“Middletide”Sarah Crouch

Rated 5 stars ***** ARC. ebook. Atria (Simon & Schuster). To be published June 11, 2024.

The day Erin’s body was found hanging from a tree beside a lake on Elijah’s property was the day his life changed forever. After failing as a writer, with no income, Elijah decided to return to the small town where he’d grown up and live in his father’s cabin in the woods. There memories assailed him of Nikita, the only girl he’d ever loved and the promise he’d broken to return to her after he finished college.

Nikita had grown into a beautiful woman and had just lost her husband. Seeing each other was hard, but Elijah wanted more than she could give. When she couldn’t commit, he decided to date someone else. The newly single town doctor was beautiful but, soon after they started dating, Elijah realized she was the wrong woman for him. He would soon find out that the short time they dated would be the biggest regret of his life.

At first the storyline was hard to follow because it was told over multiple points of views through several different timeframes. Once I got used to the author’s style of writing, it was easier to understand Elijah’s timeline. This gripping, mystery thriller about a man falsely accused of murdering the beautiful and beloved doctor of his small town will keep readers on the edges of their seats as they try to figure out whodunit. 

Recommended for Adults.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in return for an honest review.

“Warrior Girl unearthed” Angeline Boulley

Rated 5 stars ***** ARC. ebook. Holt Books for Young Readers (Macmillan). To be published May 2, 2023.

When sixteen-year-old Perry Firekeeper-Birch attended her Ojibwe Tribe’s summer cultural camp, her interest in tribal history led her to research the 1990 passage of NAGPRA. The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act required institutions to create inventories of human remains, cultural and ceremonial items, and notify tribes of these inventories so they could be given what had been taken from them. Unfortunately, anything stolen from tribes before 1990 was left out of the Act.

Perry was angry when she learned the local college had never returned any of the 13 human remains and other items that belonged to her tribe. Though the college insisted they were inventorying, they constantly refused help from the tribe to get items inventoried. She was even more incensed when she learned a local collector had 42 of her ancestor’s skeletons and items he’d robbed from graves. Perry was determined to return her ancestors and their sacred items to her tribe, even if it meant going to jail.

“Warrior Girl unearthed” educates readers about aspects of the Ojibwe tribe’s culture, while showcasing failures in NAGPRA and attitudes towards missing Native women. It will make an excellent addition to any book club and will lead to many conversations.

Highly recommended for Young Adults and Adults.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

“Path lit by lightning: The life of Jim Thorpe” David Maraniss

Rated 5 stars ***** ARC. ebook. Simon & Schuster. To be published August 9, 2022. (Includes “Notes,” and “Selected bibliography.”)

Jim Thorpe was born during a time when Native Americans struggled to hold onto their culture and land while their children were uprooted and sent to government boarding schools. Thorpe was sent to the Carlisle Indian School, where leadership believed “Kill the Indian, Save the Man” was justification for its evils of assimilation into the White world. Excelling at football and track Jim was chosen to represent the United States at the 1912 Stockholm Olympics, where he won gold in the pentathlon and decathlon and set a decathlon world record.

Though he was the greatest athlete in the world, Jim’s awards and trophies were taken and his records erased when it was revealed he played semi professional baseball during breaks from school. As a result he spent his life working menial jobs, playing sports for small change, and hoping for a coaching job that never materialized. “A man has to keep hustling” Thorpe often said, but died a poor man.

Sympathetic to Thorpe’s plight and other Native Americans, Maraniss’ well-researched biography draws on rich primary source materials to supply information on Thorpe as well as important figures and events of the time. One hundred and ten years after Jim Thorpe’s victories plans are still under way to restore his records because, though the IOC finally gave medals to his family in 1983, Thorpe’s results are still not part of the Olympic record.

Highly recommended for Adults.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

“Indian no more” Charlene Willing McManis with Traci Sorrell

Rated 5 stars ***** ARC. Tu Books (Lee & Low). Published September 24, 2019.

Ten-year-old Regina Petit lived with her mother, father, sister and grandmother on the Grand Ronde Indian Reservation in Oregon where they had lived with other tribes since the 1800’s. She loved the Umpqua traditions her grandmother instilled through generational stories. In 1954 the government ordered the tribes to leave their reservation, and to no longer be Indians.

The family moved to Los Angeles where they struggled to get used to city life, and her father worked to erase his former life. Though she and her sister were lonely and missed their cousins they found new friends and gradually began to feel accepted but, unfortunately, racism soon reared its ugly head. Throughout her struggles and the changes happening in her life Regina wondered if she was enough of an Indian to carry on the traditions of the Umpqua or if she was meant to just be American. Was it possible to be both?

