The Beaded Moccasins

By: Lynda Durrant
(Durrant, Lynda. The Beaded Moccasins. Yearling Publishing, 2000.)

This book tells the story of 12-year-old Mary Campbell's capture and first year of captivity among the Delaware Indians. This story is based on a real incident. Kidnapped in 1759 from her Pennsylvania home, Mary replaces the deceased granddaughter of the chief. Angry, lonely, and frightened, she resists assimilation into the tribe. However, by story's end, she recognizes her Indian family's genuine affection for her, helps with daily chores, and earns the name Woman-Who-Saved-the-Corn for her valiant efforts to salvage the tribe's crops. Throughout her ordeal, Mary weighs the relationships of her past life against the hardships and isolation of her current existence. The dissatisfaction she once felt for her real family fades as she struggles to understand the values of her tribal family. Mary's quaint, observant narrative reveals a young girl coming of age, discovering her inner strength, and gaining sensitivity to the needs and hopes of others.

This is a very compelling story of Mary Campbell. Durrant does an excellent job at portraying this real incident in a way that can be comprehended by students. This book could very easily be taught to upper elementary students. This book gives excellent insight into the life of this young girl living with the Delaware Indians. The book gives a lot of information regarding the culture pertaining to this particular tribe. This fictionalized account is entertaining, insightful, and compassionate. The book is also very informative because it contains a glossary of Delaware terms, a list of sources, and an afterword that completes the facts of Campbell’s true story. The cave that Mary Campbell lived in is still around and people are able to go and visit it. This would be a great opportunity to take a class on a field trip so they are able to see first hand what this young girl had to endure.