CALICO CAPTIVE

Speare re-creates an incident from the French and Indian War. Miriam and her family are captured by Indians and eventually land in Montreal. During this harrowing experience, there are also moments of friendship, peace, and luxury as Miriam encounters a wealthy Canadian family. The constant shifts of locale and situation present narrator Hérbert with an excellent showcase for her range of talents. She dramatically presents many accents (her French is great) and the very different family members, as well as the various reactions to their shared fate. Indian and French words are introduced as the story unfolds. But the very best part is the realistic, almost insider's, view of early American war, class structure, and prejudice. S.G.B. © AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine [Published: JUN/JUL 02]