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The Second Bend in the River
Rebecca Galloway is a busy pioneer girl in the Ohio Territory. Over the years, her friendship with Tecumseh, the respected Shawnee chief, grows into love. Rebecca must choose a future on her family homestead, or with the man she loves.
288 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published April 1, 1997
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359 people want to read
About the author
Ann Rinaldi
69 books988 followersAnn Rinaldi (b. August 27, 1934, in New York City) is a young adult fiction author. She is best known for her historical fiction, including In My Father's House, The Last Silk Dress, An Acquaintance with Darkness, A Break with Charity, and Hang a Thousand Trees with Ribbons. She has written a total of forty novels, eight of which were listed as notable by the ALA. In 2000, Wolf by the Ears was listed as one the best novels of the preceding twenty-five years, and later of the last one hundred years. She is the most prolific writer for the Great Episode series, a series of historical fiction novels set during the American Colonial era. She also writes for the Dear America series.
Rinaldi currently lives in Somerville, New Jersey, with her husband, Ron, whom she married in 1960. Her career, prior to being an author, was a newspaper columnist. She continued the column, called The Trentonian, through much of her writing career. Her first published novel, Term Paper, was written in 1979. Prior to this, she wrote four unpublished books, which she has called "terrible." She became a grandmother in 1991.
Rinaldi says she got her love of history from her eldest son, who brought her to reenactments. She says that she writes young adult books "because I like to write them."
Rinaldi currently lives in Somerville, New Jersey, with her husband, Ron, whom she married in 1960. Her career, prior to being an author, was a newspaper columnist. She continued the column, called The Trentonian, through much of her writing career. Her first published novel, Term Paper, was written in 1979. Prior to this, she wrote four unpublished books, which she has called "terrible." She became a grandmother in 1991.
Rinaldi says she got her love of history from her eldest son, who brought her to reenactments. She says that she writes young adult books "because I like to write them."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
July 29, 2016
I've loved YA (Young Adult) novels for teenagers ever since I took a course in graduate school on such books. Rarely have I read a YA novel that was disappointing, but this is because I also look carefully at the theme and plot before reading, so hence the reason why 98% of the time I've liked all the books in this genre that I've read. The Second Bend in the River one didn't disappoint me either.
The narrator of the story Rebecca Galloway is a spunky tomboy who loves to read. The Second Bend in the River begins in 1798 in newly settled Ohio territory. Rebecca and her family though pioneers are genteel folk who left Kentucky (Kaintuck as it's called by characters in the novel) because they disapproved of slavery. The problem is that after fleeing one injustice, they and all their neighbors and friends live on land taken from the Native Americans thus accomodating another injustice.
There is an uneasy existence between the whites and the indigenous peo that are being pushed further and further off their ancestoral lands. Rebecca's parents, especially her father who is an educated man with a library, try to see the Native Americans as people like themselves, but Rebecca, her brothers and most of the other whites are suspicious, hate, or are terribly frightened by the Indians who they view as treacherous savages.
Rebecca is nine at the beginning of the story and already her head is filled with fearsome stories of Indian attacks and massacres put there by her best friend an adult woman and neighbor, Mrs. Maxwell, who's toddler was killed years before during an Indian attack. One day Rebecca sees a tall Indian on their property near the river. She is very afraid, but he turns out to be a friend of her father, Chief Tecumseh. During his childhood Tecumseh had lived on the same land where the Galloway's farm is located. Without any ill intent he periodically comes back there to reminisce, hunt, and put up his wigewa, and Rebecca's parents invite him into their home. They also allow him to pitch his shelter on their land. As time moves and she interacts with Tecumseh, Rebecca's opinion about him and his people change from terror to empathy. She learns that Tecumseh is a man of great dignity, sensibility, and bravery who loves his people and who is trying to come to terms with a world that is changing fast and threatens to eradicate his people.
Ann Rinaldi's novel is meticulously researched. In the Author's Notes following the story she writes about some of her sources and explains which portions of the novel are based on fact and which are fleshed out fictitiously. She also includes a Bibliography at the very end of the book.
Both Rebecca Galloway and Tecumseh are true historical figures. Rinaldi states that there is evidence that they actually loved each other. Tecumseh was a famous chief of the Shawnee nation. He gathered a confederacy of several tribes and fought alongside the British in the War of 1812. He was very passionate in his dream of uniting all the Native American tribes across North America.
In some reviews of this novel some readers mentioned their disappointment at the end, but I feel even though this book is marketed to teens it is not imperative that the ending is happy. With all the other realism of the novel, I think it is suitable that the standard happily ever after ending is not tacked on.
