This book is based on the life of Cynthia Ann Parker.

As a child of nine, she was captured by the Comanche. But 25 years is a long time to spend with a culture; she had a husband, two sons, and a small daughter when she undergoes another raid-- and again is captured by white men out to teach this camp a lesson.

Captured once again, she has her daughter to think about. She fully expects to be made a slave, as one captured by an enemy should become, but finds something different.

Her daugher, named Topsannah, which means "Prairie Flower" begins to assume the ways of this half of her people.

Cynthia, who still thinks of herself as Naduah, or "She Who Carries Herself With Dignity and Grace," does not take to the English language so easily or happily. Actually, she makes no effort to learn it, to the point of only responding to the name they insist on calling her, never going by it herself, and only talking when she finds it very important.

Eventually this changes, as she makes a deal with the man they know as Grandfather; she agrees to learn the ways and speach of the white settlers ine exchange for a visit to her home.

The home she has make two escape attempts to reach.

But things are prone to change... Naduah's son, Quanah,
once a Comanche brave is now a chief.

Lucy, is teaching Nuduah English, and Naduah finds a friend in her pacience... perhaps the only friend she ever has.

You see, two of Naduah's siblings survived, and she is asked to live with each of them. The promise made to her looks as if it will not be fulfilled... because Naduah is in Texas, and Texas is currently deciding to ceede from the Union... the civil war seems to be blocking her from her family.

The book is based on fiction, fact, and supposed fact... it makes a good book, however, and is facinating to read.
If you are looking for a non-fiction, this isn't that; but neither is it completely fiction...

It would be good for giving some idea of what Indian captives, who returned to their homes, went through... though this particlar captive was not usual...

The way the story is told. It is rather even... Lucy, Naduah's cousin, has a journal where she writes her side of what is happening; the rest of the story is told from Naduah's point of view... so you get both people's ideas of what is happening. It helps you remember what both know, how both sides of the story understand what is happening to them.

The ending... but that would be telling!

I enjoyed it, and it gives a very good look at what both sides, both people, might have gone through... and most of these stories that I have read have not dealt with a mother, or someone returning to a settlers life.

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Created Nov 04, 2003 at 11:25pm • Submit your own review...