The News of the World by Paulette Jiles

Susanne’s Review:

The year is 1870.  

Now that the Civil War has ended, widower Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd has become a News Reader, traveling throughout the land reading the “News of the World.”

Then the unthinkable happens.  While in Wichita Falls, Captain Kidd is offered $50.00 to take on an orphan girl, who was kidnapped four years prior, at the age of six by some Kiowa Indians who upon taking her, killed her parents.  Captain Kidd has now been tasked with returning her to her relatives in San Antonio whom she has never met.  Raised by Kiowa for the last four years, the girl doesn’t speak or understand English and desperately wants to go back to them.

And so it begins for Captain (Kep-den) and the girl known as Johanna (Chohenna) over a 400-mile journey.  At first, the two must learn to communicate in some fashion which Captain works quite hard at (be still my heart!).  Then Captain works to build trust, one moment at a time.  Teaching Johanna how to cook, how to hold a fork, and what to do in times of danger.  Of course, Johanna teaches her Kep-den a thing or two as well.

Beautifully written, thought-provoking and heartfelt, tears filled my eyes more than once while reading this character-driven novel.

“News of the World” by Paulette Jiles has been on my radar for years, though it took me quite a while to get around to it, I’m so glad I finally made the time.  For those of you looking for a great, character-driven novel that will steal your heart, look no further.

Published on Goodreads on 1.9.21.