Alone, Yet Not Alone (Book Review/Movie Preview, and Book Giveaway! Ends 9/12)

Most of our family loves reading, and Historical novels are one of our favorite genres. I jumped at the opportunity to read and review the juvenile title Alone Yet Not Alone by Tracy Leininger Craven. Tracy was inspired to write the story after hearing her grandmother relate the account that she discovered while doing genealogical research.

Alone Yet Not Alone tells the story of the pioneer Leininger family, who had settled in the Blue Mountains of Pennsylvania. Their lives were rudely disrupted by the Penn's Creek Massacre, which marked the beginning of the French and Indian War. 

The main story follows the life of daughter, Barbara, and to a lesser degree her sister Regina who were captured by the Indians. Barbara wrote in 1759: 'If one could not believe that there is a God, who helps and saves from death, one had better let running away alone...The extreme probability that the Indians would pursue and recapture us, was two to one compared with the dim hope that, perhaps, we would get through...even if we did escape the Indians, how would we ever succeed in passing through the wilderness, unacquainted with a single path or trail...'

The Leininger family have a deep faith in God, and their belief that while they may seem to be alone, they are never really alone, is the foundation that carries the girls through the trying times as they realize that their families were massacred, watch fatal Indian "punishment" being carried out against a fellow captive, and endure slavery, with the threat of death if they try to escape. 

Reading the story actually felt a little like reading a movie script, and while rather simplistic at times, I would consider it appropriate for the tween ages it was intended for.  Even as an adult reader, I appreciated learning some details about this particular time in history that I was not overly familiar with, and realizing that it is based on the true story of a real family caught in the crossfire of the French and Indian War made it a bit of a compelling read. Thus it is no surprise that there is a film based on the book. 

Alone Yet Not Alone (the movie) had a limited showing in September, 2013, and opens in theaters across the country June 13, 2014. While the book is recommended for grades 4-6(I'd recommend 10+), the movie is rated for ages 12+ I assume due to the violent themes during the Massacre and events following. You can watch the trailer for the film below: 

I am delighted to be able to offer a copy of the book as a giveaway to my readers. Please be sure that the Rafflecopter widget has had time to load. :)
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Alone Yet Not Alone (the book)

Written by: Tracy Leininger Craven

Publisher: Zonderkidz 

Paperback: 148 pages 

 

Check to see if Alone Yet Not Alone is coming to a theater near you by clicking here.

If you don't see a convenient location, you can try to bring Alone Yet Not Alone to your City by clicking here. 

Awarded 5 Doves from the Dove Foundation!

Starring: Kelly Greyson, Natalie Racoosin, Clay Walker, Jenn Gotzon, Joanie Stewart, Ozzie Torres, Tony Wade

Stay Connected: 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aloneyetnotalone

Movie Twitter: https://twitter.com/AYNAthemovie

Movie Website: http://www.aloneyetnotalone.com

Blessings~