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The Red Heart
The Slocum family of Northeastern Pennsylvania are the best of the white settlers, peace-loving Quakers who believe that the Indians hold the Light of God inside. It is from this good-hearted family that Frances is abducted during the Revolutionary war.
As the child's terror subsides, she is slowly drawn into the sacred work and beliefs of her adoptive mother and of all the women of these Eastern tribes. Frances becomes Maconakwa, the Little Bear Woman of the Miami Indians. Then, long after the Indians are beaten and their last hope, Tecumseh, is killed, the Slocums hear word of their long-lost daughter and head out to Indiana to meet their beloved Frances. But for Maconakwa, it is a moment of truth, the test of whether her heart is truly a red one.
As the child's terror subsides, she is slowly drawn into the sacred work and beliefs of her adoptive mother and of all the women of these Eastern tribes. Frances becomes Maconakwa, the Little Bear Woman of the Miami Indians. Then, long after the Indians are beaten and their last hope, Tecumseh, is killed, the Slocums hear word of their long-lost daughter and head out to Indiana to meet their beloved Frances. But for Maconakwa, it is a moment of truth, the test of whether her heart is truly a red one.
533 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published September 28, 1997
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About the author
James Alexander Thom
25 books392 followersJames Alexander Thom (born 1933) is an American author, most famous for his works in the Western genre. Born in Gosport, Indiana, he graduated from Butler University and served in the United States Marine Corps. He is a former professor of journalism at Indiana University, and a contributor to the The Saturday Evening Post. His fifth wife, Dark Rain Thom was a member of the Shawnee United Remnant Band until its dissolution; the Thoms presently live in the "Indiana hill country" near Bloomington.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 153 reviews
June 20, 2009
What a story!! And it's true!
This is serious historical fiction. Long and descriptive and SO worth the effort to read. I am in awe of James Alexander Thom's dedication to authenticity and his exquisitely detailed storytelling. Last year when I read Panther in the Sky, I figured none of his other books could be as good. I was wrong, lucky me. :)
The Red Heart details the life of Frances Slocum from age five until her death at age 74 in 1847. Frances was a Quaker girl in the Susquehanna Valley of Pennsylvania. She was stolen by Delaware (Lenapeh) Indians when she was five years old. To us it sounds barbaric, but many Indians felt justified in taking white children as replacements for their own children who were killed by white soldiers.
Frances quickly adapted and was assimilated into the Lenapeh life, and later, through marriage, the Miamis. She had numerous opportunities to come forth and be taken back among the white people. Instead, she carefully covered her bright red hair and avoided contact with those who might suspect who she was. Her skin was white but her heart was red, and she chose to stay with her adopted people.
The Slocums, her birth family, never stopped looking for her no matter how many years went by. Their efforts are an amazing part of the story as well. Her brothers went on numerous lengthy treks searching for her, and followed up every lead and rumor. It took real courage to travel unarmed among hostile Indians, as dictated by their Quaker beliefs. It's easy to get caught up in Frances' new life among the Indians, but the author always takes you back and reminds you that she had a wonderful family who loved her and suffered from their loss.
I just can't say enough good things about Thom and the way he brings these stories to life while remaining true to historical records. He provides detailed Author's Notes at the end of his books, where he gives his sources and clearly explains how much is fact and how much he had to fill in with his own store of knowledge and imagination.
This is serious historical fiction. Long and descriptive and SO worth the effort to read. I am in awe of James Alexander Thom's dedication to authenticity and his exquisitely detailed storytelling. Last year when I read Panther in the Sky, I figured none of his other books could be as good. I was wrong, lucky me. :)
The Red Heart details the life of Frances Slocum from age five until her death at age 74 in 1847. Frances was a Quaker girl in the Susquehanna Valley of Pennsylvania. She was stolen by Delaware (Lenapeh) Indians when she was five years old. To us it sounds barbaric, but many Indians felt justified in taking white children as replacements for their own children who were killed by white soldiers.
Frances quickly adapted and was assimilated into the Lenapeh life, and later, through marriage, the Miamis. She had numerous opportunities to come forth and be taken back among the white people. Instead, she carefully covered her bright red hair and avoided contact with those who might suspect who she was. Her skin was white but her heart was red, and she chose to stay with her adopted people.
