Customer Reviews

Where the Broken Heart Still Beats: The Story of Cynthia Ann Parker (Great Episodes)

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(17)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A moving YA novel that tells the sad tale of Cynthia Ann Parker, a Texan who was abducted by the Comanche tribe as an nine-year-old in 1836. The Comanches killed her father, mother, uncle and younger siblings in a raid on Fort Parker, and abducted Cynthia and her little brother John as slaves. 25 years later, Cynthia, now Naduah, is happily married to a Comanche chief, Pete Nacoma, and is the mother of of a young daughter, Topsannah, and two fine braves, Quanah and Pecos, when she is recaptured by the Texas Rangers and sent to live with her surviving family.

Naduah's story is told from the dual viewpoints of her own narrative (written in third person), and her cousin Lucy's diary, told in first person. These two women, one a strong chief's wife, gifted in the ways of the Comanche, who seeks nothing more than to escape to rejoin her tribe and (Comanche) family, and the blossoming young cousin, twelve when Naduah first arrives, who is the only one in the family to make an effort to understand Cynthia Ann's experiences with the Comanche as positive. Naduah is constantly scrutinized by the women of the family, moved from household to household as her "heathen, savage" ways and escape attempts become too much to bear.

A touching, melancholy tale based on fact and full of Comanche life and language, Texan frontier culture in the 1800s, along with a commentary on the Civil War, this will appeal to young readers who enjoy historical frontier fiction such as "Little House on the Prairie" and Native American novels such as "Sweetgrass," "Sing Down The Moon," and "Primrose Way." The novel does contain several graphic, violent scenes, so I would not recommend this for younger readers.

This is an interesting concept on the history of Cynthia Ann Parker, captured as a child and raised by Indians. This work is focused on the history of the episode and Parker's return and foreced residence among a family she barely remembered. Although Parker rarely communicated her history, the author postures the cruelty of her Indian Captors. One must compare how this story contradicts other works such as "Ride the Wind" by Lucia St. Clair Robson. Robson puts forth the opposite opinion and relates how good the Indians were to the children they took and raised.

Cynthia Ann Parker was taken from fort parker by the Comanche indians. She became one of them, and eventually married the chief-Peta Nacona. This book details her white family's arduous search for her, and the heartbreak that awaits her when she arrives back in the white man's world. I reccommend this book to anyone who wants to know what true courage really is!

The book was a quick read. If it is for children, it should only be read by older children who can understand the complexities of Cynthia Ann's life and times. I have loaned this book to several friends who were surprised by how different this view of the Old West was from the Westerns they grew up watching.

This book is the story of Cynthia Ann Parker, who at age nine, is kidnapped by Comanche Indians from her home in Texas. The book begins twenty-five years later when Cynthia Ann is recaptured by Texan rangers and returned to her Texan family. Finally, after twenty-five years of living with these people, she is once again kidnapped by park rangers and returned to the Parker family. She no longer remembers English or her original Texan customs. She cannot forget her beloved husband Peta Nocona, who was a courageous Comanche warrior, or her two sons Quanah and Pecos. To her advantage she is with her baby daughter, Topsannah when she is taken back to the Parkers, so she continues to teach her the Comanche ways. Topsannah's name is soon changed to Prairie Flower, its English version, and later to Tecks Ann so that she will better fit into the society. They both try to cooperate and learn these odd "white" ways. Tecks Ann has a much easier time getting accustomed to these customs, but Cynthia Ann must continue to learn how to cook, read, write, and sew by her twelve-year-old niece Lucy. As time goes on Lucy makes Cynthia Ann a promise that she is not sure she can keep in a time of hardships for everyone. She must leave the Parker's house and live with her brother to get away from her pregnant sister-in-law.

This book is one of the saddest book I ever read, but it is easy to enjoy anyway.

This is a wonderful book about the little white girl taken by Indians in central Texas at age 10. She was later married to Indian Chief and bore 3 children. One of her sons was Quanah Parker, famous in his own right.

Don't miss this account of her life. I could not put it down until I had finished reading it.

Carolyn Meyer has captured all our hearts through this story of Cynthia Ann Parker and her beloved child, Prarie Flower. It will leave me feeling different every time I even think something racist about someone. It shows two perspectives, but gives you a look at how both Native Americans and white settlers feel strongly about their families and have feelings that can't just be thrown away.

After we read Where the Broken Heart Still Beats by Carolyn Meyer I could tell why Cynthia Ann wanted to go back with the Comanches. I also see why Meyer wrote this book. It makes you feel like you a really there with her and you feel how she feels. It makes you feel sometimes you wish you go and tell her Uncle just let her go back.
Cynthia Ann thought that that she was part of the Comanche tribe and they are not the ones that captured her. She thought that they were her family and her real family where the ones that captured but they rescued her. She had lived with them so long and thought she was a Comanche. She had a husband and kids there and she wanted to be with them.
I really see why she wanted to go back with the Comanche's. She had her family and wanted to see her son. She also wanted her little daughter, Topsannah, to see how they lived. She talked how they talked and acted like them she needed to be with the Comanche's.
You should read this book if you like books that go back and forth and if you like happy and sad books. I think that if you like biography you would really like this book. In some parts you will feel like you are sitting with Cynthia Ann.

Where the Broken Heart Still Beats takes it all!

Just yesterday we finished Where the Broken Heart Still Beats by Carolyn Meyer. It's based on a true story of a lady, Cynthia Ann Parker, who has been kidnapped from her settler family by the Comanche during a raid. When her uncle finds her he brings her back to his family. It then tells about Cynthia Ann's struggles through a period of 3 years. In my opinion the first line says it all. "Our strange cousin, Cynthia Ann, arrived yesterday" You see, Cynthia Ann's Comanche habits prevent her from fitting in.
It takes place in Texas in the 1800's. Cynthia Ann is an outsider who is hated by almost everyone! You could of easily mistaken her for a Indian! She feels out of place and dreads all her present life. She doesn't have a place in the world besides with her Comanche. She is forced to go against all she believes in. It's a book abut Cynthia Ann whole life turned upside down.
Personally I don't think the book was my absolute favorite. A lot of times I didn't understand most of what was going on in the book. In my opinion I love how this was based on a true story! I always try to put myself in the characters shoes. Overall I wouldn't be the one to pick this book up in a quick second.
I really like the way Meyer wrote the book in 2 points of view. It helped me understand the confusing parts. Even the message was priceless! The message was to always cherish what is in front of your, because you never no when it will fly away in a quick second. This book means love and depression, Cynthia Ann loved the Comanche but was depressed with out them. This was a terrific book for people who love history and are really interested in Native American couture. Now all you have to do is answer this: Where's the nearest library so I can pick up this book?

I have read this book, and it allows the reader to see a side not shown in other books. It shows more of the Parker Family side, which is also good to see and read what happened. I also would recommend reading to anyone, the Native American side too, which shows what they as a people went through. Ride the Wind, by Lucia St. Clair Robson, another wonderful author, shows the historical side of Native Americans. This book is tremendous, and although this book Where the brokien heart beats is great, Ride the Wind is far better.