AT THE MOUNTAIN'S BASE

The engaging tale of a Native woman in the military during World War II.

A Cherokee family sits around a hearth in a cabin in the woods. They are weaving and thinking of their female family member who is enlisted in the military. She flies a support plane, exhibiting courage as she hopes for safety and a return to peace. The text is simple and circular: As the family prays for their warrior, she is depicted in her plane, remembering and praying for them. With her colorful illustrations, Alvitre (Tongva/Scots-Gaelic) introduces an effective visual theme, depicting the connection between weaving and meditation as threads loop and twine through the artwork. The author is Cherokee, which may be the reason she makes the family in her story the same, but it makes for a bit of a disconnect when the author’s note informs readers that the story is based on that of Oglala Lakota pilot Ola Mildred Rexroat, “the only Native woman among 1,074 Women Air Force Service Pilots in World War II.” Still, the meditative text is lovely, and the artwork brings the small Cherokee abode to life with warmth and love. Children will find comfort in the story’s repetition as well as its message of prayer and peace.

A Cherokee family’s worry for their loved one at war reminds readers of the sacrifices made by Natives in our military.