Listen to the River

Mary Draper Ingles lived in Virginia in the mid-1700’s when relations between settlers and Native Americans were strained. Shawnee warriors attacked Mary’s home and took her captive. The warriors hauled their prisoners and plunder on horseback to a Shawnee village, hundreds of miles away. While traveling with the warriors, Mary noted that they always followed the rivers. While in captivity, Mary worked hard and gained the respect of her captors, but when an opportunity arose, Mary escaped. Following the same rivers that had brought her to the Shawnee village, Mary traveled 850 miles on foot for 42 days through forests and wilderness to find her way back home. Listen to the River recounts Mary’s story of courage, strength and determination in a simple, child-friendly manner.