This moving story of a young girl trying to discover herself during times of upheaval and loss will strike a note with readers. McManis’ recollections of her Umpqua family, and what it was like for them to be forced to leave their traditional land and start anew, are very realistic.

Highly recommended for ages 10-14.

*Winner of the 2020 American Indian Youth Literature Award for Best Middle Grade Book.

“Winter counts” David Heska Wanbli Weiden

Rated 5 stars ***** ARC. ebook. HarperCollins Publishers. To be published August 25, 2020.

The author is an enrolled citizen of the Sicangu Lakota Nation.

Life on the Lakota Indian Reservation where Virgil Wounded Horse has lived for almost all of his life is tough. Jobs are hard to find and poverty is everywhere, while many work hard to pass on their beliefs and traditions. Virgil is a loner, who turned his back on Lakota traditions many years ago. Because the federal government doesn’t allow tribal police forces to pursue justice on most types of reservation crime, Virgil is the long arm of the law for those who want their own revenge.

Ben Short Bear, tribal councilman, contacts him to find out who is helping a tribal member bring heroin onto the reservation. At first Virgil is not interested in the case but, when his nephew Nathan overdoes and is later kidnapped, he is ready to knock in some heads. Though a drug cartel and local gang are also involved, he is not dissuaded. Though Virgil has always done things his way, he is soon going to learn he will have to make room for his Lakota people and traditions if he hopes to find Nathan before it’s too late.

Heska Wanbli Weiden’s description of reservation life and the helplessness of the tribal police are very realistic. I’m glad he mentioned that the Lakota despise the French derisive term “Sioux,” as I didn’t know that and know it’s important to be educated on correct tribal name terminologies.

Highly recommended for Adults.

I received a digital advance reading copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

“The only good Indians” Stephen Graham Jones

Rated 5 stars ***** ARC. ebook. Saga Press (Simon & Schuster). To be published July 14, 2020.

The author is a member of the Blackfeet Tribe.

Ricky, Gabe, Cass and Lewis were best friends, growing up on the Blackfeet reservation where their families had lived for generations. The Elders tried to teach them about their heritage, but they didn’t feel like traditionalists. The Game Warden was quick with arrests, so meals were poached from the woods. Duck Lake was a hunting area set aside for the Elders, but they knew elk could be found there. Despite grave consequences if caught, they decided to try their luck there but, ten years later, they would forever regret that foolish decision.

“The only good Indians” takes readers through the horrors of being methodically stalked with nowhere to turn but, in between the blood and gore, readers are reminded that reservation life is one of poverty, with tribal members still forced to play cowboys and Indians due to deeply instilled prejudices on the part of the White Man. Though Ricky, Cass, Lewis and Gabe chose different ways to live their lives, on and off the reservation, they were forever drawn together by friendship and a shared heritage that survived before them and would continue long after they were gone.

Recommended for Adults.

I received a digital advance reading copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

 

 

“Breaking Dawn: Twilight #4” Stephenie Meyer

Rated 5 stars ***** 2008. Little, Brown and Company. 756 p.

This last book in the incredibly successful “Twilight” series is so much better than the others. Of course everyone knows Bella and Edward get married, as that was so inevitable. What wasn’t expected is her sudden pregnancy, and what happens because of that pregnancy, which is the reason for the book. Her entrance into the world of vampires has been expected since “Twilight,” but new things about this world are revealed to readers, which are very unexpected.

“Breaking dawn” breaks new ground in that Bella is much more self-assured and, though she does have a few insecurities, I think she’s finally grown up. There is a lot more laugh out loud humor, especially from Jacob, that will keep readers chuckling. The love between her and Edward is so much more pronounced, which shows me that I was right in choosing him over Jacob.

It’s interesting Meyer left the ending a little open ended, as if she expected to continue the not-quite-over conflict in another book. However, it’s been 9 years and nothing else has been written, so I guess she left it to the reader’s imagination to come up with our own sequel. That’s too bad. I would’ve liked the series to continue, and to have had some unanswered questions be answered. Goodbye Edward. I’ll miss you.

Now that I’ve reread the entire book series, I’m off to watch the movie series again. Can’t get enough of Robert Pattison aka Edward.

Recommended for ages 14 and older.

“Eclipse: Twilight #3” Stephenie Meyer

Rated 5 stars ***** 2007. Little, Brown and Company. 629 p.

“Eclipse” continues the exciting story of Bella Swan and Edward Cullen by adding Jacob Black as a love interest, with both vying for her attention. Despite her feelings towards Edward, Jacob is sure she’ll choose him while Edward is determined to step away if that is her desire. Bella is unable to make a decision, as she loves both of them, but will have to make a choice whether she likes it or not. In the meantime, the Cullens and werewolves from La Push are forced to team up to try and stop an army of newborns who have one goal in mind – to kill Bella.

It’s easy for readers to split into Jacob vs. Edward camps, as each have redeeming factors. On the plus side Jacob is tall, dark haired, muscled, handsome, very fast, generates extremely warm body heat, understands Bella, and would do anything for her. On the negative side he’s at least 2 years younger, is a bit immature, and can change too quickly into a werewolf (especially when angry), which could be dangerous to Bella.

Edward’s positives points are that he’s tall, lighter haired than Jacob, chiseled and incredibly handsome, has mesmerizing eyes and breath, is very fast, has a velvety speaking voice, understands Bella, and would do anything for her. On the negative side he’s extremely cold, as hard as marble, is so strong he could accidentally crush Bella if he’s not careful, and regularly needs to hunt for blood since he is a vampire.

There are many instances where Jacob and Edward clash, including some humorous ones and, when you’re done, you’ll have to decide. Who would you choose? I like Jacob, but find myself in the Edward camp. His gentleness, protectiveness and incredible love for Bella are too hard to resist.

Meanwhile I’m still annoyed at Bella, as she continues to find too many ridiculous reasons to be insecure around Edward, keeps getting in his way, and generally gets on my nerves.

Recommended for 14 and older.

“New Moon: Twilight #2” Stephenie Meyer

Rated 5 stars ***** EBook. 2006. Little, Brown and Company.

In this second book of the wildly successful “Twilight” series, Bella is heartbroken because Edward broke up with her. He told her he didn’t love her anymore, and felt it would be best if he and his family went away forever so she could move on with her life as if he’d never existed. True to his word, he disappeared – taking her heart and sanity with him.

Without Edward, Bella falls into a deep depression, which goes on for seven months. Her only escape from the unbearably lonely days and nights without Edward is time spent with Jacob Black, a young Native American from the nearby reservation who is an old family friend. As her friendship with Jacob intensifies, she learns of how he and others from his tribe turn into werewolves to protect their land from vampires – their natural enemies. As she continues spending time with him, she wonders if he can be enough to help her forget Edward. Could the love of a younger, but handsome and strong teen werewolf, help her forget the unforgettable and breathtakingly handsome vampire who broke her heart?

Bella is at her worst in “New Moon,” as she goes on and on about the hole in her body Edward left when he disappeared. She refuses to try to heal herself, and wallows constantly in self-pity. Readers will quickly get annoyed with her. The very bright spot in the book is the character of Jacob Black who, though briefly mentioned in “Twilight,” gets full billing in “New Moon.” Again make sure to read the book before you see the movie, as Taylor Lautner’s handsome face will forever be associated with Jacob.

Recommended for ages 14 and older.

“An Indigenous People’s History of the United States” Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz

Rated 5 stars ***** 2014. ebook. Beacon Press. Includes “Acknowledgements,” “Suggested Reading,” and “Notes.”

Using the premise that the United States’ history is one of “settler colonialism,” (wherein the settler participates in genocide and land theft), Dunbar-Ortiz discusses the reasons behind colonization of the land and the many atrocities committed to the indigenous people going back to pre-Revolutionary War days. The historical version of how the U.S. was settled, ingrained in everyone’s heads through television and history books, is shown to not only be false but blatantly biased.

The U.S. and its settlers wanted all indigenous people wiped off the face of the earth (so they could take their land), while later seeking to “kill the Indian to save the man” through the inhumane practice of stealing their children to place them into boarding schools. Despite all attempts at genocide and destruction, many nations managed to survive. “An Indigenous History of the United States” is a story of survival and truth.

I have long been upset with the colonial status of Puerto Rico wondering why, in the year 2014, the United States is still in the “owning of a colony” business. Despite the fact that almost 45% of the Island lives in poverty, and that the majority of Puerto Ricans voted for statehood in 2012, their colonial “owners” refuse to “let the people go.”

After reading about the land-grabbing, money making, “get rid of the Indian” mentality of the United States government and its people in this well-researched book, I can see why Puerto Rico has been so alone on its long, poverty-stricken road.

I can only hope that readers of Dunbar-Ortiz’s eye-opening book will help the Indigenous people with their fight to have ancestral lands returned, while also helping to free the people of Puerto Rico from their “owner.”

Highly recommended for Adult readers.