The Abduction (Aerial Fiction) [Paperback]

Mette Newth (Author), Tiina Nunnally (Translator), Steven T. Murray (Translator)

Book Description

Series: Aerial Fiction | Publication Date: April 1, 1993

Based on the actual kidnapping of Inuit Eskimos by European traders in the seventeenth century, this story describes the violence inflicted in the name of civilization, while also evoking the beauty of Eskimo life.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In a thought-provoking note, Newth points out that this "story of a clash of cultures . . . is equally a meeting of reason and unreason. . . . Unreason always wants to use power to enforce injustice." This comment, placed sagely as an afterword, can have no better illustration than the moving narrative that precedes it. There are two intertwining stories here, both set in the 17th century. The first is of Osuqo, an Inuit girl who is abducted--with Poq, the boy she is to marry--by foreigners; they are taken from Greenland to Vagen in Norway, where they are debased, treated as animals, then as creatures of Satan, by power-hungry merchant Master Mowinkel and evil Pastor Absalon. The second narrative tells of Christine, whose father fails to return from the voyage during which Usuqo and Poq were captured. She and her mother are forced into servitude in the Mowinkel household, where Christine is made to guard the foreigners. With nothing (except her life) to lose, Christine finds freedom in her decision to help Henrik, Mowinkel's son, in his plan to help the two Inuit escape. Newth has utilized ships' logs and the centuries-old oral tradition of the Inuit in creating a chilling tale of xenophobia and its cruel cost to humanity. Yet this ably translated, thoughtful work is also inspiring: the stain of slavery blots the history of many nations, and Newth provides a fresh perspective from which to consider the "clash of cultures." Ages 12-up.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Grade 8 Up. An Eskimo girl and her betrothed, kidnapped from their 16th-century Greenland home, are tortured and brutalized in the name of religion and science. Alternating narratives between the captives and the Norwegian adolescent who guards them poignantly parallel two worlds. Riveting, thought provoking, and demanding.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) (April 1, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0374400091
• ISBN-13: 978-0374400095
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,551,422 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars effective portrayl of foreigners but one dimensional, May 29, 2000

By 

Anand - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Abduction (Aerial Fiction) (Paperback)

The Abduction, by Mette Newth is one of those enigmatic, strangely intriguing books. Almost. The book is told by two different people: Osuqo, an Indian girl in third person, and Christine a white girl in first person.The author's portrayl of Osuqo as a confused, hurt, and virginal girl, and his telling of her disgusting gang-rape is extremely effective. However his characterization of Christine falls very short. Christine is too one-dimensionally good: the voice of unquestioned reason in a world of ignorant white people. Christine never once questions the foreigners humanity, even after growing up in an environment of intolerance for non-whites. This is extremely unrealistic. Even after Christine learns that Osuqo accidently killed her (Christine's) father, (another 'good white' unconditionally loving Osuqo), she does not doubt the foreigners. She shows very little anger, or even resentment. Christine is obviously a very understanding girl, but who would be this perfect having grown up taught all non-white Christians are sub-human, (even raised by a third tolerant mother). I think the book would have been much more effective had Christine originally hated the Indians, then GROWN to accept them as human beings. Also, although Osuqo is superbly portrayed as distrustful towards whites, it is a bit unreal to believe that after being attacked by about atleast 10 sailors she would not be scared of them at all- only angry. If the authors message is that tolerance overcomes intolerance,then he should have at least centered the story around a few realistically initially-intolerant Europeans, and focused the story on their gradual acceptance of the Indians. All in all, 50 % compelling story, well-developed foreigners, but too one-dimensional ''heroine.'' Read the book from Osuqo's point of view, and add your own dimension to Christine- it isn't there in the book.

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The cruelty toward a misunderstood people effectively shown, January 12, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Abduction (Aerial Fiction) (Paperback)

Mette Newth did an awesome job when writing from the perspective of Osuqo using metaphors and similes to compare her thoughts to landmarks and beliefs of her land. I could see how Christine was caught in the middle of the situation and how she struggled to make the right decisions. This novel gave me a harsh view of how foreigners were treated and the cruelty that Osuqo and Poq had to face just because they were misunderstood.