I Am Regina [Hardcover]

Sally M. Keehn (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up

In 1755, as the French and Indian War begins, ten-year-old Regina is kidnapped by Indians in western Pennsylvania, and she must struggle to hold onto memories of her earlier life as she grows up under the name of Tskinnak and starts to become Indian herself.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Ten-year-old Regina tries to be brave when she hears stories of the bloody French-Indian war that is making its way toward her family's farm in colonial Pennsylvania. One day her worst fears are realized: while her mother is off on an errand to town, her home is attacked by Indians. Her father and brother are killed, and she and her sister are taken captive and divided as property among the warriors. Regina is indoctrinated into Indian society, given a new name and gradually adopts the Indian way of life--and as the years pass she begins to wonder if her life with her family was just a dream. Raw and sensitively written, this well-researched account of a factual story neither shies away from the horrible truths of war nor sentimentalizes its emotional content. With a simplicity that echoes Regina's character, Keehn's prose is immediate and fresh, and transports the reader into this poignant narrative. Ages 12-up.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-8-- A first-person narrative based on the true story of a young woman held by Indians from 1755-1763, related with all the impact of a hard-hitting documentary. Entering an impoverished Indian village, ten-year-old Regina has difficulty forgetting the murders of her father and brother, which she had witnessed. Gradually memories fade, and she truly becomes Tskinnak, no longer remembering even her beloved mother's face. Her days are filled with minding Quetit, a younger captive entrusted to her care; with providing for the needs of her household; and with worrying about the future. It becomes apparent that the Indians, for whom she cares a great deal, are being betrayed in their relations with the white men. When the American army frees the captives and arranges for them to rejoin their birth families, Tskinnak regrets deserting the tough old woman who has raised her. The images of the white women rejoining their families, many of whom are now strangers, are memorable. Regina/Tskinnak's story is a dramatic one, while the portrayal of the Indians' fate is simply told; the combination makes wonderful reading. Readers will hardly realize how much they're learning in the pleasure of the story. --Susan F. Marcus, Pollard Middle School, Needham, MA
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Philomel (May 24, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399217975
• ISBN-13: 978-0399217975
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (73 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,031,396 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Collision of Cultures, November 14, 2006

By 

Kate Homer (Pittsburgh, PA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: I Am Regina (Paperback)

In I am Regina, Sally M. Keehn tells the story of a ten-year-old girl who is taken captive by Native Americans after they brutally kill her brother and father. In their village, Regina is given a new name, Tskinnak, and slowly adapts her new way of life. This young adult novel is well-crafted in terms of structure; it has a sound arc of conflict sustained by a strong narrator and cast of fascinating supporting characters that all possess individual goals and desires. Keehn masterfully juxtaposes Native American culture and the ways of the "white man" through the eyes of Regina/Tskinnak, her innocent narrator. As time progresses in the book, so does Regina/Tskinnak's understanding and acceptance of Native American culture. Though this transformation occurs slowly, the soul of her very being is forever altered. She is able to see the war amongst white men and Native Americans from both sides, and finds herself questioning where she truly belongs, a question that resonates in the minds of children and young adults of today. The only inconsistency in the book occurs during shifts in time. Keehn shifts in "moons" and at times it is confusing to judge how much or how little time has passed since the last scene. Keehn began the story using short choppy sentences, but as the book progresses, it outgrows this simplistic structure and evolves into a well-written text. I am Regina is a powerful and moving story that will captivate readers right down to the final sentence.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My 7th greatgrandmother's sister is Regina, July 11, 2003

By 

Kristine Ritter (Kutztown, Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: I Am Regina (Paperback)

It was great reading this book. I read it for the first time in 1995 when I was 13 years old. My 7th great grandmother was Barbara Leininger, Regina's older sister, who escaped from the Indians. It was interesting finding a book on the market that pertained to something that I knew had happened in my family. Although I am not descended from Regina, I still feel for her and what she could have gone through as a child. I don't think everything happened to her that is mentioned in the book, but I do know that it must have been a miracle to see her mother from just singing a song in German, when she had been speaking the Indian language for 9 years. For those who love reading about history, this book is a must!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A terrific book about American tragedies., January 28, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: I Am Regina (Hardcover)

This is a very well written book about two tragedies. One tragedy is the story of a young German-American girl, Regina. She witnesses the brutal murders of her father and older brother. She sees the destruction of her home. She endures a forced march into captivity. She is seperated from her beloved sister and is forced to survive in a completely alien and hostile environment where she is not even allowed to speak in her native tongue. This is a horrifying story. A true tragedy.

Just as tragic is the story of the people who caused all the above to happen to this girl. They murdered her family, burned her home, forced her to carry a child on her back, and then attempted to brainwash her into becoming one of them. Yet by the end of the book one really sees the Indians as the real tragic victims of the story. War, disease, and alcohol, all brought by the Europeans, completely destroy the entire fabric of their lives. Regina, who discovers great kindness and love among the Indians, is a witness to both these tragedies.