The Slocums, her birth family, never stopped looking for her no matter how many years went by. Their efforts are an amazing part of the story as well. Her brothers went on numerous lengthy treks searching for her, and followed up every lead and rumor. It took real courage to travel unarmed among hostile Indians, as dictated by their Quaker beliefs. It's easy to get caught up in Frances' new life among the Indians, but the author always takes you back and reminds you that she had a wonderful family who loved her and suffered from their loss.
I just can't say enough good things about Thom and the way he brings these stories to life while remaining true to historical records. He provides detailed Author's Notes at the end of his books, where he gives his sources and clearly explains how much is fact and how much he had to fill in with his own store of knowledge and imagination.
October 27, 2017
Very excellent book:
To my way of thinking the American Indians Wars were this nation's longest running war, it ran over 300 years from the 1500's to nearly the 1900's. It came in three major phases the early explorers and settlers marked by De Soto's invasion of the Southeast, King Phillips War and the Pueblo uprising of 1680, that was the end of the first phase nearly a draw slight advantage to the Europeans. The next phase the clearing out of the native tribes in the Northeast and along the river and forests of Pennsylvania, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, West Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee started around the time of French-indian war and the defeat of General Braddock forces in 1755 to the trail of tears and the Indian removal act of 1830. This book "The Red Heart" deals with the native home front the price paid by women children and the elderly during part of this second phase of the Indian wars. The final phase of the wars is what most American's think of if they think of America's longest war and that is the conflict with the Northern Plains tribes the wiping out of the California natives and the Apache wars of the late 1800's. I think if I were to recommend one book to read for each of these phases I might say Coming of the Storm (Contact: The Battle for America #1)
by W. Michael Gear, Kathleen O'Neal Gear for the early explorer/settler phase, then this book The Red Heart for the second expanding settler phase. I have no recommendation for the final phase so far still searching for that but The Red Heart is a really emotionally moving book and a great read both from a historical point of view and just as a nice piece of literature.
To my way of thinking the American Indians Wars were this nation's longest running war, it ran over 300 years from the 1500's to nearly the 1900's. It came in three major phases the early explorers and settlers marked by De Soto's invasion of the Southeast, King Phillips War and the Pueblo uprising of 1680, that was the end of the first phase nearly a draw slight advantage to the Europeans. The next phase the clearing out of the native tribes in the Northeast and along the river and forests of Pennsylvania, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, West Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee started around the time of French-indian war and the defeat of General Braddock forces in 1755 to the trail of tears and the Indian removal act of 1830. This book "The Red Heart" deals with the native home front the price paid by women children and the elderly during part of this second phase of the Indian wars. The final phase of the wars is what most American's think of if they think of America's longest war and that is the conflict with the Northern Plains tribes the wiping out of the California natives and the Apache wars of the late 1800's. I think if I were to recommend one book to read for each of these phases I might say Coming of the Storm (Contact: The Battle for America #1)
by W. Michael Gear, Kathleen O'Neal Gear for the early explorer/settler phase, then this book The Red Heart for the second expanding settler phase. I have no recommendation for the final phase so far still searching for that but The Red Heart is a really emotionally moving book and a great read both from a historical point of view and just as a nice piece of literature.
June 29, 2013
What a story! This is a novel based on the true story of Frances Slocum (AKA Good Face, Little Bear Woman, Macanawka). As a five year old Quaker child living in the Susquahannah River Valley area, Frances was abducted by Lenapeh warriors and given to an Indian woman whose child had been killed by the "Long Knives" (American colonists in the midst of the American Revolution). Even though Frances was a red-haired "wapsini" (white person) and they were much feared, resented, and even hated by all of the natives of the area, Frances was accepted, beloved and was close to her adoption ceremony when soldiers descended and her new native mother was killed. She, however, had been sent to her "grandparents" who did adopt her. She grew to greatly love and respect her new family and their ways became her ways and those of the Slocum family grew dimmer and dimmer.
The Indian wars caused many displacements as her town was burned, her people were hunted and persecuted and the distrust for the wapsini increased. But Frances always felt connected to her former family and would say from time to time that Quakers were peace loving and not like other wapsini. With the years that passed she married, had children, had many heartaches and joys, but grew more and more "red-hearted" and felt less of a connection to the unknown wapsini world.
Her family, however, never gave up a hope for finding her and a conviction that she remained alive. Her mother lived for many years and made the trek several times into Indian country searching as she was so determined to find and return her daughter. Before dying Mrs. Slocum made her sons promise to continue the search. And they did indeed find Frances when she was 63. Three of the four remaining siblings alive went to her and learned of her life as they told her of theirs in the years following her abduction.
