Swift Arrow

By Josephine Cunnington Edwards

Book Overview

When seven-year-old George Boylan is captured by Indians during a frontier raid in Pennsylvania, his life changes forever. Torn from his loving family and thrust into the wilderness, George must learn to survive in a world vastly different from his peaceful settlement home. Adopted by Chief Big Wolf and given the name Swift Arrow, George grows from a frightened boy into a skilled warrior. He masters the bow and arrow, learns to swim treacherous waters, and proves himself in the dangerous "trial by knives." Yet despite his success in Indian society-becoming the chief's chosen heir-George never forgets his true identity or his deep longing for home. Through twelve years of captivity, George faces impossible choices. He forms genuine bonds with his Indian family, especially his adopted sister Ewanah, while secretly maintaining his Christian faith and dreaming of escape. When Chief Big Wolf announces George will marry Ewanah and become the new tribal leader, George knows he must act quickly or lose his chance for freedom forever.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1479607037
• ISBN13: 9781479607037
• Release Date: March 2016
• Publisher: Teach Services, Inc.
• Length: 112 Pages
• Weight: 0.88 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.2" x 6.0" x 9.0"
• Age Range: 10 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 5 to 7

Customer Reviews

Great Read for All Ages

Swift Arrow's white name was George Boylan, A German boy originally from Germantown , Pennsylvania. George's parents and his best friend Robert's parents moved about 11 days away from Germantown to the wilderness and built log cabins to live in. At the time of the Revolutionary War, when George was about 8 years old, the Indians kidnapped his friend Robert and him. George and Robert were split up, so George never knew what happened to Robert. The Indians moved George north to Lake Erie where he became the adopted son of Chief Big Wolf whose wife had died and left him-a little daughter Ewanah. For 12 years George, Swift Arrow trained to be a an excellent brave. Chief Big Wolf was getting old and he wanted Swift Arrow to marry Evanah. They were too much brother and sister to marry. Evanah his Indian sister wanted to marry another brave White Rain. Evanah ever his confident helped George to Escape.George even climbed the treetops to escape .The Indians gave up and George made it home. His parents were happy to see him and he married Robert's sister Becky. He told his children his many stories of himself and Big Wolf and the Indians and he built lis little girl a playhouse-an Indian wigwam.The Indians were good to George but there is no place like home.This is a true story.

favorite

This book has been an all time favorite of mine. I've read it over and over since I was a child and now my children (ages 5-14) still enjoy it as a family read aloud. Josephine Edwards was a fabulous story teller and did wonderful "weeks of prayer" for my elementary school when I was a child. Thanks to her family for the effort they put into getting this story back into print for another generation!

A great family read!

Fun for the whole family. Read this a chapter at a time at bedtime. My children couldn't wait for the next chapter each evening! Thank you for a wonderful family story!

One of the best reads ever!!!

First read this book when I was a young girl, after attending a church campmeeting where the author was a featured storyteller in my age group. My mom bought me this book and I had it read in 2 days! Re-read this story about twice a year for years! It was one of the most exciting stories I'd ever read. Now that I'm a grama... it was one of the first books I started looking for to pass on as a GREAT read!

A "must read" for grades 1st-3rd

This captivating story has never left my memory for 30 years! It was a favorite "read aloud" at the Christian school I attended and I enjoyed hearing it again and again. Now that I am a 3rd grade teacher, I too will read it aloud to my children! It also falls into meeting Social Studies California State standards with regards to learning more about the American Indians.

Extremely Captivating!

You want a fascinating adventure? This is it. What makes it even better is that it's a true story. Read the book about ten years back yet lots of books later, it still stands as one of my very favorites.