I really enjoyed this book and I recommend it for not only teenagers but also for full adults. I confess that I wasn't prepared to like Rebecca and her family since they are on stolen land, but I liked not only Tecumseh, but also the Galloways, particularly the narrator and her parents.
A little information on the actual historical figure Tecumseh:
http://www.touring-ohio.com/history/t...
The narrator of the story Rebecca Galloway is a spunky tomboy who loves to read. The Second Bend in the River begins in 1798 in newly settled Ohio territory. Rebecca and her family though pioneers are genteel folk who left Kentucky (Kaintuck as it's called by characters in the novel) because they disapproved of slavery. The problem is that after fleeing one injustice, they and all their neighbors and friends live on land taken from the Native Americans thus accomodating another injustice.
There is an uneasy existence between the whites and the indigenous peo that are being pushed further and further off their ancestoral lands. Rebecca's parents, especially her father who is an educated man with a library, try to see the Native Americans as people like themselves, but Rebecca, her brothers and most of the other whites are suspicious, hate, or are terribly frightened by the Indians who they view as treacherous savages.
Rebecca is nine at the beginning of the story and already her head is filled with fearsome stories of Indian attacks and massacres put there by her best friend an adult woman and neighbor, Mrs. Maxwell, who's toddler was killed years before during an Indian attack. One day Rebecca sees a tall Indian on their property near the river. She is very afraid, but he turns out to be a friend of her father, Chief Tecumseh. During his childhood Tecumseh had lived on the same land where the Galloway's farm is located. Without any ill intent he periodically comes back there to reminisce, hunt, and put up his wigewa, and Rebecca's parents invite him into their home. They also allow him to pitch his shelter on their land. As time moves and she interacts with Tecumseh, Rebecca's opinion about him and his people change from terror to empathy. She learns that Tecumseh is a man of great dignity, sensibility, and bravery who loves his people and who is trying to come to terms with a world that is changing fast and threatens to eradicate his people.
Ann Rinaldi's novel is meticulously researched. In the Author's Notes following the story she writes about some of her sources and explains which portions of the novel are based on fact and which are fleshed out fictitiously. She also includes a Bibliography at the very end of the book.
Both Rebecca Galloway and Tecumseh are true historical figures. Rinaldi states that there is evidence that they actually loved each other. Tecumseh was a famous chief of the Shawnee nation. He gathered a confederacy of several tribes and fought alongside the British in the War of 1812. He was very passionate in his dream of uniting all the Native American tribes across North America.
In some reviews of this novel some readers mentioned their disappointment at the end, but I feel even though this book is marketed to teens it is not imperative that the ending is happy. With all the other realism of the novel, I think it is suitable that the standard happily ever after ending is not tacked on.
I really enjoyed this book and I recommend it for not only teenagers but also for full adults. I confess that I wasn't prepared to like Rebecca and her family since they are on stolen land, but I liked not only Tecumseh, but also the Galloways, particularly the narrator and her parents.
A little information on the actual historical figure Tecumseh:
http://www.touring-ohio.com/history/t...
May 8, 2009
Well that was a waste of two hours. This book is really boring and pointless. "Hey, let's spend a whole book forshadowing an awesome love story, and have it end in nothing. And then that'll just be it." It was pointless. There was no reason to even write it. Why didn't she just write on a napkin, "Hey, this selfish chick didn't love this cool Native American enough to go live with him, and thus helped contribute to the War of 1812." That's all that needed to be said. It was pointless. Nothing happened. The end would have happened regardless of the beginning or middle.
October 16, 2011
This novel appealed to me in that it was based on true historical figures and events that happened in the area I grew up in. It centers around a girl named Rebecca Galloway (she was real and the Galloway cabin still stands in Xenia, Ohio) and her family's relationship with the Shawnee Chief (and prophet) Tecumseh. The historical part of novel is well researched and there are some very good sources in the bibliography. The romance part felt a little heavy-handed to me. It is true that there was a romance of sorts between Rebecca and Tecumseh, but the way it is written here makes it feel unrealistic. I think that may stem from the voice the author is writing in. As Rebecca matures, her voice does not and I think perhaps that lends to the heavy-handedness of the romance part. It was interesting to read about people I have heard about all my life (Tecumseh, Simon Kenton, and even a mention of Col. Patterson, a relative of mine) and to get an idea of how difficult it would have been during that time period. Tecumseh is a very well-respected person in the area (my high school was named Tecumseh High) and I think the novel helped paint a decent picture of him, even if the part about the eclipse coming made him sound a bit like a fraud (read that section and you will understand what I mean). Overall, not a bad book, I hope I can convince my son to read it. I think my dad may read it as well.