This novel was told from two perspectives of Frances throughout her life and of the Slocum family as they continued the search. The author is well versed in Native American customs and practices and their reasons for actions which were often misinterpreted and seen as justification for anniliation and/or at the very least physical removal. It was an amazing story.
The Indian wars caused many displacements as her town was burned, her people were hunted and persecuted and the distrust for the wapsini increased. But Frances always felt connected to her former family and would say from time to time that Quakers were peace loving and not like other wapsini. With the years that passed she married, had children, had many heartaches and joys, but grew more and more "red-hearted" and felt less of a connection to the unknown wapsini world.
Her family, however, never gave up a hope for finding her and a conviction that she remained alive. Her mother lived for many years and made the trek several times into Indian country searching as she was so determined to find and return her daughter. Before dying Mrs. Slocum made her sons promise to continue the search. And they did indeed find Frances when she was 63. Three of the four remaining siblings alive went to her and learned of her life as they told her of theirs in the years following her abduction.
This novel was told from two perspectives of Frances throughout her life and of the Slocum family as they continued the search. The author is well versed in Native American customs and practices and their reasons for actions which were often misinterpreted and seen as justification for anniliation and/or at the very least physical removal. It was an amazing story.
June 17, 2022
After reading this novel, I came to truly respect, admire and love Frances/Good Face/Little Bear Woman. A fiery red headed Quaker who at the age of 5 was captured by Indians and taken from her large family. A book based on true events told by a master storyteller, one I'll want to read again. 5+ Stars!
October 12, 2013
Again, Interesting read by Alexander Thom. I am finding that I enjoy reading this time period of America and the peoples of the day.
good look at the Spirit World and how the Quakers and Natives looked at similarly and differently.
good look at the Spirit World and how the Quakers and Natives looked at similarly and differently.
November 9, 2020
This book has been in my hardcover home library for a long time. It could have been there since 1997.
It is a well-written, well-researched historical fiction based on the real-life of Frances Slocum who was taken by Lenapeh Indians from her Quaker family to replace a murdered daughter. Her journey began in the Wilkes-Barre region of Pennsylvania and ends in the state of Indiana, just a 70-minute car ride from where I currently live. There is a Frances Slocum State Recreation Area where a reservoir currently floods the land she owned.
I highly recommend this book to readers of history.
It is a well-written, well-researched historical fiction based on the real-life of Frances Slocum who was taken by Lenapeh Indians from her Quaker family to replace a murdered daughter. Her journey began in the Wilkes-Barre region of Pennsylvania and ends in the state of Indiana, just a 70-minute car ride from where I currently live. There is a Frances Slocum State Recreation Area where a reservoir currently floods the land she owned.
I highly recommend this book to readers of history.
September 23, 2021
I loved Follow the River so much that I was certain I'd feel the same way about The Red Heart. Unfortunately, I wasn't a fan.
This book is a retelling of the real-life story of Frances Slocum, a Quaker woman who was kidnapped by Native Americans at the age of five and lived the rest of her life among them, even when her original family managed to find her toward the end of her life. I've always been interested in the settlers who chose to remain with Native American tribes after being kidnapped by them and I was sure this novel would satisfy that curiosity. Instead, I felt this book was bogged down by James Alexander Thom's copious research into Native American customs, belief systems, and traditions. There was very little action -- something that made Follow the River a very compelling pageturner -- and a whole lot of exposition. Most of the book was dedicated to explaining the Native American way of life and Frannie's thought process, which really slowed down the story. I actually would have quit the book entirely, but I really wanted to know what happened to Frannie in the end, and whether her family ever found her again.
I probably wouldn't recommend this book to anyone, sadly.
This book is a retelling of the real-life story of Frances Slocum, a Quaker woman who was kidnapped by Native Americans at the age of five and lived the rest of her life among them, even when her original family managed to find her toward the end of her life. I've always been interested in the settlers who chose to remain with Native American tribes after being kidnapped by them and I was sure this novel would satisfy that curiosity. Instead, I felt this book was bogged down by James Alexander Thom's copious research into Native American customs, belief systems, and traditions. There was very little action -- something that made Follow the River a very compelling pageturner -- and a whole lot of exposition. Most of the book was dedicated to explaining the Native American way of life and Frannie's thought process, which really slowed down the story. I actually would have quit the book entirely, but I really wanted to know what happened to Frannie in the end, and whether her family ever found her again.
