SOLVED. Young English boy adopted by Native Americans, eventually reunited with his father, maybe a children’s chapter book. [s]

[Paige]

This book was read to my class by a teacher in 2003, this teacher often secretly read us banned books, unclear if it’s a children’s book or not. The plot goes, a young boy is traveling with his father from England to America when their ship is caught in a storm, he goes overboard and believes the ship has sunk and that he is the sole survivor. He is rescued by a native American tribe, where he is first raised by a grandmother figure but she dies from a fall in a snow storm, so another family adopts him. His enemy in the book is a native boy named I think Frog Face, his love interest is a girl named White Deer who eventually marries his adoptive brother. He becomes a part of the tribe and even goes on his own vision quest where it is revealed his spirit animal is an ant. In the end he discovers his ship did not sink, and his father survived, he and his father are united and he leaves the native village. I remember so much about this book, it kills me I have no clue the title or the author. Thanks in advance!

[Becca]

Are you still looking for this? Maybe Cry to the Night Wind by Thomas H. Smith?

It might be worth browsing lists e.g. American Indian Captivity Fiction (although 'captivity' doesn't sound quite right for the story). Or could you get in touch with the teacher who read it to you and ask them?

[Rainbowheart]

Might also check the Fiction involving White Children (Male or Female) bought up by Native Americans thread.

[Paige]

Hi! Still no luck but thank you for the leads! I would contact the teacher but it’s been almost twenty years and she retired the same year I had her. If anyone else has ideas I’d love to keep searching!

[Mai]

I found this document called "A Critical Bibliography of North American Indians, for K-12" googling some key words: https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED.... On page 178 it mentions the book The Indians of New Jersey: Dickon Among the Lenapes by Mark Raymond Harrington. From the description it sounded just like your book! And checking the preview from Google Books (https://www.google.com/books/edition/...) there are characters named White-Deer and Toad-Face (you were close!) so hopefully this is it!

[Paige]

Thank you so much Mai! That’s my book!!! I’ve been looking for it for years and countless online searches, I’m so grateful! Thank you again!!!

[Mai]

So glad this was your book! I hope you can find a copy!