February 11, 2010
This wasn't my favorite book because it didn't end the way I wish it would, but I understand why. These were real people and that was the was it ended and nobody can change history, I love it because It helped me with my history in school to get all of the events in this time period in order.
June 23, 2010
I wish I could give this book more stars, but the ending totally ruined it for me. One of THE WORST endings I have ever read. So much build up for so much let down. Read it if you like historical fiction, but be prepared to be disappointed. And please let me know if you actually like the ending- would probably make for interesting conversation!
February 17, 2018
It was kind of sad at the end because Tecumseh dies
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 22, 2011
Although I found the book fascinating, the very reason I found it charming is the reason most people I know would shy away from it or put it down. Rinaldi must have put considerable effort into making the story period authentic, right down to what we would consider today to be archaic word choices. Every page is packed with phrases like "your father and I could not countenance it" or "I had to let my waters go" for example. As I said, I could feel the flavor of the language, so that appeals to me on some level, although it did slow the reading down considerably. I do not expect many of my students to pick this one up on their own for that very reason, although I think it would make an excellent choice for a guided reading or upper elementary/middle school challenge literature class. I don't want to give away the ending, but I was surprised at how the situation with Tecumseh resolved itself.
Read
February 25, 2019I read this on a last minute trip to St. Louis Missouri. In the air as a glanced down at the Shenandoah mountains pass under the plain, gazed down the route of the Wilderness Road... thinking on those families who wandered west.
This was an insightful and moving view of our westward expansion and the interactions which make a multifaceted take on our history so important.
Names attached to ideas and places... yes historical fiction, but opening minds for further inquiry.
This was an insightful and moving view of our westward expansion and the interactions which make a multifaceted take on our history so important.
Names attached to ideas and places... yes historical fiction, but opening minds for further inquiry.
October 18, 2010
Interesting historical novel based on Chief Tecumseh and his relationship with the white Galloway family. I found this book particularly interesting since this Galloway family are among my husband's descendents. A good look into the life and times of true early Americans.
November 24, 2021
2021 bk 359. Ann Rinaldi is one of the best historical fiction writers out there. While she is mostly considered an author for middle and high school students (main characters are those age groups). I have found her research to be among the best of American history authors. This is the story of Tecumseh, the time before and up to the War of 1812 and the story of one of the families that settled in what is now Ohio - on the land where Tecumseh was raised. At the time this was written, it was one of the few to describe Native Americans as not savages needing to be saved. The story still rings true and ones heart aches for the characters in the story. A tear may have been shed.
Read
January 28, 2022This book was Elisa's from 1997 that I saved out to read before packing other books of hers. Presumably the target audience is young adults, but again I enjoyed a book written for children. This historical fiction was about white settlers in Ohio after the Revolutionary War. The protagonist was a young girl at the start of the novel, but grew up during the course of the novel. She developed a special relationship with Tecumsah, a Shawnee chief, because her family tried to maintain cordial relationships with the native population. Long story short, Tecumsah proposed to her after his native wife died, but she turned him down because it would have required her to turn "native" which she wasn't willing to do. An interesting story based on purportedly well-researched history that provided an insight to pioneer life and relations with the native population so I am glad I read it. I will be saving this copy for Ada when when she is ready, since she is my Ohio girl!
July 3, 2024
Dnf. I tried to give this one some grace but I dunno, it was just a little dull and icky. She's seven years old when he first meets her as a grown man, and this is supposed to develop into a romance. The narrative didn't provide much commentary on this, and I know that that can be an artistic choice to have an unbiased narrative, and maybe the book does go into it later, but to me it wasn't worth the stress to find out.
May 10, 2014
Rebecca Galloway is a pioneer girl in Ohio Territory. Her father is friends with the known Indian chief Tecumseh. And Rebecaa soon befriends him as well. But over the years their friendship grows and eventually turns into love. She badly wants to be with him, but she has to choose. Either she continues to live her life as she has, or choose life with Tecumseh.
In the book the story is told by Rebecca Galloway, who is only 7 when the book begins and she meets Tecumseh. The characters in this book are based on real people and I have to say the author really made them come alive and made me wonder about the real people, how they really felt about the things that were going on in their time.
The story was good, with lots of details of things that actually happened. And it was interesting to see how the characters felt and reacted to the events.