I probably wouldn't recommend this book to anyone, sadly.
November 8, 2022
This is a historical fiction account of the life of Frances Slocum or Maconaquah as she is know among the Miami people. If you don't know the story of Frances Slocum, she was kidnapped from her parents in Pennsylvania and raised by and lived among the Delaware and Miami Indians respectively in what is now Ohio and Indiana. Mostly told from her perspective, we do get glimpses of what her natal family is doing in terms of trying to find her throughout the years.
Overall, I enjoyed the book although I will say that it didn't need to be as long as it was. It started to become a chore to finish, which is why I gave it 3 stars.
Overall, I enjoyed the book although I will say that it didn't need to be as long as it was. It started to become a chore to finish, which is why I gave it 3 stars.
December 5, 2021
Finally finished this book. Good story, but detailed to death and a more than a hundred pages too long...
June 12, 2013
What a terrific book! I must be the only person on the planet who didn't know about Frances Slocum, so I was pleasantly surprised and intrigued by her story. What an incredible woman! Now I want to visit the State Park in Indiana and the gravesite.
I enjoy historical fiction books that teach about life in those times. In this book, the amazing ways of the Indians survival, in peace and in war times, is fascinating. I was particularly the concept of the "Three Sisters", i.e., seeds for corn, beans and squash. One of each were planted in a mound. The corn grew, the beans used the corn stalk to climb on and the squash covered the ground to protect the roots. The comparison to western ("wapsituk", white man) planting is such a stark contrast and says so much, I think, about the cultural differences.
I've read other JAT books and enjoyed this one as much as the others. I admit I read the authors notes first learn what happened to her and her legacy - just made it better while reading it.
I would recommend this book to any lover of historical fiction or anyone who has an interest in the Indians life (and plight) in the 19th century.
I enjoy historical fiction books that teach about life in those times. In this book, the amazing ways of the Indians survival, in peace and in war times, is fascinating. I was particularly the concept of the "Three Sisters", i.e., seeds for corn, beans and squash. One of each were planted in a mound. The corn grew, the beans used the corn stalk to climb on and the squash covered the ground to protect the roots. The comparison to western ("wapsituk", white man) planting is such a stark contrast and says so much, I think, about the cultural differences.
I've read other JAT books and enjoyed this one as much as the others. I admit I read the authors notes first learn what happened to her and her legacy - just made it better while reading it.
I would recommend this book to any lover of historical fiction or anyone who has an interest in the Indians life (and plight) in the 19th century.
July 13, 2017
Our family has held a number of family reunions at Francis Slocum State Park, but I never knew for whom the park was named. Likewise, I have never fully realized the horror inflicted upon native Americans by white settlers and by the government. This book brings it all "up close and personal" and it is written so well (in my opinion) that The Red Heart will tinge the reader's own heart, even if just a little. I admit to an inordinate number of tears during the reading of this book. I believe this country has much to answer for during our history, the slaughter and degradation of our first citizens being a prime example.
July 19, 2011
This is a true story about an amazing girl who was kidnapped by Lenapeh Indians in 1778. She was adopted by the Indians as one of their own. This is her story and the story of her white family's search for her. I would have given this book 5 stars if the author hadn't included some borderline graphic details of intimate situations....if you know what I mean...
December 12, 2016
This was a great book, it just got a little long for me. I would give it 4.5 stars.
February 18, 2017
This book appealed to me in so many way. It deals with Indians in the general area where I live so I recognized various places that were mentioned. It happens in a time I wasn't well informed about so I learned some valuable history of the Indians and the Whites. Lastly, I loved the characters in the book and it is based on a true story - always a plus in my book (bad pun).
January 26, 2016
This is my favorite book. Words cannot express how good it is. Read it!
May 26, 2018
Rating: 3 / 5
Having read and loved James Alexander Thom's Follow the River, I expected to love equally as much, if not more, The Red Heart. Following the plot-line of a white child taken by Native Americans and raised as one of their own, eventually to become a full-fledged member of their tribe and not want to go back to the world of white men, I was prepared for this to become an instant favourite of mine, like Ride the Wind by Lucia St. Clair Robson.
Unfortunately, unlike Ms. Robson, Mr. Thom was not able to make me care about the heroine's fate. This, at first, was surprising to me, as I cared a heck of a lot what happened whilst reading Follow the River. The world was vivid, the events were exciting, and the heroine was truly unique and made me care about her and her circumstances.
