The Light in the Forest (1953)
By Conrad Richter
This book was written for young adults, and I may have read it years ago, but the story is impactful for any audience.
This story is set in colonial times, when Fort Pitt was on the western frontier and white settlers were encroaching more and more on the native Americans' land. As the story opens, a 15-year-old boy is being escorted from an Indian village to the home of Harry Butler, a prominent Pennsylvania settler. The reader soon learns that "True Son" was kidnapped at a young age by Delaware Indians and that he and a handful of others are now being returned to their white families as part of a land treaty. Brought up as an Indian, the young man has throughly accepted their way of life, forming his own distinct opinions against the whites, and considering himself a Delaware. He loves the open land, the forests, the rivers, the animals and the birds.
True Son's white family is thrilled to have their son back, but find him ungrateful and unwilling to accept many of their ways, including their tight-fitting clothes, chores, and rules. Various family members try different tactics to get him to behave light a "white boy", but he chafes against the restrictions. Johnny's little brother Gordon is the only one to like him as he is, and Johnny and Gordy quickly develop a close bond. After a few months among the whites, Johnny hears that an Indian has been seen in the community, and he sneaks out at night to see if he can find him. Sure enough, it is Johnny's "cousin", Half Arrow, who has made the trip with Little Crane, to find Johnny and Little Crane's white squaw, also part of the exchange. But Little Crane has been killed by Johnny's uncle, and the two boys set out for vengeance. Eventually, Johnny is forced to make a decision that could threaten the life of his brother Gordy. Johnny's decision will dramatically affect his future, and the outcome is heartbreaking.
This story is so well written. The author manages, in a very slim volume, to illustrate the clash of cultures, the overstepping of the white settlers, and the painful consequences when human beings are caught in the middle.
This book was written for young adults, and I may have read it years ago, but the story is impactful for any audience.
This story is set in colonial times, when Fort Pitt was on the western frontier and white settlers were encroaching more and more on the native Americans' land. As the story opens, a 15-year-old boy is being escorted from an Indian village to the home of Harry Butler, a prominent Pennsylvania settler. The reader soon learns that "True Son" was kidnapped at a young age by Delaware Indians and that he and a handful of others are now being returned to their white families as part of a land treaty. Brought up as an Indian, the young man has throughly accepted their way of life, forming his own distinct opinions against the whites, and considering himself a Delaware. He loves the open land, the forests, the rivers, the animals and the birds.
True Son's white family is thrilled to have their son back, but find him ungrateful and unwilling to accept many of their ways, including their tight-fitting clothes, chores, and rules. Various family members try different tactics to get him to behave light a "white boy", but he chafes against the restrictions. Johnny's little brother Gordon is the only one to like him as he is, and Johnny and Gordy quickly develop a close bond. After a few months among the whites, Johnny hears that an Indian has been seen in the community, and he sneaks out at night to see if he can find him. Sure enough, it is Johnny's "cousin", Half Arrow, who has made the trip with Little Crane, to find Johnny and Little Crane's white squaw, also part of the exchange. But Little Crane has been killed by Johnny's uncle, and the two boys set out for vengeance. Eventually, Johnny is forced to make a decision that could threaten the life of his brother Gordy. Johnny's decision will dramatically affect his future, and the outcome is heartbreaking.
This story is so well written. The author manages, in a very slim volume, to illustrate the clash of cultures, the overstepping of the white settlers, and the painful consequences when human beings are caught in the middle.
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