Sequoyah

by Robert J. Conley

Sequoyah is arguably the single most significant and important figure in the history of the Cherokee people.Born in the late 18th century, Sequoyah's life was marked by the major conflicts and events of his time.From the expulsion and massacres, to the Indian wars fought at the side of Andrews Jackson, to the treaty violations and removals to the reservations, Sequoyah was a revered leader of the Cherokee.But as important as he was to the unfolding events of history, Sequoyah is best remembered for his singular contribution to the Cherokee culture and language. Sequoyah produced the first syllabary for Cherokee, through which their history, tradition, and cultured was recorded and preserved. Robert J. Conley is one of the most acclaimed writers of the American West and of his own peopled, the Cherokee, having won myriad fans with his moving historical novels about the Real People.In Sequoyah, he brings to vivid life one of the single most significant figures in the Cherokee people- a man who fought for his people's survival with both actions and words, and triumphed using ideas. Robert J. Conley is the author of nearly forty novels, including his much praised "Real People" novels about the Cherokee.Three-time winner of the Spur Award as well as a finalist for the Oklahoma Book Award, among many other honors, Conley is Cherokee and lives in Tahlequah, Oklahoma.

Genres: Historical Fiction

217 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 2002

About the author

Robert J. Conley was a Cherokee author and enrolled member of the Cherokee Nation, a federally recognized tribe of American Indians. In 2007, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Native Writers' Circle of the Americas.

Reviews

[Marcy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good story, but it reads a bit flat. The author’s style leans toward telling rather than showing.

[Jonna Higgins-Freese · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first part, about the invention of the syllabary, was good. It would have been better to stop there. The author kept going through the rest of Sequoyah's life, which made it more of a fictional-biography than historical fiction, and honestly, I just wasn't as interested because there wasn't a tight conflict or compelling stake in the final events of the book. Maybe I gave up too soon.

[Dennis Hart · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book. There was lots of information concerning my kinsmen: Sequoyah and George Lowrey.

[Gwen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Probably historically accurate, but I found the writing style to be dull and uninteresting.