Naya Nuki was only eleven when she was taken captive by a rival Indian tribe. She and her best friend, Sacajawea, were forced to march 1000 miles f...
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Jul 23, 2008
Corinne
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In the fourth grade my elementary school had Kenneth Thomasma come to our school to do a talk on his new book: Naya Nuki. I remember being enthralled by his speech (I was also incredibly into Native Americans at the time) and my sweet mother must've given me money to buy the book that day, because my copy is signed by the author and it says "To Corinne 3/25/87". I bet I read it a half dozen times while in elementary school.
I was digging through my box of old books recently More...
I was digging through my box of old books recently More...
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Mar 25, 2011
Jenny
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Read this with my kids for our neighborhood little girls' book club. My kids (ages 5 & 7) really enjoyed it. Even my 2 year old listened to part...and was fascinated by the bear that Naya has to climb a tree to escape. It was an interesting story. I was disappointed, however, that the author did not include any author's note to tell what was fact and what was fiction, how he did his research, etc. As I was looking for more info online (and there wasn't much aside from reviews of this book),
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Jul 25, 2009
Madeline
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My absolute favorite book in 4th grade. I must have checked it out from the library at least fifteen times, and the result of this is that I still remember the plot of the story almost perfectly.
Eleven-year-old Naya Nuki and her friend Sacajawea (10-year-old Madeline: OMG LIKE THE REAL PERSON!) get kidnapped by an enemy tribe and sold into slavery. Naya decides that's not cool, and after her friend gets sold to French traders she starts making plans to blow that popsicle stand and f More...
Eleven-year-old Naya Nuki and her friend Sacajawea (10-year-old Madeline: OMG LIKE THE REAL PERSON!) get kidnapped by an enemy tribe and sold into slavery. Naya decides that's not cool, and after her friend gets sold to French traders she starts making plans to blow that popsicle stand and f More...
Jun 24, 2009
Melissa
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I forgot all about this book! Kenneth Thomasma came to my school in the second grade with a giant buffalo skin. When he asked for volunteers to come get wrapped up in it, somehow I ended up on stage. He gave me an autographed copy for my troubles; wouldn't you know it, but I can't remember what he wrote. Years later, I took it to show & tell at my Catholic middle school (note the emphasis) and someone stole it. Now every time a copy comes my way at work, I check the inside to see if it's mine. N
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Sep 30, 2008
Jenn
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Even though I read this 20+ years ago, the story is still vivid in my mind. Loved it.
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Feb 06, 2008
Pam
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I read this book quite a while ago and remember enjoying it. For quite a while now, I've been meaning to read another Kenneth Thomasma novel. He lives relatively close to where I live....I live in Ketchum, Idaho and he lives in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Some of the same Indian tribes roamed and lived near both our locations.
In this book the main character, Naya Nuki is a member of the Shoshoni Indian tribe. She is taken captive along with the infamous Sacajawea and is forced to w More...
In this book the main character, Naya Nuki is a member of the Shoshoni Indian tribe. She is taken captive along with the infamous Sacajawea and is forced to w More...
Apr 17, 2011
Monica!
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Could I have loved this book more when I was in third grade? Possibly, but only if I was reading it while actually running through the wilderness with my new best friend Naya Nuki.
Honestly, y'all. She's captured! She escapes! She fights off bears! She makes her own shoes out of animal skins! She's like a fierce little ball of sheer awesomeness, and I wanted desperately to be her, one thousand miles of walking and all.
Honestly, y'all. She's captured! She escapes! She fights off bears! She makes her own shoes out of animal skins! She's like a fierce little ball of sheer awesomeness, and I wanted desperately to be her, one thousand miles of walking and all.
Jun 14, 2009
Stella
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The first time I heard this story was when Denise Mavor, a 2nd grade teacher, read it to my daughter's class. Later, we read it as a family as we traveled through Yellowstone, as some of the story took place in that part of the west.
Since then, I have read it nearly every year with my 5th graders. I particularly like it because it shows a strong, brave girl the same age as my 5th graders.
Since then, I have read it nearly every year with my 5th graders. I particularly like it because it shows a strong, brave girl the same age as my 5th graders.
Feb 22, 2008
Heather
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Naya Nuki is a young girl of the Shoshone tribe. Her best friend is Sacagawea. Their families are hunting on the buffalo grounds when they are savagely attacked. The two girls are taken prisoner by the attacking tribe. They are led a thousand miles from their home to be slaves for the other tribe. Naya Nuki never gives up her hope of escape and return to her homeland.
This book is exciting, adventurous, and historically interesting. Children love this book. It allows you to discuss f More...