In this novel though, even though the heroine is a child, she has little to no personality at all--and no, being a child is not a valid excuse for this, because in Ride the Wind, same situation, the heroine has a lot more personality and interesting characteristics. Now, to be clear, I would be okay with this, if only Mr. Thom set his focus elsewhere--say, on the Revolutionary War and its aftereffects, or the Native Americans' relations with the Americans and British and French. All of these are interesting topics, and touching base on them now, I'd be interested in reading some fiction novels on the American Revolutionary War.
However, at best, Mr. Thom just references these are far-off events, occurring, but not in direct relevance to the heroine. And, again, as she herself is not a compelling character, I really couldn't seem to find a focus on what was important in the novel, what I should be paying attention to and why I should be invested in where the story goes. As such, about a third of the way through the novel, I set it down, prepared to move on to my next big read.
I might return to it at some point for curiosity's sake, but, for now, I think I'll set it aside unfinished.
Having read and loved James Alexander Thom's Follow the River, I expected to love equally as much, if not more, The Red Heart. Following the plot-line of a white child taken by Native Americans and raised as one of their own, eventually to become a full-fledged member of their tribe and not want to go back to the world of white men, I was prepared for this to become an instant favourite of mine, like Ride the Wind by Lucia St. Clair Robson.
Unfortunately, unlike Ms. Robson, Mr. Thom was not able to make me care about the heroine's fate. This, at first, was surprising to me, as I cared a heck of a lot what happened whilst reading Follow the River. The world was vivid, the events were exciting, and the heroine was truly unique and made me care about her and her circumstances.
In this novel though, even though the heroine is a child, she has little to no personality at all--and no, being a child is not a valid excuse for this, because in Ride the Wind, same situation, the heroine has a lot more personality and interesting characteristics. Now, to be clear, I would be okay with this, if only Mr. Thom set his focus elsewhere--say, on the Revolutionary War and its aftereffects, or the Native Americans' relations with the Americans and British and French. All of these are interesting topics, and touching base on them now, I'd be interested in reading some fiction novels on the American Revolutionary War.
However, at best, Mr. Thom just references these are far-off events, occurring, but not in direct relevance to the heroine. And, again, as she herself is not a compelling character, I really couldn't seem to find a focus on what was important in the novel, what I should be paying attention to and why I should be invested in where the story goes. As such, about a third of the way through the novel, I set it down, prepared to move on to my next big read.
I might return to it at some point for curiosity's sake, but, for now, I think I'll set it aside unfinished.
February 27, 2024
My second 5 star book of the year! Very rare for me to have any 5 star books. It has to be very special. The story of Frances Slocum is definitely the kind of story you can't put down; also I was so sad it was over but I loved it all. As usual a lot of the credit goes to the author, Thom, who is an excellent writer of history of the West and Native Americans. Frances Slocum's story is a special one--she was kidnapped at age 5 or 6 by Lenapah Indians and carried off to a village. There she became the daughter of a dear lady, Neepah; she was taken to replace the daughter that was killed by white soldiers. Often this was why children or adults were kidnapped--to replace the one killed. Frances grew up and lived a good life she thought, because her heart became "red". In her spirit, she felt more Indian than ever white. Her life gave her a fear of white people, so she did not desire to find her family. As usual when I read such stories, I see the tragedy of how white people took the land from the Indians and treated them as less than human. A tragedy common to history.
July 6, 2020
I loved this book. It was a great historical fiction about Frances Slocum aka Wa-Con-A-Quah (her Indian name that she held thruout life). Living in Fort Wayne, Indiana all my live, i have heard of the characters. I learned of Tecumseh, Little Turtle, etc while in school. I don't recall what i learned, but i knew of them.
This really laid out how Native Americans were continually driven from their homes during that time. It was fascinating reading of the "Indianization" (a word?) of Francis Slocum to Waconaquah. And, it showed her commitment to her Indian heritage.
I recommend this read for anyone interested in Fort Wayne history (while it doesn't dwell on that specifically, it is a big part of Frances Slocum's life, so is covered here).
I found this a timely read in lieu of the BLM movement. While that is the priority today, the Native Americans can be argued to be the original challenge to our American History.
This really laid out how Native Americans were continually driven from their homes during that time. It was fascinating reading of the "Indianization" (a word?) of Francis Slocum to Waconaquah. And, it showed her commitment to her Indian heritage.
