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Captive
P. Gifford Longley

Tate Publishing & Enterprises
January 4, 2011 / ISBN: 9781617392269
Fiction
Amazon

Reviewed by Christine Lindemer

Captive is the companion volume to Compelled, also by P. Gifford Longley. This story, spanning in time from July 1694 to June of 1696, begins on the summer night before the capture of the main character, twelve-year-old John Longley, and the murders of many of his family members. Taken captive - - along with two of his siblings - - an arduous backcountry travail ensues. The possibility of John and eleven other captives being sold as slaves or ransomed at any point was intriguing.

The narrative is very realistic, with many small details of wilderness camping with the Abenaki, canoe portages, and near starvation which bring the story to life. The dialogue - - between the seventeenth-century pioneer children and their conversations with their Native American captors - - seems plausible. Not surprisingly, some of the children show the defiance that one would expect from adolescents, especially under such adverse circumstances. (Note: Longley is known to his captors as ·John Aw-geh-ree,· which is how they pronounced his name.)

This kidnapping story reminded me of modern-day kidnappings of children and adolescents and ·Stockholm Syndrome.· As a New England resident with former knowledge of this real-life story, I had long wondered why this young man had not tried to escape. This story made clearer the real situation in which John·s survival may have depended upon becoming as much like a Native American as he was able to - - adapting to their customs, dress, and society - - not to mention Longley·s almost inevitable demise should he have escaped into the wilderness with or without fellow captives.

Lydia Longley·s story of her beginnings as ·The First American Nun· is also covered as a side story in one of the chapters. Sagamores such as Taxous and his son, Incon, and others are woven into the story. A complete listing of the Groton citizens murdered, injured, or captured in the raid appear in a roll call.

From its hair-raising beginning to its eventful conclusion, this carefully crafted book would be enjoyed by any New England and Native American history enthusiasts. Of special interest is the mention in the foreword of the etched stone honoring the family at the edge of Longley Road in Groton, Massachusetts, and the historical map of the area (including Acadia) in the appendix. Highly recommended.

Reviewer's Note: Captive is companion volume to Compelled. Both books are based on a true story.

Reviewer C.R. Lindemer is the author of picture books including The Night of Many Lights. Her essays and poetry are in several collections, and she is the editor of an anthology.
Reviewed 2012
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