In 1851, nine members of the Oatman family, on their way by covered wagon to California, were savagely attacked by Apache Indians. Two girls in the family, Olive Ann, 14, and Mary Ann, 8, were taken captive by their attackers. An older brother, Lorenzo, 15, was gravely wounded and left for dead, but managed to make his way back to civilization. The rest of the family had been brutally massacred.

The story of the Oatman girls—their harsh and despairing life in captivity, the tragic death of little Mary Ann from shock, and their brother's five-year-long search for them—is vividly described in this riveting true life story. Recounted by Lorenzo and Olive to the author shortly after they were reunited in 1856, this incredible account of love, perseverance, and determination will thrill any adventure fan, while also appealing to historians and students of Native American culture.