I recommend this read for anyone interested in Fort Wayne history (while it doesn't dwell on that specifically, it is a big part of Frances Slocum's life, so is covered here).
I found this a timely read in lieu of the BLM movement. While that is the priority today, the Native Americans can be argued to be the original challenge to our American History.
October 3, 2020
I am a Hoosier daughter raised by a Miami County Quaker. My daughters were raised in a neighborhood in Grant County on Frances Slocum Trail. Each year we return to our hometown to gather on the banks of the Mississinewa for the re-enactment of the Battle of Mississinewa, 1812.
Because of COVID-19, the re-enactment is not being held this year. Our entire family decided to read The Red Heart and remember the battle from our home on Yellow Creek Lake in Kosciusko County. The lake flows into the Tippecanoe River and is just north of the Eel River.
My home ties and childhood memories and lore about Frances Slocum have kept her story in my heart but Thom’s research and his writing had me on the familiar trail with Maconaquah.
I was deeply moved by this story and the parallels of life today compared to the time when white soldiers pushed Indians from their land and the battles that ensued.
Beautiful book - I will read it a second time, just as I have Follow the River
Because of COVID-19, the re-enactment is not being held this year. Our entire family decided to read The Red Heart and remember the battle from our home on Yellow Creek Lake in Kosciusko County. The lake flows into the Tippecanoe River and is just north of the Eel River.
My home ties and childhood memories and lore about Frances Slocum have kept her story in my heart but Thom’s research and his writing had me on the familiar trail with Maconaquah.
I was deeply moved by this story and the parallels of life today compared to the time when white soldiers pushed Indians from their land and the battles that ensued.
Beautiful book - I will read it a second time, just as I have Follow the River
December 4, 2020
4.5 stars for a remarkable story based largely on factual events. In 1770s New York, a 5-year-old Quaker girl is kidnaped by Indians and adopted by a family whose child was killed by soldiers. They treat her lovingly, and she soon considers them her real family. The detailed story of her life with them is fascinating. The larger story of the settlement of America from the Native American viewpoint is a heartbreaking, eye-opening tale. Many of the tribes are far from the savages often depicted. They value family, community and nature and show kindness, generosity, courage and self-sacrifice. In some ways, they're better than the settlers--they bathe daily, consider gossip a crime and treat women as the equals of men. They retreat to remote areas to avoid conflict, but the army relentlessly pursues them, burning their villages and brutally slaying the people. Promises are broken and treaties ignored. It is truly tragic, but moving and beautifully written.
July 3, 2022
Knocked this down to 4 stars because it’s not a historical account of Frances Slocum/Maconakwa. I would have preferred to read a factual, researched and referenced account instead of the fictionalized version based on the true story. That said, the author didn’t claim it to be 100% fact. So that’s just a preference, not a criticism.
Other than that, I really enjoyed this book. I genuinely felt for the two families and Frances/Maconakwa’s love of both and the conflicts she encountered over two different ways of life. I was glad the Slocums weren’t portrayed as hateful toward the native Americans.
The beginning reminded me of the Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder as they were from the viewpoint of a young girl.
I’m from the Wilkes-Barre area and also enjoyed reading about what familiar places used to look like and how it grew. Also I often go to Frances Slocum State Park, but had never heard this story!
Other than that, I really enjoyed this book. I genuinely felt for the two families and Frances/Maconakwa’s love of both and the conflicts she encountered over two different ways of life. I was glad the Slocums weren’t portrayed as hateful toward the native Americans.
The beginning reminded me of the Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder as they were from the viewpoint of a young girl.
I’m from the Wilkes-Barre area and also enjoyed reading about what familiar places used to look like and how it grew. Also I often go to Frances Slocum State Park, but had never heard this story!
August 22, 2019
Finished this awhile ago but didn't review it at the time. I did not love this as much as I loved From Sea to Shining Sea or Follow the River but Thom's meticulous research shows well here. I enjoyed learning about Frances Slocum along with more history. Especially since I now live close to where it all happened and, in fact, visited Vincennes, Indiana, this very summer. I love historical fiction, particularly when it is this well researched and sends me looking for more knowledge. I googled often as I read The Red Heart and was reminded how From Sea to Shining Sea sent me on a summer long study of Lewis and Clark many years ago.
February 13, 2023
Author Jim Thom passed on recently. His historical fiction books woke me up at just the right moment, that teachable moment when I desperately needed context for the facts of Native American history I had painstakingly researched. I feel personally indebted to him as a researcher and storyteller, especially because I live in Indiana, the old Northwest Territory where many of his books take place.
