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duskvamp's review against another edition
4.0
I've always loved reading the Dear America books and this was no different
huncamuncamouse's review against another edition
5.0
This was another "iconic" Dear America book, one that I remember getting passed around a lot in elementary school. Unlike some of the other books in the series that are just about a particular time period, this book revolves around one key dramatic event: Catherine's abduction.
As you likely would guess, Catherine slowly bonds with the Lenape people who kidnapped her. Eventually she accepts them as her surrogate family and even falls in love with a young man who had also been taken as a teenager. This book, unfortunately, does not have a happy ending (nor could it have had one).
I was impressed by how frank Mary Pope Osborne is in addressing the brutalities committed against native people. I think glossing over the ways white people, at a minimum, deceived them with various "treaties" was still pretty commonplace at this time. As a whole, it aged pretty well, although I wonder how commonplace it actually was for native people to kidnap white children. If I didn't know that books down the line are from indigenous girls' perspectives, I'd probably have more of a complaint that this was written by a white Quaker narrator instead of a Lenape girl. However, I also recognize that being able to sell this as a captivity diary already makes it sound exciting to potential readers. It's certainly why it caused such a stir at my school.
I was unexpected moved by this book in a way that none of the others have. There are so many lessons about tenderness, love, and what makes us good humans. I was pretty weepy for the entire final third. This book seems more ambitious and mature than others in the series, and it's incredibly well-written. Definitely one of my favorites.
As you likely would guess, Catherine slowly bonds with the Lenape people who kidnapped her. Eventually she accepts them as her surrogate family and even falls in love with a young man who had also been taken as a teenager. This book, unfortunately, does not have a happy ending (nor could it have had one).
I was impressed by how frank Mary Pope Osborne is in addressing the brutalities committed against native people. I think glossing over the ways white people, at a minimum, deceived them with various "treaties" was still pretty commonplace at this time. As a whole, it aged pretty well, although I wonder how commonplace it actually was for native people to kidnap white children. If I didn't know that books down the line are from indigenous girls' perspectives, I'd probably have more of a complaint that this was written by a white Quaker narrator instead of a Lenape girl. However, I also recognize that being able to sell this as a captivity diary already makes it sound exciting to potential readers. It's certainly why it caused such a stir at my school.
I was unexpected moved by this book in a way that none of the others have. There are so many lessons about tenderness, love, and what makes us good humans. I was pretty weepy for the entire final third. This book seems more ambitious and mature than others in the series, and it's incredibly well-written. Definitely one of my favorites.
musiquedevie's review against another edition
5.0
A powerful read in a YA book that teaches about life with the Indians during a time of much consternation between the English and Indians. Mary Pope Osborne does a wonderful job with the lead character of Caty and it's easy to connect with her, to follow her and her younger brother on their journey.
I've read numerous Dear America (and its spinoffs) books and this one really captures a moment of history and the people involved and makes it really come to light. This book was intriguing, educational and even had heart-tugging moments. A fantastic read for any historical fan, this Dear America book is easily one of my most favorites in the entire series.
I've read numerous Dear America (and its spinoffs) books and this one really captures a moment of history and the people involved and makes it really come to light. This book was intriguing, educational and even had heart-tugging moments. A fantastic read for any historical fan, this Dear America book is easily one of my most favorites in the entire series.
nerdypotsie's review against another edition
3.0
TW// >
Standing in the Light is probably my least favorite book in the Dear America series (out of all of the ones that I’ve read). It seemed to lack depth and I got bored of the story in the middle of the book. The main relationship sort of made me uncomfortable, too, as it involved a thirteen year old captive falling in love with a seventeen year old who was one of her captors. There were also some parts where the religious elements were put in there too much, but I knew nothing about the Quakers, so it was sort of interesting to read about how the Quakers initially wanted to respect the Lenape people who lived in Pennsylvania.