I liked seeing how the relationship between Tecumseh and Rebecca developed. They started out as friends and it turned into more. Their love was really sweet, really pure and just beautiful. But to me, the ending was sad. I won't spoil why, but I imagine it was definitely a tough choice for her. Either giving up her one life or giving up the man she truly loved.
Really great book and I loved the author's note.
In the book the story is told by Rebecca Galloway, who is only 7 when the book begins and she meets Tecumseh. The characters in this book are based on real people and I have to say the author really made them come alive and made me wonder about the real people, how they really felt about the things that were going on in their time.
The story was good, with lots of details of things that actually happened. And it was interesting to see how the characters felt and reacted to the events.
I liked seeing how the relationship between Tecumseh and Rebecca developed. They started out as friends and it turned into more. Their love was really sweet, really pure and just beautiful. But to me, the ending was sad. I won't spoil why, but I imagine it was definitely a tough choice for her. Either giving up her one life or giving up the man she truly loved.
Really great book and I loved the author's note.
February 27, 2016
The book stars out in 1798 with Rebecca at seven years of age. This is the first time she sees the great Native American chief Tecumseh. It then covers the years afterward up until around 1813.
Rebecca gets older and meets Tecumseh other times, helping him to learn to read English, becoming his friend, and even becoming involved in helping another Native American to appear as a 'prophet' by predicting a solar eclipse.
The book also shows the problems that existed between the white settlers and the Native Americans and just how much prejudice there was against the Native Americans and how easy it was for people on either side to die and blame the other side for the deaths.
It also helps show how young children can look at things without the learned prejudice of their elders, a matter true even in today's world.
Rebecca becomes attracted to Tecumseh but has to decide whether she can live in his world or not.
An interesting book on a variety of levels.
Rebecca gets older and meets Tecumseh other times, helping him to learn to read English, becoming his friend, and even becoming involved in helping another Native American to appear as a 'prophet' by predicting a solar eclipse.
The book also shows the problems that existed between the white settlers and the Native Americans and just how much prejudice there was against the Native Americans and how easy it was for people on either side to die and blame the other side for the deaths.
It also helps show how young children can look at things without the learned prejudice of their elders, a matter true even in today's world.
Rebecca becomes attracted to Tecumseh but has to decide whether she can live in his world or not.
An interesting book on a variety of levels.
September 25, 2008
Okay, I sort of want to try Yellow jacket soup, I even looked it up on the Internet and found that it is actually made from the toasted grubs from a yellow jacket nest, hmmm.
In this book she stated at the end what makes her historical novels. "Did the red-tailed hawk really make an appearance to announce Tecumseh? I like to think so. And my liking to think so, my hunting down and interpreting the thundered of dry facts I located in books, original papers, family trees, personal letters, pension applications, regional histories and personal accounts is what makes my historical novels."
I think that this is the reason why I like her books so much, because the things that she "I like think so" about are the same as mine would be. They also help to soften what really did happen in history.
content rating: PG
In this book she stated at the end what makes her historical novels. "Did the red-tailed hawk really make an appearance to announce Tecumseh? I like to think so. And my liking to think so, my hunting down and interpreting the thundered of dry facts I located in books, original papers, family trees, personal letters, pension applications, regional histories and personal accounts is what makes my historical novels."
I think that this is the reason why I like her books so much, because the things that she "I like think so" about are the same as mine would be. They also help to soften what really did happen in history.
content rating: PG
June 18, 2010
A semi fictional story which begins in the summer of 1798, about a real girl by the name of Rebecca Galloway, whose parents had recently uprooted themselves from Kentucky to the Ohio Territory because they were against slavery. Rebecca's family has settled on land that had once been the childhood home of the Shawnee Chief Tecumseh. With her father's consent, Tecumseh periodically visits, and befriends 6 year old Rebecca who becomes his teacher. Over the next 10 years their friendship evolves until she is forced to make a choice. The book references many historical events between 1792 and 1813, that her family is either involved in or that 'everyone is talking about' such as the duel between Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr.
Not the world's best read and it didn't really keep me enthralled....
Not the world's best read and it didn't really keep me enthralled....
February 20, 2010
Ann Rinaldi is one of my childhood authors! I so enjoyed reading her historical novels growing up. I don't remember if I read this one before, but I didn't remember it, so I guess it doesn't really matter.
Anyway, I liked it? I think Rinaldi always does a great job of getting me into whichever historical era she's writing about. Everyone seems a product of their era (which is an issue I often have with historical novels). And nothing ever strikes me as inaccurate (not that I always know, but sometimes things seem off in historical novels, regardless of how much history I know).
