Elizabeth Raum, Author of Children's Books

The Kentucky frontier was a beautiful place, but also a dangerous one. Jemima Boone and John Gass often heard wolves howling, bears growling, and snakes slithering through the tall grasses. There was no store, no school, no doctor at Fort Boonesborough. The settlers were on their own to deal with whatever threats arose.

 

On a sunny summer day in July of 1776, the crisis they faced was a kidnapping . . . based on a true event.

 

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Click here to watch the book trailer.

 

Click here to watch a brief video introduction, in which I tell readers a bit about myself, the writing of the book, and the book itself. 

 

Complete novel units are available for this book from the publisher, Chicken Scratch books.

 

Check out this interview with author Susan Reimer.

 

Here's a detailed review from author Deb Watley. 

 

Other reviewers write: 

 

"This is a well-written, easy to read middle grade book based on true events."

☆☆☆☆☆5 out of 5 stars. 
"Makes Me Curious About History -- This is the story of the kidnapping of Daniel Boone's daughter. Although this is a fictionalized version of what happened in 1776, it really makes me want to dig deeper about the history of that period in time. Luckily, the back of the book includes a timeline, questions and answers, glossary, and a list of sources for further exploration."

 

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆5 out of 5 stars.· 
"A True, Thought-Provoking Story -- 
A KIDNAPPING IN KENTUCKY by Elizabeth Raum begins on a lazy Sunday afternoon in Boonesborough ten days after the signing of the Declaration of Independence. 

The exciting true events that follow are shared in alternating chapters through the perspectives of Jemima Boone, the kidnapped girl, and twelve-year-old John Gass, her friend. The supporting detail from Raum's impeccable research grounds the story and gives it a sense of urgency while providing insights into what life on the frontier was like. As she wrote in her author's note: 'Fights between frontier settlers and various American Indian tribes are a fact of history. These are often sad stories. Entire communities were destroyed on both sides. It's tempting to pretend that this did not happen. But it did. Learning about our history, understanding not only what happened but why, helps us to make better decisions in the future.'"