Jenny of the Tetons (Great Episodes) [Paperback]

Kristiana Gregory (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up | Series: Great Episodes

Carrie Hill hates Indians. Indians killed her parents and ruined her life.
With nowhere else to go, fifteen-year-old Carrie signs on to help care for the family of Beaver Dick Leigh, an English trapper. To her dismay, Carrie discovers that Beaver Dick's wife, Jenny, is a Shoshoni Indian! But as Carrie's wounds heal under Jenny's gentle care, she begins to respect and love this kind woman.
Beginning each chapter with an excerpt from Beaver Dick Leigh's actual journals, Kristiana Gregory brings alive the people and the dramatic setting of a bygone era.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Carrie hates the Indians for killing her parents and stealing her brothers. But when she is taken in by an Englishman named Beaver Dick to help with his children, Carrie quickly learns the gentle, reverent ways of his Indian wife, Jenny. Like them, Carrie learns to respect and work with the land. When smallpox spreads through the country, neither Jenny nor any of her children are spared, and Carrie learns just how deeply she had come to love her adopted family. Gregory's story is dotted, chapter by chapter, with excerpts from the journal of the real Beaver Dick. His spelling and grammar make the story authentic, and leave readers with a vivid account of the hardship and beauty of living in the new land. In her author's note and epilogue, Gregory offers the facts behind some of the tragedies in the book. This is heartfelt historical fiction, and readers will relish each page of the adventure. Ages 8-12.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"A thoroughly involving story. . . . An impressive first novel."--Kirkus Reviews
"Readers will relish each page."--Publishers Weekly
"Smashing. . . . . I am as impressed with the emotion Kristiana Gregory has packed into her novel as I am with her vivid and detailed picture of pioneer life in America in the 1870s."--Clyde Robert Bulla

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Graphia (June 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0152167706
• ISBN-13: 978-0152167707
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 4.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,073,643 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Kristiana Gregory grew up in Manhattan Beach, California, two blocks from the ocean. She's always loved to make up stories [ask her family!], telling her younger siblings whoppers that would leave them wide-eyed and shivering. Her first rejection letter at age ten was for a poem she wrote in class when she was supposed to be doing a math assignment. She's had a myriad of odd jobs: telephone operator, lifeguard, camp counselor, reporter, book reviewer & columnist for the LA Times, and finally author.

"Jenny of the Tetons" [Harcourt] won the Golden Kite Award in 1989 and was the first of two-dozen historical novels for middle grade readers. "Bronte's Book Club" [Holiday House] is set in a town by the sea and is inspired by the girls' book club she led for several years. "My Darlin' Clementine" [HH] takes place in an Idaho mining camp of 1866, based on the song of that name.

Her popular "Cabin Creek Mysteries" are from stories she told her sons when they were little and needed a bribe to go to bed. All she needed to say was, "Do you guys want to hear a Jeff and David story?" and boom they were there. Kristiana's most recent title is "Cannons At Dawn" in Scholastic's Dear America series, a sequel to the best-selling "The Winter of Red Snow," which was made into a movie for the HBO Family Channel.

Kristiana and her husband have two adult sons, and live in Idaho with their two golden retrievers. In her spare time she loves to swim, walk, read, and hang out with friends. She's trying to learn to knit, but isn't yet having much success.

Check out Kristiana's blogs at http://notesfromthesunroom.blogspot.com/ for behind-the-scenes stories about her books, and with photos from her childhood.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars GREAT HISTORICAL FICTION, May 13, 2003

By 

mike griffin (richmond va) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Jenny of the Tetons (Great Episodes) (Paperback)

Carrie's family is ambushed by indians. She is put under the care of an englishman named Beaver Dick. To Carrie's horror she finds out Dicks wife is an Indian. Carrie instantly hates her. However thru time Dicks wife {jenny} displays such kindness and gentleness Carrie starts to feel love toward her and her kids. This historical tale is well written and is constantly interesting for kids and adults alike.
Word of caution for sensative youngsters, This does not have a happy ending.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great book that I highly recomend, February 4, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Jenny of the Tetons (Hardcover)

After fifteen-year-old Carrie Hill's parents are killed in an Indian attack in the Idaho territory in 1875, Carrie goes to live with Beaver Dick, an American explorer, and his family. Beaver Dick's wife is a Shoshone Indian called Jenny. Jenny and Carrie don't get along very well at first, but as the days go by, Carrie learns to respect Jenny and her ways. While living with Beaver Dick, Carrie goes on many adventures. One time Jenny, Carrie, and the children meet a grizzly bear and since Jenny has an excellent aim, she shoots the bear and then Carrie starts looking at Jenny in a new way. Meanwhile, Carrie falls in love with Miles, an explorer working with Beaver Dick. And in the spring of 1877 they are married. The next winter, Jenny gets sick from taking in a sick Indian and her child. It quickly spreads to the rest of the family including Jenny and Beaver Dick's children. It is a race for survival and they might not win.

This would be a great book for people who like adventure. It is a great book for people of all ages. If you are looking for a book that speaks highly of Indians, this would be a good choice because Jenny, is the hero in her own special way.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Good, April 30, 2005

By 

Crz for books - See all my reviews

This review is from: Jenny of the Tetons (Great Episodes) (Paperback)

This is an excellent book. I have now read it 6 times because I like it so much. The main character, Carrie Hill, is saved from an indian attack. She is told her whole family died. She goes to live with a man and his indian wife and children. She is angry about finding loving and caring people who are indians. She finally discovers how wonderful they are though and excepts them, and learns to love them with all her heart. This book is set in the beautiful Tetons. The plot, exposition, and everything in this book is absolutely wonderfully written. I quick but awesome read.