The Red Heart by JAMES ALEXANDER Thom
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Book Reviews of The Red Heart
Book Review: Entertaining
Summary: 5 Stars
The life of Frances Slocum is forever changed after her family is attacked by Delaware Indians and she is kidnapped. At first, Frances life is very different, but soon she adapts to living with her Foster mother Neepa. When tragedy strikes, she is sent to live with her foster grandparents near Niagara falls. Will Frances (now called Good Face) adapt to her life amongst the Lenapeh or will she escape to return to her Quaker family.
I loved this books, especially the first 3/4. The life of Frances and her friends Minnow, Neepa, and her grandparents were fascinating and at times quite tragic. I felt sorry for the Delaware whose lives were forever altered by the arrival of the white man. I also found myself sad for Frances Quaker family who perpetually searched for their missing sibling.
Criticisms: I did at time feel the story was a bit rushed. Between chapters the character ages quite a bit which was disconcerting, especially towards the end. I also would recommend not reading the prologue(it contained spoilers) at least until you've read the rest of the book.
5 stars.
Book Review: Stunning true story
Summary: 5 Stars
The Author deserves all the praise he gets. The novelisation of this true story is handled with depth and feeling, told from the perspective of the girl Frances herself and of her family as they continually try to find trace of her during this terrible, bloody period of US colonisation.
It does appear as though the story is biased towards the Indians, but, given that the author is married to an Indian and the fact that every treaty that the US signed with the Indian tribes was broken, either in word or in deed - it's hardly surprising that the bias is toward the down-trodden.
Mr.Thom is one of those few authors who can generate a world inside one's head, and he does this without overblown descriptive passages - just the right words in the right place.
For example, in just a few sentences, you are taken to the edge of Niagara Falls and stunned by the majesty of its awesome power - and I've never seen it!
Reading this book prompted me to order more of his work.
Book Review: I really really liked this book!
Summary: 5 Stars
I picked it up having never read anything by Thom before. Well, now I'm hooked! I didn't realize at first that this was a true story (based on the real-life of Frances Slocum). To me it just sounded like an interesting premise, the story of a child carried off by Indians.
Seeing as how the majority of books out there tend to portray American Indians in a very typical one-dimensional way, I was very pleased to find the characters here three-dimensional and complex, from Tuck-Horse to Minnow with her hatred for men, alcohol, whites, and just about everything in between. The only thing that disappointed me was that poor Mackonakwa's life (Frances Slocum) is rushed through in the latter half. The first half of the book is her early years growing up with the indians, while after she meets The Awl, the entire story is rushed through. A bit disappointing, but still a 5 star book.
Rushing out right now to get the rest of Thom's books!
Book Review: great story
Summary: 5 Stars
I knew the basics of the Francis Slocum story my whole life. I grew up in Dallas, Pa., 5 miles or so from Francis Slocum State Park and have spent many a day fishing and hiking (and skipping school) the trails in the area so when I saw the book I was immediately drawn to it and read it in 3 days. It was the first park I ever visited. The towns, places and events in the book all took place my old stomping grounds where I grew up so I guess I have a special affinity towards it. It's interesting to hear of events like Sullivan's March from another perspective other than what you see and read on the historical markers in the area. I never really realized it was essentially a scorched earth policy ordered by George Washington for the whole upper Susquehanna River System which is definitely not the slant given by historians in the area. Highly recommendedBook Review: A stunning work of historical fiction well written !
Summary: 5 Stars
The author has done it again!!! James Alexander Thom is well known for being a master of the historical fiction novel...and in the case of The Red Heart...he only adds to his unique reputation! I was totally absorbed in the story of Frances Slocum from page one! The author completely succeeded in making me care about the main charactors in the novel and, more importantly, he taught me quite a bit about the history, culture and lives of the Native American peoples among whom Frances Slocum lived. I would highly recommend this novel to anyone who has even the slightest interest in understanding more about the history of our nation's earliest days. I also would recommend this book to anyone who would like a rousing read and a real "page turner"! Without a doubt this is one of the author's finest works to date!!