Paulette Jiles' "News of the World" is a Nat'l Book Award Finalist

Paulette Jiles (b. Amer 1943) is a Canadian novelist & poet.  Her new book "News of the World" is a finalist for this year's Nat'l Book Award.  This news is amiss regarding such a high accolade. The adventure & kinship between a retired army captain & 10 year old girl through the unsettled & lawless Texas territories in 1870 is engaging.  Capt. Kidd, an educated & honorable soldier had fought through several wars, including the Civil War.  Kidd now maintains an income by giving public readings of news of distant lands.  His readings provide locals current events & amazing glimpses of information from across the Atlantic.  His services are highly regarded. He's offered payment to accompany the young girl recently "rescued" from the Kiowa Indian Tribe & return her safely to her relatives.  The Capt realizes his young charge, so alone & twice captured, is being coerced through 2 creations.  She's an anomaly; not belonging to any one world.   Considered a "savage" among her own race, she must adapt & transform to norms which she is unaccustomed. Varying cultures contain their own minefields.  Johanna's resilience, resourcefulness and courage are admirable & endear her to the Capt.  He is the only human being she now knows & trust.  Their journey is fraught with harrowing dangers.  They are pursued by both Native tribes, lawless hooligans and must survive nature's unforgiving harshness.  Jile's cunningly conveys the era & lay of the land. The storyline is driven by the Captain's & Johanna's & their billowing bond.  "The baseline of human life is courage." "News of the World" is a worthwhile read but it belongs to the young adult genre. It's too tame & maudlin for mainstream readers.