are sent out of the house and into the streets.
Hortense, the kind, friendly servant of Madame Du Quesne, comes after them to take them to her home. Hortense's mother and siblings are very kind to them and that was where Miriam and Susanna spent most of the winter. In the spring, however, Susanna notices that there are shortages of food in Hortense's house, so Miriam, who had found she had an indisputable talent in dressmaking, sets out to the Du Quesnes'. She manages to sell Madame two gowns for the upcoming ball. So Miriam is a dressmaker; but she must never tell anyone she made the gowns for Madame Du Quesne, for she wouldn't have it. She rents a room for she and her sister in a tailor's shop
Pierre manages to spend much time with Miriam - taking her on drives in his carriage, treating her to cups of chocolate - and Miriam finds that, however he is proud and rather rash, she starts to wait impatiently for his loud footsteps outside the door of her rented room as she sews. Pierre falls in love with her and, after a terrible night of trying to make Felicite jealous by taking Miriam to a party, apologizes to her early in the morning and asks her to marry him! Wow! Miriam hesitates, and asks for time to think about it, but he assumes she means to say yes.
If you want to know how the rest of the story goes, you'll just have to read the book! I absolutely love and have read it thousands of times without tiring. I love learning about the dressmaking and the era of the war between the French and English was so interesting. I would give this book ten stars, but there aren't ten so I can only give it five! Read Calico Captive and enjoy!
Book Review: Great historical fiction
Summary: 5 Stars
I too loved Witch of Blackbird Pond, which is what prompted me to find more books by the same author. Though I love the story of Witch of Blackbird Pond more, I felt like this book gave a greater vision of the different lifestyles in early America. The character in this book first lives in a puritin colony, then later lives among the Indians as a captive, then later is sold into French slavery. The author does an amazing job of helping you feel what each lifestyle was like and what it would have been like to live in that time. She also paints a very real picture of the feelings that were so strong between the English, the French and the Indians during the time of the French and Indian war. She is an amazing author and if you want a book that is alive and full of historical emotion in early America, this is an excellent read. I'm shocked there are not more reviews online for this book. I wish more youth would read books like this.Book Review: Wonderful book!
Summary: 5 Stars
I got this to read to my kids while we learned about the French Indian War. It was absolutely marvelous. It gave you a wonderful feel of the times and the struggles the early settlers faced. It was the story of a family captured by Indians and separated in a time of war. It tells of hope kept alive while they go from one crisis to the next waiting to be reunited. It is mostly the story of a young girl trying to grow into a young woman in a strange place and foreign culture and her decision to follow her heart.Book Review: Timeless
Summary: 5 Stars
I read this book first time in 1962 and have re-read it many times since. I've also given copies of it to many young girls as gifts. I love this book, the adventure, the romance and the survival of spirit. It also gave me my life long hobby of spinning and weaving which I, like Susanna, find such comfort and enjoyment in. Ms Spears other books are excellent but I believe this is the best. I just wonder why it was never turned into a movie.Book Review: another Speare masterpiece
Summary: 5 Stars
The book is amazing. I am a former middle school English teacher. I used Speare's books in my classes b/c of their great plots and character development. Now I have a daugter in middle school. She reads my books I used with my students and especially loves the books by Speare. For her birthday, I looked for a new book for her. I purchased Calico Captive and read it before I gave it to her! I loved it and she did too.