Neither people group understood the other. Both had good and evil. ( )

A boy raised by Indians tries to fit in to white colony society. ( )

Felt a bit perfunctory. And perhaps a bit fetishistic.

I know it was written with an anti-racist purpose, but I'm not sure it achieved it. ( )

A YA tale about a white boy captured by the Lenni Lenape with whom he lived for 11 years. One day the "white man" and the "Indians" made a pact where all whites were to be returned to the original families. This is the story of True Son's experience. Very well written and a joy to read. ( )

"Now go like an Indian, True Son. Give me no more shame".
Conrad Richter-The Light In The Forest

Sometimes there are books assigned to one in school that ARE worth reading. Sometimes they even make it onto your favorite list. Such is the case with 'The Light in the forest".

This was a book I read for school back in the day that quickly became one of my favorite books of all time. Folks if you have not heard of this and you get it as a reading assignment do not fret, it is one of the great ones.

True Son is a young boy whose real name is Johnny. Many years ago, when he was just a baby, he was abducted by the Native Americans and raised as an Indian. Now as a young man, True son loves his Indian Family with all his heart. He and his friend "Half Arrow" are proud of their heritage and love living off the land.

Although True Son's skin is white, nobody ever thinks of him as anything other then a member of their tribe.

When a peace agreement with the White people is reached, part of that deal includes that the Indians give back to the Whites, all their White prisoners. That includes True Son.

True Son's real name is John. He has no memory of his white family. He fights with all his mite, not to go back to them. But he cannot escape his fate.

The Light in the Forrest is about a young boy, who through no fault of his own, is thrust into a situation where he has no identity. He does not understand is White "family" as they do not understand him and his continued love for his Indian family.

This book is raw, beautiful and deeply moving. I am compelled to talk about how poignant a figure True son is. It was a joy to read about him.

Growing up, I had a passion for Native American History so being given this book as required reading was a good thing for me.

I also wanted to "run free" like True Son and his tribe. I love the world described e re..the world of the Indian so long ago. Woods and fields and bubbling creeks are their home. I was enthralled.

I felt much empathy for True Son. Even now, I read this book occasionally and it brings me back into the forests of green of True Son and his Tribe. ( )