Ransom's Mark: A Story Based on the Life of the Pioneer Olive Oatman (Daughters of the Faith Series) [Paperback]

Wendy G. Lawton (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2003 | Age Level: 9 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up | Series: Daughters of the Faith Series

When 13-year-old Olive Oatman's wagon train is raided by outlaw Yavapai Indians, she and her sister are captured. After enduring harsh treatment, they are ransomed by a band of Mohaves. Olive struggles to adjust to her new life, but finds comfort in her faith and in an unexpected friendship. When the time comes for her to return to the white world, she is afraid she will never fit in. But she learns to see the Mohave design tattooed on her chin as a sign of God's love and deliverence, a mark of ransom.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"... invigorating blend of historical information and imaginative writing...remarkable facility for conveying contradictory emotions, thoughts, motives of the pioneers." -- Publisher's Weekly, June 30, 2003

From the Author

Ransom's Mark is another story of a real girl who made a difference. Author Wendy Lawton grew up fascinated by history. She craved stories about girls like herself, but was disappointed to find that historical accounts of children were rare. When she found a child story it was usually about a courageous boy.

This series— for girls in the 8 - 12 year old middle grades— offers those rare stories with characters who are real— just what girls love. Daughters of the Faith are true-life heroes who range in age from the mature ten-year-old Mary Bunyan to 14-year-old Olive Oatman.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Moody Publishers; New Edition edition (June 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0802436382
• ISBN-13: 978-0802436382
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #112,757 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #60 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > People & Places > Biographies > United States
  • #80 in Books > Children's Books > Biographies > United States
  • #86 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > History & Historical Fiction > Fiction > General

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent historical fiction based on a true story., October 16, 2004

By 

Rebecca Herman (USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ransom's Mark: A Story Based on the Life of the Pioneer Olive Oatman (Daughters of the Faith Series) (Paperback)

Olive Oatman is thirteen years old in the fall of 1850 when her father decides the family will leave their Illinois farm and go west to California. Olive, her parents, and her six siblings join a wagon train west, but have trouble from the start. Their leader turns out to be unreliable, and changes their destination. The wagon train splits several times, until the Oatmans eventually end up on their own in dangerous Indian territory, because her father is unwilling to wait at the safety of a village for another wagon train to join. Olive fears the worst will happen, and she is right. Renegade Indians attack the Oatmans and massacre most of the family, sparing only Olive and her seven-year-old sister, Mary Ann, who they take captive. Olive struggles to keep up hope during her captivity and to adjust to her difficult new life, all the while trying her best to protect frail Mary Ann.

This was an excellent historical novel for young readers that brought to life the true story of Olive Oatman. Readers who enjoy historical fiction, particularly those who have an interest in this time period or in Indian captive stories, are sure to enjoy this book.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just Right, November 5, 2003

By 

Donita K. Paul (www.dragonkeeper.us) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ransom's Mark: A Story Based on the Life of the Pioneer Olive Oatman (Daughters of the Faith Series) (Paperback)

This story is filled with details about pioneers, Indians, and the geography of the land and yet it doesn't overbalance the tale of young Olive. This is so well written the reader doesn't realize all the information the writer is pouring into her head. I was so caught up in the story that I found myself crying through the last pages. It is rare that I find a book I like so much. It is going on my gift list for all birthdays and holidays this upcoming year. I have lots of young friends to share this with.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Book; More Factually Accurate than Most Juvenile Fiction, December 21, 2010

By 

Artist & Author (Near Mt. Baker, WA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Ransom's Mark: A Story Based on the Life of the Pioneer Olive Oatman (Daughters of the Faith Series) (Paperback)

The information in this book is interesting and well-written. Although it could be classed as 'historical fiction,' it is factually much more accurate than most juvenile historical fiction. I guess the events were exciting enough to not need to embellish it any.

Since this is part of a 'Christian' series, I would suggest that readers go beyond just this book. For example, in the book actually written by Olive Oatman (with Royal B. Stanton), one part that will likely have small tears coming is her description of little Mary Ann's death by starvation. I believe that everyone is given a 'mission' by God to complete in his or her life, and when that mission is accomplished, He takes them Home. Mary Ann's passing was so different, so glorious, compared to that of the other children in the village, also dying of starvation, that she fascinated the Mojave Indians. As she approached death, she clearly sang the Sabbath songs she'd learned before her trip. It was so beautiful the natives became captivated by what It was that gave her such peace, even joy, as the approach of death. One could say that her little face shown, reflecting the love of Jesus to those heathen people. This is touched upon in this book, but much more beautiful in the original. Mary Ann was always a delightful little girl (learning to read by the age of four; reading the Bible through before she turned six), even to many of the Indians (the chief's wife even took their seed corn to try to save her) that it is clear her whole life was meant to exemplify the Light of Jesus to those people.

But, it is listed as a children's book (ages 9-12). The print is so small that my pre-teen grandchildren's eyes just glaze over at the thought of reading it. A high school teen might read it, but it is simply not printed for young readers.