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Call Me the Canyon: A Novel
Set in the old west of the 1880's, half-Navajo Madolen Demming leaves her gold-prospector father and her canyon at 15, craving freedom and a life beyond the canyon--that looms just out of her reach. In the end, in the world outside, Madolen finds she needs most of all the life style she once disdained, a way of life lost forever to the modern world. A moving triumphant story of a girl torn between two worlds.
- GenresHistorical Fiction
205 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2006
1 person is currently reading
57 people want to read
About the author
Ann Howard Creel
16 books488 followersAnn Howard Creel writes guaranteed heart-wrenching historical fiction. In her novels, strong female characters face unforeseen obstacles and then have to make life-changing decisions.
After first writing for children, she turned her attention to Historical Fiction. Her first novel for adults, THE MAGIC OF ORDINARY DAYS, was made into a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie on CBS. Her recent titles have been Kindle bestsellers and include WHILE YOU WERE MINE, THE WHISKEY SEA, THE UNCERTAIN SEASON, THE RIVER WIDOW, and MERCY ROAD.
She now writes full-time. Ann's main characters are always strong women facing high-stakes situations and having to make life-changing decisions. Her historical settings have ranged from Victorian-era Galveston to World War II in New York City. Her latest novel, A LIFE CAME CALLING, coming in August 2025, takes readers to the Smoky Mountains near the end of World War II.
WHY I WRITE ABOUT WORLD WAR II
My biggest inspiration has been my parents, who lived the war. Due to the courage and unity of their time, they have been called "the greatest generation," and WWII has also been called "the last good war."
After first writing for children, she turned her attention to Historical Fiction. Her first novel for adults, THE MAGIC OF ORDINARY DAYS, was made into a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie on CBS. Her recent titles have been Kindle bestsellers and include WHILE YOU WERE MINE, THE WHISKEY SEA, THE UNCERTAIN SEASON, THE RIVER WIDOW, and MERCY ROAD.
She now writes full-time. Ann's main characters are always strong women facing high-stakes situations and having to make life-changing decisions. Her historical settings have ranged from Victorian-era Galveston to World War II in New York City. Her latest novel, A LIFE CAME CALLING, coming in August 2025, takes readers to the Smoky Mountains near the end of World War II.
WHY I WRITE ABOUT WORLD WAR II
My biggest inspiration has been my parents, who lived the war. Due to the courage and unity of their time, they have been called "the greatest generation," and WWII has also been called "the last good war."
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
November 8, 2012
Reviewed by Grandma Bev for TeensReadToo.com
The wild canyon country of the western United States was relatively unexplored at the turn of the century, but it was home to fifteen-year-old Madolen. She has been raised by her prospector father since the death of her Navajo mother. A Mormon family offers a different kind of life for Madolen, and she leaves her father's cabin to live with them.
She is eager to experience life in the outside world, and now she will help out with the never-ending work on the Olsen's farm, and be educated in math, reading, and the Mormon religion. Her life with the Olsen family is a joy, and she and the Olsen daughter, Claire, share a deep friendship. A tragedy intervenes, and Madolen leaves her home with them to become the guide to a handsome archaeologist as he explores the canyons for native artifacts and art.
Ann Howard Creel provides rich historical detail about the canyon area, the Navajo nation, and the attempts at gold recovery. Madolen is a compelling character and I felt her joy and pain as she fell in love with Wallis, and her worry over her dying father. The story is narrated by Madolen in eloquent prose and colorful descriptions. The lure of gold and the natural dangers of the canyon country are always just below the surface in this fast-paced, unique, and unpredictable story.
I highly recommend this book for its entertainment and historical value. This is an author that I will be watching for.
The wild canyon country of the western United States was relatively unexplored at the turn of the century, but it was home to fifteen-year-old Madolen. She has been raised by her prospector father since the death of her Navajo mother. A Mormon family offers a different kind of life for Madolen, and she leaves her father's cabin to live with them.
She is eager to experience life in the outside world, and now she will help out with the never-ending work on the Olsen's farm, and be educated in math, reading, and the Mormon religion. Her life with the Olsen family is a joy, and she and the Olsen daughter, Claire, share a deep friendship. A tragedy intervenes, and Madolen leaves her home with them to become the guide to a handsome archaeologist as he explores the canyons for native artifacts and art.
Ann Howard Creel provides rich historical detail about the canyon area, the Navajo nation, and the attempts at gold recovery. Madolen is a compelling character and I felt her joy and pain as she fell in love with Wallis, and her worry over her dying father. The story is narrated by Madolen in eloquent prose and colorful descriptions. The lure of gold and the natural dangers of the canyon country are always just below the surface in this fast-paced, unique, and unpredictable story.
I highly recommend this book for its entertainment and historical value. This is an author that I will be watching for.
May 7, 2011
I wanted to love this book after reading The Magic of Ordinary Days, but couldn't get myself there. As I was reading I kept thinking that there was no good way to end it, and I was right! It didn't exactly end well. I kept hoping there would be some way to end happily. And the end felt lopped off, somehow. That said, the story was really interesting. Her view of Mormons was surprisingly kind--it was interesting to see the interactions between the main character and the Mormon family that "adopted" her.
I think I'll give Creel another chance. I'd like to read another 4 or 5 star book from her!
I think I'll give Creel another chance. I'd like to read another 4 or 5 star book from her!
August 14, 2008
This was an okay book, but I wasn't too impressed with it. It is written supposedly as a love story but in actuality it is more of a self discovery book with the real love story left out at the end. The author seemed to just give up her story in the end and finished with a epilogue that left the reader wondering what in the world happened. A bit disjointed but I still liked it enough to finish it.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews