The year is 1812. A white trapper is murdered. And a young Chippewa Indian stands accused.
read full description
reviews
Mar 13, 2009
Barky
rated it: 
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Sep 20, 2010
Sheila
rated it: 
Dreaming of seeing my own books in bookstores one day, I find myself consciously wondering sometimes, what makes me pick a book up from the shelf? What makes me look at the blurb on the back? And then what makes me buy? Unfortunately what makes me buy is all too often influenced by whether the book is cheap, and some of my most treasured finds have been remaindered hardbacks.
Crooked River was a hardback remainder with a beautiful cover. Purple clouds (I like purple) loom in a black- More...
Crooked River was a hardback remainder with a beautiful cover. Purple clouds (I like purple) loom in a black- More...
Nov 11, 2011
Dan
rated it: 
This Historical Fiction book by Shelley Pearsall was quite interesting and enjoyable to read. Rebecca Carver, a 13 year old girl lives in a one room cabin with her Pa, her sisters Laura (age 17) and Mercy (age 3), brothers Lorenzo (age 11) and Amos (age 19), and cousin George (age 21?). As you might expect, living on the edge of the frontier, the settlers of this small community encounter Native Americans quite often. As the story begins the men of the village have arrested a Native American
More...
Feb 04, 2012
Karen
rated it:
A story of prejudice and courage told in alternating voices, Crooked River is set on the American frontier of Ohio in 1812. Rebecca and her four brothers and sisters live in a small cabin with their father, a violent and short-tempered man. Pa is one of them men who brings back Indian John to town for trial in the murder of a white trapper – only there is no jail in town, so Indian john is chained up in the family’s attic. Rebecca begins to question who is right and who is wrong as she sees e
More...
Dec 16, 2010
Jill
rated it:
I thought this book was quite good!! And thank god, because I have been reading some not-fantastic stuff lately.
This book was about life on an Ohio settlement town and how they treated the Native Americans that were really there prior to their settlement. The people of the settlement capture and imprison a Native American man who they think murdered one of their trapper buddies. The rest of the book is about getting to know the man and then the trial.
I learned a lot in th More...
This book was about life on an Ohio settlement town and how they treated the Native Americans that were really there prior to their settlement. The people of the settlement capture and imprison a Native American man who they think murdered one of their trapper buddies. The rest of the book is about getting to know the man and then the trial.
I learned a lot in th More...
Nov 10, 2009
Tyler
rated it:
This book was O.K., but I didn't really like it. It's all about an Indian named John that is accused of killing a white trapper. He is going to be put on trial for murder and if he gets convicted, he will be sentenced to hang. Rebecca is trying to save him, but all the town is against John, so in the end, he is sentenced to hang. Rebecca doesn't like this, so she goes and cuts the rope he will be hung on. The rope ends up breaking when John is hanged and he escapes from the whites. I learned tha
More...
Jul 15, 2008
Ben
rated it:
This book was recommended to me by an eleven-year-old actress and member of the Ojibwe nation in Minnesota. We became acquainted when she joined the cast of a theater-dance fusion work for which I had been commissioned to compose the sound score.
Not surprisingly, the book, a work of historical fiction, is aimed primarily at juvenile audiences. The prose is for the most part simple and direct, short on nuance and layering of meanings. Also, Pearsall's blending of the idiomatic expres More...
Not surprisingly, the book, a work of historical fiction, is aimed primarily at juvenile audiences. The prose is for the most part simple and direct, short on nuance and layering of meanings. Also, Pearsall's blending of the idiomatic expres More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Jun 01, 2007
Abby
rated it:
Rebecca is appalled when her Pa brings home an Indian and locks him up in the attic. She's terrified of Indians in general and her Pa says that this Indian is a murderer. But when she screws up her courage to bring the Indian some food, she begins to realize that maybe he's not as terrifying as she thought. Then a young lawyer comes to their cabin claiming to be friends with the Indian. He's going to defend "Indian John" at his trial. Rebecca knows that there is no chance Indian John w
More...
Dec 19, 2011
Nandanie
rated it:
I read this three years ago in fifth grade. I really enjoyed this book but I hated how the whites would be so cruel to the indian. They threw fruits at him because he was a different race!!! Talk about cruelty!!! I am a different race and if someone threw something at me or disliked me because I am differet; I would stand up for my rights!!! I love the plot and I only gave it 3 because of the cruelty. Unlike Hatchet, this was a pretty good book in reading class!
