News of the World

In 1870 Texas, Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd accepts a mission to transport a 10-year-old girl across 400 miles of untamed territory. The girl, who lived with the Kiowa tribe for four years after they killed her family, must be returned to her only surviving relatives in Castroville. Captain Kidd, a 71-year-old veteran of multiple wars, travels from town to town reading newspapers to audiences for a dime per person. His journey with the child forces him to navigate both the physical dangers of the Texan wilderness and the complex challenge of helping a girl caught between two worlds. The novel follows their passage through lawless territories, hostile environments, and cultural barriers as they forge an unlikely bond. Captain Kidd must protect them both from external threats while also addressing the girl's resistance to rejoining white society. News of the World explores themes of belonging, identity, and the power of human connection in a raw and divided post-Civil War America. The story examines how people can transcend cultural boundaries and find meaning in unexpected relationships.

Readers appreciate the spare, poetic writing style and the authentic portrayal of post-Civil War Texas. Many note the strong character development between Captain Kidd and Johanna, with their unlikely friendship forming the heart of the story. The historical details about news reading as a profession in 1870 interest many readers. Common praise focuses on: - Fast-paced but thoughtful narrative - Accurate period dialect and dialogue - Educational insights into a lesser-known period - Clean, straightforward prose Main criticisms: - Some find the plot too simple - Minimal conflict or tension - Lack of quotation marks confuses some readers - Story feels rushed toward the end Ratings: Goodreads: 4.04/5 (144,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.6/5 (12,000+ ratings) LibraryThing: 4.1/5 (1,300+ ratings) "Like a more optimistic Cormac McCarthy" appears in multiple reader reviews. Several note they finished the book in one sitting due to its modest length and engaging style.

True Grit by Charles Portis A determined fourteen-year-old girl and an aging U.S. Marshal journey through Indian Territory to track down her father's killer.

The Searchers by Alan Le May The tale of a years-long quest through Comanche territory to rescue a kidnapped girl who may no longer want to return to white society.

The Sisters Brothers by Patrick deWitt Two assassin brothers traverse the American frontier during the Gold Rush, encountering violence and moral transformation along their path.

Inland by Téa Obreht A frontierswoman in 1893 Arizona Territory and a former outlaw's paths intersect against the backdrop of drought and frontier mythology.

The Color of Lightning by Paulette Jiles A freed slave in post-Civil War Texas becomes a U.S. negotiator between settlers and the Kiowa and Comanche tribes after his family faces tragedy.

🌟 The book was adapted into a 2020 film starring Tom Hanks as Captain Kidd, earning four Academy Award nominations. 📰 Traveling news readers like Captain Kidd were real historical figures who brought information to isolated frontier communities in the 1800s, typically charging a dime per person. 🏹 The character of Johanna was inspired by real accounts of white children captured by Native Americans, who often struggled to readjust to their original culture after rescue. ✍️ Author Paulette Jiles lives in Texas on a ranch near San Antonio, where much of the novel takes place, and extensively researched 1870s Texas while writing on horseback. 🏆 "News of the World" was a National Book Award finalist in 2016 and has been praised for its historical accuracy and lyrical prose style, particularly notable as Jiles began her career as a poet.