This book is exciting, adventurous, and historically interesting. Children love this book. It allows you to discuss f More...
Jan 10, 2010
Heather
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I used this as a "read-aloud" for my daughter during our home-schooling section where we learned about Native American's. We were both facinated! We still recount on occasion the part where Naya was delighting in raw buffalo heart as a treat! She and I both learned a lot, though this was a bit long for a 7 year old!
Jul 14, 2009
Montana
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I loved this book. The amazing story of this little Indian girl who NEVER gives up hope.. Who continues to fight when it seems like there is NOTHING left she can do. She just keeps going. She pushes herself and survives HORRIBLE circumstances.. I read this book in Elementary but I still LOVE IT!
Apr 12, 2010
Anya
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This book is about a slave girl who tries to escape from her cruel life. She goes through a lot of hard ships to try to settle down in the right life for her. She learns how to hide from the enemies who might recapture her. I enjoyed the ending of the book.
Oct 19, 2011
08alexisd
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This book was kind of a short book but it was packed with tons of adventure. It is about a young Native American girl named Naya Nuki. She gets captured by a tribe & plans for her escape. The distance is forty days away form her home in the mountains. She runs into many challanges on her journey from the dry prairie to he beautiful mountain home. She is faced with death a couple times. At the end of the book she finds her home & lives happily, she is known as the girl who ran...
I would reco More...
I would reco More...
Oct 11, 2010
Siri
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I have read this book probably 10 times. My mother bought it for me when I was about 10 years old, and it has remained one of my most favorite books of all time. I just read it aloud to my children, and they (as well as my husband) loved it too.
Jan 27, 2012
Shimmywith4
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I fondly remember Kenneth Thomasma coming to my school in fourth grade, to tell us the true story of a brave girl who escaped from an enemy tribe. I loved the book then and have remembered why each time I've re-read it to my children.
Aug 30, 2011
Rebecca
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Read out loud to my boys. Based on the story of a real-life friend of Sacajawea.
Good story to learn about Indian culture, wilderness survival, determination and courage.
It also allowed us to talk about varying religious beliefs.
Good story to learn about Indian culture, wilderness survival, determination and courage.
It also allowed us to talk about varying religious beliefs.
Mar 03, 2010
Cathy
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An all time favorite children's book about a Indian child's journey to find her people after being kidnapped by an enemy tribe. I found myself trying to find a place to hide on walks and hikes.
Feb 18, 2008
Yvonne
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I LOVED this book as a girl! I still like to go back and read it for a quick adventure/survival read. I guess I really like survival stories, especially a true one like this! We all know who Sacajawea is, but did you know she was abducted with her best friend by an enemy tribe and then marched over 1000 miles and sold as slaves to another tribe? Sacajawea grew accustomed to her new home, and eventually married the French fur trader Charbonneau, but her friend decided in the beginning of that lon
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Feb 23, 2011
naya nuki girl who ran is (so far) a great book. if you like the story of sacajawea or any kind of indian stories you might like this.Naya Nuki is actully sacajawea's best friend, this book is about an indian tribe called the shoshone (you say it like this SHOW-SHOW-NEE)well they got attacked by another indian tribe whom are called crow, blackfoot, and the Minnetares (they are three different tribes ) and most of them die some of them lived and some of them ran away (like sacajawea and naya nuk
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Sep 12, 2009
Kasi
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I really liked this book in elementary school, especially after Kenneth Thomasma visited us! The book is a very exciting and fast-paced read. I will definitely read it again!
Oct 19, 2011
Janessa
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Ah, reminiscing about middle school was what I did throughout this book. I used to imagine myself as a little indian girl. Who am I kidding, I still imagine myself as a little indian girl! These books were where I got the bulk of my survival skill knowledge when I was younger, and they still impress me with their content. I love how Kenneth Thomasma takes every opportunity to teach about survival techniques, the landscape, and the historical relevancy. While not the most attention grasping novel
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Jul 27, 2010
Maria
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True story!!! Great for adventurous 6+. Wait for children who have a difficult time with suspense, danger. (Naya knew Sacaweja.)
Dec 03, 2009
Cindy
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I remember reading this book when I was in grade school and I loved it then and it is still a great read! Very inspirational!
Mar 29, 2011
Michelle
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I met this author in 4th grade and got to hear him talk about how he became an author. It was really interesting!
Jun 03, 2010
Rhiana
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One of those books that I get the urge to read again every couple of years.
Jun 20, 2009
Olivia
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Strange, but has a very good story. Its like a 3rd grade level book though.