Sep 06, 2011
Erin
rated it:
It took me a while to really get into this book, but after I got to know the main character a little better (when the trial started), I was hooked. Other reviewers have described this book as a mix between Laura Ingals Wilder's Little House books and Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird. I think this is an apt description, and it probably explains part of why I enjoyed this book so much. Those other titles are some of my all-time favorites!
Jan 18, 2008
Jackie
rated it:
Rebecca Carver lives in the Ohio Valley with her widowed father and many siblings. Her father, Major Lorenzo Carver is a prejudiced, verbally abusive,and a bitter father who does not have a kind word to say about anyone. He takes justice into his own hands when a white trapper is found murdered. He captures a Ojibway Indian and shackles him, binds him and holds him captive in the loft of Rebecca's home. She and her sister, Laura are frightened of this strange man, but gradually come to understan
More...
Mar 20, 2011
Louise
rated it:
Excellent young adult/juvenile historical fiction with well-drawn memorable characters faced with moral dilemmas. Takes place in 1812 when a native american is accused of murder and a show trial (similar to To Kill a Mockingbird) is held to sanction his execution. A young girl must decide to break the law so justice will be done.
Jan 23, 2011
Dotty
rated it:
Rebecca's father brings Amik, a Native American accused of murder, into their 1812 Ohio settlement town. While waiting for trial, their family’s attic becomes the jail and Rebecca and her sister are expected to care for Amik. Everyone assumes he is guilty, but Rebecca begins to wonder and to plan.
Jun 15, 2009
Nancy
rated it:
Shelley Pearsall writes good historical fiction for children. Her main character's voice is true, and this story provokes thought about prejudice and standing up for truth and justice.
Oct 29, 2010
Heather
rated it:
I found this book to be a combination of Little House on the Prairie and To Kill a Mockingbird. Not a bad read for a middle school class. Historical, yet interesting.
Feb 25, 2010
I loved this book. Rebecca's innocent goodness shines through as she struggles with what she has been taught and what she experiences and feels for herself.
May 10, 2009
Wendy
rated it:
A couple of my students were reading this for a class, so I grabbed a copy for myself. Interesting perspective with a great multicultural/historical lesson.
Jul 18, 2009
Whitney
rated it:
I liked this book and I thought it was interesting although some parts were a little boring, nothing most people couldn't handle.
May 18, 2011
Elaine
rated it:
It was an OK book. I think it was written well. Middle school kids seemed to like it. It was something I probably would not have picked but enjoyed it. Interesting way to write a book with both prose and poetry.
Oct 15, 2010
Mikaela
rated it:
I really liked this book! It was interesting, but it was kind of slow at first. I would definitley read it again!
Mar 14, 2009
Kristen
rated it: 
I disliked this one. It was a real downer, without the deep profound thoughts that sometimes redeem downer books.
Jan 31, 2011
I really like this book, once again it was a xchool book but I found it very interesting!
Jul 03, 2008
Kate
rated it:
Crooked River is a real place -- the story is based on real events. A young girl views the limits of a lifetime as she assists in feeding an Indian man held captive for some time as settlers deliberate his fate. The style of two voices speaking is outstanding as is the poetic form of interpreting the Indian's observations. This book is appropriate for children of all ages and for anyone who reads middle grade literature or historical fiction, and wants to look at pioneer America from another poi
More...
Oct 23, 2008
Allise
rated it:
So, this book is just about the trial of Indian John and if he survives...or not. That's it. I didn't like it too much. It was okay. At least it kept my interest throughout the book. I had to read it for Language Arts.
So, I think it just represents the hypocracy (sorry if I spelled that wrong) of man. That's the good part. I also liked the poetic parts of when Indian John was speaking.
So, I think it just represents the hypocracy (sorry if I spelled that wrong) of man. That's the good part. I also liked the poetic parts of when Indian John was speaking.
Apr 29, 2008
Linda
rated it:
This ia a historical novel set in 1812. An interesting look at the times and lives of people on the frontier in this era and the dilemma of 13 year old Rebecca when an Indian is jailed in her attic awaiting trial for a murder he didn't commit.
I learned that choices to right wrongs are not always easy and that justice at that time was different for Indians.
I learned that choices to right wrongs are not always easy and that justice at that time was different for Indians.
Mar 03, 2008
Dedra
rated it:
This book was a pleasant surprise. It is one of this years grade 6-9 Black-eyed Susan nominees, and that was wh I read it. Amazingly enough, it also fit the 8th grade Social Studies/Accelerated Reader project for the second semester (book that takes place in the 1800-1900s). It was basically about an incredibly unfair murder trial.
