This historical fiction book based on a true story is enjoyable from many perspectives. It is for anyone interested in history brought to life, a great adventure, a realistic study of the Native Americans, and the story of a girl growing into womanhood.  I Am Regina is the fictional narrative of a 10-year-old girl captured by Native Americans in the time of the French Indian War.  Regina sees her father and brother killed and her sister taken in another direction.   Her world is turned into a fight to survive and a fight to live a new way with a new family.  School Library Journal says, “When the American army frees the captives and arranges for them to rejoin their birth families, Regina/Tskinnak's regrets deserting the tough old woman who has raised her.”  Kirkus Reviews calls this book, “A profoundly moving evocation of a terrible experience mitigated by faith, courage, and humanity, told with simplicity, compassion and admirable restraint.”

Ms. Keehn’s straight forward first person narrative style adds an element which draws the reader into the story.  She tells everything realistically and yet tastefully enough for elementary students.  Publishers Weekly says, "Raw and sensitively written, this well-researched account of a factual story neither shies away from the horrible truths of war nor sentimentalizes its emotional content." Kirkus Reviews compliments Ms. Keehn saying, “After such a beginning, making the reasons for the white man's fear of the Indians palpably clear (without sensationalizing), it's a tribute to Keehn's skill that she makes Regina's ultimate sympathy for her captors entirely believable.”

This is truly a readable, believable story which has the reader emphasizing with both sides of the war which leads to a greater understanding of history.  School Library Journal says,” Regina/Tskinnak's story is a dramatic one, while the portrayal of the Indians' fate is simply told; the combination makes wonderful reading. Readers will hardly realize how much they're learning in the pleasure of the story.”

Marcus, Linda. Review of I Am Regina in School Library Journal. Available from:   http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/product-description/0698119207/ref=dp_item-information_1/103-2041485-5145439?%5Fencoding=UTF8&n=283155. Accessed 8 November 2004.

Review of I Am Regina in Kirkus Reviews. Available from:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/product-description/0698119207/ref=dp_item-information_1/103-2041485-5145439?%5Fencoding=UTF8&n=283155. Accessed 8 November 2004.

Review of I Am Regina in Publishers Weekly. Available from:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/product-description/0698119207/ref=dp_item-information_1/103-2041485-5145439?%5Fencoding=UTF8&n=283155. Accessed 8 November 2004.