I mean there was a Frances Slocum Elementary School in my home town and a middle school called Kekionga. Most current residents have no idea why that is. James Alexander Thom spoke truth that will ring out over generations.
https://www.heraldtimesonline.com/obi...
I mean there was a Frances Slocum Elementary School in my home town and a middle school called Kekionga. Most current residents have no idea why that is. James Alexander Thom spoke truth that will ring out over generations.
https://www.heraldtimesonline.com/obi...
January 7, 2021
Beautiful Sad Story
So well written that it brings to life the people who lived it.The research that went into this book is vast, relating such diverse skills as planting crops, the depth of religious thought, the mores of several Indian and White cultures, to the most efficient method to safely expel afterbirth. And it leads us to reflect on the loss of those cultures we and our ancestors so thoughtlessly judge(d). We can rejoice in the irony that, in 2021, a native American WOMAN has been nominated to become Secretary of the Interior.
So well written that it brings to life the people who lived it.The research that went into this book is vast, relating such diverse skills as planting crops, the depth of religious thought, the mores of several Indian and White cultures, to the most efficient method to safely expel afterbirth. And it leads us to reflect on the loss of those cultures we and our ancestors so thoughtlessly judge(d). We can rejoice in the irony that, in 2021, a native American WOMAN has been nominated to become Secretary of the Interior.
February 20, 2021
Wow! Great historical fiction based on the Quaker child, Frances Slocum. Kidnapped by by Lenapeh, to replace a child killed by white settlers. Frances quickly adapted to her native way of life and her heart became red with the love of her new people. Through years of bitter turmoil, driven and slaughtered by encroaching soldiers, Maconakwa had many times of beauty and love.
Ruth Slocum, Frannie's gentle, strong, Quaker mother, never stopped looking for her abducted baby. Her story was of the powerful love of a mother.
Ruth Slocum, Frannie's gentle, strong, Quaker mother, never stopped looking for her abducted baby. Her story was of the powerful love of a mother.
July 8, 2019
Finally I’ve finished this book!!! I’ve been working on it for 2 months. I almost gave up several times, but I had invested too much time and effort!
I really enjoyed the story of Frances Slocum who was captured and raised by the Miami Indians. She had a good life despite what the white men tried to do to the native Americans. Another example of how horribly we, the immigrants, treated those who were here before us!
The book was long...about 100 pages too long! It was very well researched.
I really enjoyed the story of Frances Slocum who was captured and raised by the Miami Indians. She had a good life despite what the white men tried to do to the native Americans. Another example of how horribly we, the immigrants, treated those who were here before us!
The book was long...about 100 pages too long! It was very well researched.
October 26, 2020
My dad passed me this book 2 years ago and I am so glad I dusted it off. This is a remarkable true story. I learned so much about the Native Americans traditions and way of life. I was struck by how hard the Native American Women worked and how spiritual this culture is. I took away this idea of marinating on new ideas or problems. Really taking time to hear what your inner voice is guiding you towards. This is a great read.
October 28, 2021
Riveting narrative of a remarkable woman and the times in which she lived
Should be required reading in all early high school years for its depiction of the European settlement of this country. Mr. Thom succeeds in his effort to put the emphasis on the effects of wars on the women, children and elderly victims , as well as the devastating effects of "progress" as shown in the Pennsylvania area the Slocums inhabited.
Should be required reading in all early high school years for its depiction of the European settlement of this country. Mr. Thom succeeds in his effort to put the emphasis on the effects of wars on the women, children and elderly victims , as well as the devastating effects of "progress" as shown in the Pennsylvania area the Slocums inhabited.
February 18, 2022
I was recently reminded of another book by this author, Follow the River and wanted to read something else by written by him. He does of wonderful job of bringing you into the lives of his characters. I did not realize it was a true story until I reached the authors notes at the end. I have Quaker ancestors and family history in many of the places mentioned in the book. This made it of special interest to me.
April 24, 2022
This is a fictional accounting of the true story of Francis Slocum, a girl who, at the cusp of the Revolutionary War, was abducted from her Quaker family home in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania by the Lenapeh tribe of Native Americans. The story is rich and extremely well written. I learned a great deal about the Native American communities during this turbulent and gruesomely violent time. Cannot recommend it enough! A fascinating and historically essential read.
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