Name: The Life and Times of Kateri Tekakwitha, the Lily of the Mohawks by Walworth
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.25 (8 reviews)
Author: Walworth, Ellen H. (Ellen Hardin), 1858-1932

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The Life and Times of Kateri Tekakwitha, the Lily of the Mohawks by Walworth

(8 User reviews) 1746

By Katherine Rodriguez Posted on Mar 30, 2026

In Category - Life Stories

Authors: Walworth, Ellen H. (Ellen Hardin), 1858-1932 Published By : Walworth, Ellen H. (Ellen Hardin), 1858-1932

Book Language: English

Hey, have you ever heard about the first Native American saint? I just finished this incredible book about Kateri Tekakwitha, and it's not your typical saint story. Picture this: a 17th-century Mohawk girl who survives smallpox that scars her face and kills her family. In her community, she's expected to marry and follow tradition. But Kateri feels a different calling—one that puts her at odds with nearly everyone around her. This book follows her impossible choice between the world she knows and a faith that could isolate her completely. It's about quiet courage, the cost of conviction, and a young woman who became a legend not through battle, but through unwavering belief. The tension is so real—you keep wondering how someone so young and vulnerable could hold onto something so fiercely. If you like stories about real people who changed history from the margins, you need to read this.

File: The Life and Times of Kateri Tekakwitha, the Lily of the Mohawks by Walworth

Ellen Walworth's biography of Kateri Tekakwitha feels like sitting down with a well-informed storyteller. She takes us back to the 1650s in what's now New York State, into the heart of the Mohawk nation.

The Story

We meet Kateri as a child. A smallpox outbreak leaves her orphaned, visually impaired, and with scars on her face. Raised by her uncle, a chief, she's expected to take her place in the community. When French Jesuit missionaries arrive, something clicks for Kateri. She's drawn to Christianity, but converting means going against her family and her people's customs. The pressure to conform is immense. Her journey becomes one of quiet resistance—she refuses an arranged marriage, dedicates herself to prayer, and faces ridicule and even threats for her faith. Eventually, she makes a dangerous journey to a Christian Native settlement in Canada, where she lives a short but intensely devout life until her death at 24.

Why You Should Read It

This book grabbed me because Kateri isn't presented as a distant, perfect statue. Walworth shows her as a real, complicated young woman. Her strength isn't loud or dramatic; it's in her daily choice to stay true to herself. The book makes you think about what faith really costs and what it means to belong. It's also a fascinating window into a time of huge cultural collision between Native nations and European settlers, seen through the eyes of someone caught in the middle. You get a real sense of her world—the longhouses, the forests, the political tensions.

Final Verdict

This is a perfect pick for anyone who loves biography, early American history, or stories of remarkable women. It's for readers who enjoy a deep character study over a fast-paced plot. If you're curious about Native American history beyond the usual textbook narratives, this is an essential, human-centered look. Fair warning: it's an older biography, so the language is respectful but of its time. Look past that, and you'll find a powerful portrait of a girl whose quiet life left a loud echo through history.