meet Saint Kateri Tekakwitha

The Girl Who Walked Two Hundred Miles

Saint Kateri Tekakwitha: The Lily of the Mohawks tells the remarkable true story of a young Native American woman whose quiet courage changed lives across centuries.

Born around 1656 in a Mohawk village in present-day New York, Kateri Tekakwitha grew up in a world shaped by tradition, community, and change. After losing her parents to a smallpox epidemic, she was raised by relatives who expected her to follow the ways of her people.

But Kateri chose a different path.

Drawn to the Christian faith she encountered through Jesuit missionaries—and inspired by the quiet example of her mother—she made a decision that would set her apart from everyone around her.

She faced pressure, ridicule, and even threats.

She did not give up.

Instead, she left her village and traveled more than 200 miles through the wilderness to a Christian community, where she lived a life of prayer, service, and remarkable spiritual strength.

Inside this book:

• A true, historically grounded biography of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha

• Life in a Mohawk (Haudenosaunee) village in early America

• The complex history of missionaries and Indigenous communities

• Her baptism, persecution, and courageous decision to leave home

• Her journey to Kahnawake and life of faith and service

• Reflection questions that build character, courage, and empathy

Perfect for:

• Ages 8–12 (independent readers)

• Catholic families and homeschoolers

• Religious education classrooms (CCD, Sunday school)

• Readers interested in saints, church history, and world history

• Parents looking for faith-based chapter books with real stories

Part of the Mini Saints Library

This book is part of a growing series that introduces young readers to real stories of faith, courage, and mission from around the world.