Plot Summary

The Light in the Forest

Conrad Richter
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The Light in the Forest

Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 1953

Book Brief

Conrad Richter

The Light in the Forest

Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 1953
Book Details
Pages

192

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Pennsylvania • 1760s

Publication Year

1953

Audience

YA

Recommended Reading Age

12-18 years

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Super Short Summary

The Light in the Forest by Conrad Richter is set during the American Revolutionary War, following True Son, a white boy captured and assimilated by the Lenape tribe for eleven years. When white soldiers force his return to his biological family, True Son struggles with his identity and loyalty, caught between two conflicting cultures. This story includes depictions of violent conflict, including scalping and cultural displacement.

Contemplative

Mysterious

Emotional

Adventurous

Bittersweet

Reviews & Readership

3.9

5,972 ratings

54%

Loved it

29%

Mixed feelings

17%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Conrad Richter's novel, The Light in the Forest, garners praise for its vivid depiction of Native American life and complex character development, particularly the protagonist's inner turmoil. While some readers appreciate its historical authenticity, others criticize its slow pacing and occasional dated depictions. Overall, it's a thought-provoking read on identity and culture.

Who should read this

Who Should Read The Light in the Forest?

A reader who enjoys The Light in the Forest by Conrad Richter is likely drawn to historical fiction and stories of cultural conflict and identity. Fans of The Last of the Mohicans by James Fenimore Cooper or Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls may find similar themes and narrative appeal.

3.9

5,972 ratings

54%

Loved it

29%

Mixed feelings

17%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

192

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Pennsylvania • 1760s

Publication Year

1953

Audience

YA

Recommended Reading Age

12-18 years

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