Calico Captive

By: Elizabeth George Speare

Narrated by: C.M. Hébert

Early one morning in 1754, the stillness of Charlestown, New Hampshire, is shattered by shrill war whoops and the terror of an Indian raid. Young Miriam Willard, on a day which had promised new happiness, finds herself instead a captive on a forest trail, caught up in the ebb and flow of the French and Indian War.

She endures a harrowing march north to what she imagines may be a life of slavery. But when they reach Montreal, a sudden twist of fortune brings Miriam to the acquaintance of the prominent Du Quesne family. The Du Quesnes introduce her to a life of luxury that she never could have imagined, and compel her to the most important decision of her life. Based on the actual narrative diary published in 1907, Calico Captive skillfully re-enacts an absorbing facet of history.

©1957 Elizabeth George Speare (P)2001 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"The constant shifts of locale and situation present narrator Hébert with an excellent showcase for her range of talents....But the very best part is the realistic, almost insider's, view of early American war, class structure, and prejudice." (AudioFile)

"Vital and vivid, this short novel based on the actual captivity of a pre-Revolutionary girl of Charlestown, New Hampshire, presents American history with force and verve." (Kirkus Reviews)

my kids couldn't get enough!

loved it! my kids kept asking what happened to the little boy! i would definitely recommend this book.

Calico captive

This audio book was very interesting. I enjoyed it very much. The characters were colorful and I liked some of them, but really disliked a lot of them. It was painful to know some of the issues that were experienced by this girl.

Enjoyable "based on memoirs" historical fiction about Willard family captive of colonial NH taken captive by the Abenaki

Plot pacing overall kept my interest, with just a few short slow spots. Thumbs up to the author for writing from the pov of the sister who did not leave a memoir, as in the absence of first hand material she could be fleshed out to be more interesting and engaging than the sister whose memoir was written to support the cultural and religious mores of her time and place.

Share this one with your kids!

I loved this when I was a girl -- forty-something years later, it's still a great book! The audio version is nicely done.

Best book ever

I liked everything about this book. It was so intriguing. I wish It was a movie so I could all see the amazing dresses that Mariam made.