When her grandchildren arrive at her home, Grandmother Kinzie tells them the true story of Nellie Lytle, who was captured by the Seneca Indians in 1779. Only a girl at the time, Nellie shows such strength and determination that her captors soon name her Little Ship Under Full Sail.
Nellie faces many challenges beyond her traumatic and agonizing capture. With the help of a Seneca chief, Cornplanter, the Chief's mother, and a young Indian friend, she learns to live in a new culture and overcome the grief of separation from her family. As time goes by Nellie bonds with her new family and becomes a “true” Seneca.
But the problems are still not over as Nellie endures a serious illness and the treachery of a family member. Then, just as she celebrates her life as a beautiful young woman eligible for marriage, a visitor arrives in the village, and Nellie faces a heart-wrenching decision. In which world does she belong if she is faced with a choice?
Based on the life of the great-grandmother of Girl Scout founder Juliette Gordon Low, Little Ship Under Full Sail is an exceptional story, told with the same suspense and drama Panagopoulos's young fans have learned to love.