I wasn't quite as into the romance as I'd liked to have been, but I read the book in a couple of hours, so it kept me fairly interested.
Anyway, I liked it? I think Rinaldi always does a great job of getting me into whichever historical era she's writing about. Everyone seems a product of their era (which is an issue I often have with historical novels). And nothing ever strikes me as inaccurate (not that I always know, but sometimes things seem off in historical novels, regardless of how much history I know).
I wasn't quite as into the romance as I'd liked to have been, but I read the book in a couple of hours, so it kept me fairly interested.
July 24, 2008
I really like historical fiction because it makes everything seem more real. In this book, Ann Rinaldi did a very good job in portraying feelings. It's interesting to think about what it might have been like to live in a time when Indians were feared. I was disappointed with the ending, but it was also somewhat satisfying. It's a more realistic ending (especially because it's a true story) and not quite your run-of-the-mill happily ever after book.
May 12, 2011
This book is pretty good but sad at the same time. Rebecca cannot give up the life that she has known all of her life, while Tecumseh cannot let go of his life that he have known all of his life. Such an ordeal, but still, I feel sad that Tecumseh died by a gunshot wound, and that he had antisipated it. It's pretty sad, but then, she had known. Things get too complicated. (So, read this book, because this book makes it simple enough. ☺)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 23, 2013
3.5 stars
Tecumseh and a 16-yo pioneer girl? That's the historical that maybe-happened (historical support is iffy) and the background of this book. But it has so much more to it than that.
The book spans 1798-1813 and features both real documented people and those the author created to fill in the gaps. The characterizations are well done, and the historical era is well-drawn.
Recommended for anyone with interest in this era, and especially YA readers.
Tecumseh and a 16-yo pioneer girl? That's the historical that maybe-happened (historical support is iffy) and the background of this book. But it has so much more to it than that.
The book spans 1798-1813 and features both real documented people and those the author created to fill in the gaps. The characterizations are well done, and the historical era is well-drawn.
Recommended for anyone with interest in this era, and especially YA readers.
May 8, 2010
This is Rinaldi at her best, I think. I LOVED her books growing up, this was one I kept putting off and putting off reading. I wasn't sure if I would like it, and I was apprehensive about the ending being sad. However, when I did finally pick it up during high school, I really really loved it. It was a story that had meaning and heart. And I always like that.
February 24, 2011
I loved this book in high school (loved most of Rinaldi's books, actually). I'm not certain how much of the romance part was accurate, but the story was compelling. I thought it was nice because it doesn't end in a nice and neat way; it felt realistic to me, because, well, that's life. Things to end more on a bittersweet note much of the time. Great YA novel.
December 23, 2015
While I don't find this the most captivating of Rinaldi's historical novels, it was compelling in that it is set in the place and time of my own family's homesteading in the Virginia Military District, before Ohio became a state. It was facsinating to have these great names and places from my ancestry come to life.
April 14, 2014
This book is another one of my all time favorites! I read this book over and over and don't get sick of reading it. It was interesting to learn a little bit of the life of Tecumseh and the romance story was an added bonus. :D
February 20, 2015
this was the second time I've read this book. this was written by the author that I loved when I was younger and her writing opened the way to books for me. I wanted something easy to read, so I chose this one. I still love her writing style and the story was great.
July 6, 2008
Definitely historical fiction, and light. There's a lot I learned about the Shawnee indians and how they were treated so "pioneers" and veterans could have their home land. Romance abounds that is sweet and realistic. Great for pre-teens & teens. Light enjoyable read for adults.
December 23, 2008
I'm not sure how much of this book is true, but its a rather... nice story, all in all. Not nice people, by no means, but if there is one word to describe the story and plotline as a whole, it is nice.
October 7, 2009
I really like Ann Rinaldi's historical fiction. This story talks about the Native American Tecumseh and an American girl who loved him. It's a thoughtful, humorous story and gives lots of interesting details about life in Ohio during early American history.
March 8, 2010
Set in Xenia, OH, this book tells the story of Tecumseh, who was born near there, and the white settler's daughter who taught him to read classics and the Bible. It's so cool to go to the sites mentioned when you've read this story.
November 22, 2010
Hm. What did I think? Well. I thought this book was well written. It was a fun and interesting read.
Read my full review here:
http://bloggingbrookeworm.blogspot.co...
Read my full review here:
http://bloggingbrookeworm.blogspot.co...
Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews