An informative Lakota historical novel heavy on exposition.
When his people are treated unfairly, a Lakota boy’s determination wins out.
In 1929, 11-year-old Alfred Sparrow lives on the Kul Wicasa Lakota Reservation in South Dakota with his mother, younger brother, and grandparents following the disappearance of his father, who left to find work in Wyoming and was never heard from again. The family treasures the tribal allotment land his grandfather has worked so long and hard to sustain. When Mr. O’Neil, the local government agency superintendent, and his cohorts try to swindle Alfred’s grandfather and other Lakota landowners out of their land, Alfred looks to his dreams, then shares what he learns with his friends. Together, they come up with a plan to defeat their enemy and save their homes. Lakota culture and traditions are incorporated throughout the story, for example when Alfred dreams of the golden eagle spirit helper. He remembers his grandfather telling him, “Grandchild, a golden eagle came to your mother when you were born. It will surely watch over you throughout your life.” Alfred later calls on this helper when he and his dog are attacked by wolves after getting too close to a den of wolf cubs. This series opener by Beartrack-Algeo (Lower Brule Lakota Nation) begins slowly, and the quantity of and dense approach to conveying historical information may deter the intended audience of reluctant readers. Things pick up toward the end of the book with several exciting action-packed scenes.
An informative Lakota historical novel heavy on exposition. (author's note) (Historical fiction. 12-18)Pub Date: April 26, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-939053-40-4
Page Count: 122
Publisher: 7th Generation
Review Posted Online: Jan. 25, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2022
There’s not much plot here, but readers will relish the opportunity to climb inside Autumn’s head.
The finely drawn characters capture readers’ attention in this debut.
Autumn and Phineas, nicknamed Finny, were born a week apart; their mothers are still best friends. Growing up, Autumn and Finny were like peas in a pod despite their differences: Autumn is “quirky and odd,” while Finny is “sweet and shy and everyone like[s] him.” But in eighth grade, Autumn and Finny stop being friends due to an unexpected kiss. They drift apart and find new friends, but their friendship keeps asserting itself at parties, shared holiday gatherings and random encounters. In the summer after graduation, Autumn and Finny reconnect and are finally ready to be more than friends. But on August 8, everything changes, and Autumn has to rely on all her strength to move on. Autumn’s coming-of-age is sensitively chronicled, with a wide range of experiences and events shaping her character. Even secondary characters are well-rounded, with their own histories and motivations.
There’s not much plot here, but readers will relish the opportunity to climb inside Autumn’s head. (Fiction. 14 & up)Pub Date: April 1, 2013
ISBN: 978-1-4022-7782-5
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Review Posted Online: Feb. 12, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2013
BOOK REVIEW
SEEN & HEARD
A heavy read about the harsh realities of tragedy and their effects on those left behind.
In this companion novel to 2013’s If He Had Been With Me, three characters tell their sides of the story.
Finn’s narrative starts three days before his death. He explores the progress of his unrequited love for best friend Autumn up until the day he finally expresses his feelings. Finn’s story ends with his tragic death, which leaves his close friends devastated, unmoored, and uncertain how to go on. Jack’s section follows, offering a heartbreaking look at what it’s like to live with grief. Jack works to overcome the anger he feels toward Sylvie, the girlfriend Finn was breaking up with when he died, and Autumn, the girl he was preparing to build his life around (but whom Jack believed wasn’t good enough for Finn). But when Jack sees how Autumn’s grief matches his own, it changes their understanding of one another. Autumn’s chapters trace her life without Finn as readers follow her struggles with mental health and balancing love and loss. Those who have read the earlier book will better connect with and feel for these characters, particularly since they’ll have a more well-rounded impression of Finn. The pain and anger is well written, and the novel highlights the most troublesome aspects of young adulthood: overconfidence sprinkled with heavy insecurities, fear-fueled decisions, bad communication, and brash judgments. Characters are cued white.
A heavy read about the harsh realities of tragedy and their effects on those left behind. (author’s note, content warning) (Fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: Feb. 6, 2024
ISBN: 9781728276229
Page Count: 416
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Review Posted Online: Jan. 5, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
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