I think the major issue with this book was that I had a sense of deja vu the whole time I was reading it. It felt like I’d already read this story before, but then I realized why I was having deja vu - this story was essentially Mary Jemison’s story but with a different ending. Earlier this year I read a book called [b:Indian Captive: The Story of Mary Jemison|42466|Indian Captive The Story of Mary Jemison|Lois Lenski|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388337198l/42466._SX50_.jpg|1560636] and there were some scenes in this book that were pulled directly from Mary’s life. The author’s bio in the back of this book also said that the author has a “fascination with Indian captive narratives,” so it is possible that Mary Pope Osborne used parts of Mary’s story for inspiration. (Oh, and if Mary Pope Osborne’s name sounds familiar, it’s probably because almost every American knows her name. She’s the author of the Magic Treehouse series.)
The one thing that I really appreciated about this book was how this book taught a good message. This story is about challenging beliefs that people hold about groups of people and it’s about loving everyone even if they’re different than you. That’s a great message for kids to learn and it’s a message that tons of adults across the world still need to learn.
I would say that this installment in the series is still worth reading if you’re not familair with Mary Jemison’s story, but if you’re pretty familiar with Mary’s story, you can skip this one because it’s the same story as Mary's for most of the book.
Spoiler
death (including babies, children, animals, mothers), mentions of murder, violence (including scalpings + violence against animals, children), mention of vomit, racism, mentions of depression/suicidal ideationStanding in the Light is probably my least favorite book in the Dear America series (out of all of the ones that I’ve read). It seemed to lack depth and I got bored of the story in the middle of the book. The main relationship sort of made me uncomfortable, too, as it involved a thirteen year old captive falling in love with a seventeen year old who was one of her captors. There were also some parts where the religious elements were put in there too much, but I knew nothing about the Quakers, so it was sort of interesting to read about how the Quakers initially wanted to respect the Lenape people who lived in Pennsylvania.
I think the major issue with this book was that I had a sense of deja vu the whole time I was reading it. It felt like I’d already read this story before, but then I realized why I was having deja vu - this story was essentially Mary Jemison’s story but with a different ending. Earlier this year I read a book called [b:Indian Captive: The Story of Mary Jemison|42466|Indian Captive The Story of Mary Jemison|Lois Lenski|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388337198l/42466._SX50_.jpg|1560636] and there were some scenes in this book that were pulled directly from Mary’s life. The author’s bio in the back of this book also said that the author has a “fascination with Indian captive narratives,” so it is possible that Mary Pope Osborne used parts of Mary’s story for inspiration. (Oh, and if Mary Pope Osborne’s name sounds familiar, it’s probably because almost every American knows her name. She’s the author of the Magic Treehouse series.)
The one thing that I really appreciated about this book was how this book taught a good message. This story is about challenging beliefs that people hold about groups of people and it’s about loving everyone even if they’re different than you. That’s a great message for kids to learn and it’s a message that tons of adults across the world still need to learn.
I would say that this installment in the series is still worth reading if you’re not familair with Mary Jemison’s story, but if you’re pretty familiar with Mary’s story, you can skip this one because it’s the same story as Mary's for most of the book.
lavenderdolmeh's review against another edition
1.0
You shouldn’t teach children that it’s okay for a 17 year old to “fall in love” with them when they are 13. From the author of Magic Tree House too? I seriously hope this was ghost written.
hadiqa01's review against another edition
4.0
Not one but several time I had to clean tears that would stream down my face while reading the book.
ccleeds7's review against another edition
5.0
As a long time fan of the Dear America books and Mary Pope Osborne in general, Standing in the Light was, Standing in the Light was easily tied with my other favorite in the Dear America series, Voyage on the Great Titanic (I read both multiple times, even when I was way past the targeted age). I loved Catharine's character development as she went from terrified of the local Lenape tribe to finding herself a very different person when she finally went home, even falling in love with one the boys in the tribe. If Mary Pope Osborne wrote a ya or adult version of this book, I would pick it up in a heartbeat.
ifthebook's review against another edition
5.0
A touching story about the question of whether or not the settlers and the Native Americans could co-exist, told from the point of view of one girl straddling the two worlds. A lot like Mary Jemison's story, really. I very much enjoyed it.