The Young Healer

by Frank N. McMillan III

In THE YOUNG HEALER tradition meets contemporary when what starts out as just another day becomes anything but that for young Feather Anderson. Her beloved grandfather, a traditional Lakota healer, pulls her out of class one snowy morning and takes her on an old-fashioned vision quest in the heart of New York City in hopes of finding the perfect Lakota medicine. It becomes the most magical day ever for eleven-year-old Feather Anderson, the day she saves her little brother’s life. Feather follows in her grandfather’s footsteps of healing as a medicine man and she then earns her newly-given secret Lakota name.

Genres: Fiction, Juvenile, Middle Grade, Family, Cultural, Contemporary, Realistic Fiction

216 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Also writes under Frank McMillan
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...

Reviews

[Dorine White]

I read the most amazing middle grade novel last week and I’m so excited to share it with everyone. It is called The Young Healer by Frank N. McMillan III. It was awarded the Children’s Book of the Year contest award by the National Association of Elementary School Principals.
The Story:
Feather is a young girl living in New York City with her mom, brother and grandfather Spotted Eagle. She’s half Lakota Indian on her mom’s side. One day Feather takes the journey of a lifetime when her brother Peter is put into the hospital and her grandfather picks her up early from school to go on a healing quest.

Feather meets all sorts of interesting people around NYC, and discovers the stories of her Lakota ancestors prove true even today. She learns from her grandfather that she has the “gift”- the power of a medicine healer. In the end it is a battle of faith versus medicine.

My Thoughts:
I loved this book. The story is so richly told through the amazing characters, the sacred Lakota tales and through the love of Feather for her brother.

My favorite character is Spotted Eagle, the grandfather. He is a wonderful man who is wise to the world around him and sees beauty in all things. He teaches these values to Feather, and her eyes are opened to not only new people, but to miracles and nature. At one point they go to the top of the Empire State Building to perform a ceremony. Spotted Eagle paints his face and then wears the paint throughout the rest of the story, oblivious to other people’s thoughts.

I highly recommend this book. It is well written, and the only criticism I had was the part where Feather and her grandfather visit a bear at the zoo. Not just visit, but go into his cage. I had a hard time with that idea, but overall, the book is so well done and filled with culture and good values. Wow! Go get this one.

[Angie]

Feather and her grandfather set out on a quest to heal her young brother Peter. Spotted Eagle is a Lakota medicine man and he wants to teach Feather the traditions of their people. Their quest leads them throughout New York City during a raging snowstorm as they meet a Chinese herbalist, a homeless woman, a bear at the zoo and a grandfather at the Empire State Building. Their journey is full of magical coincidences that help making the vision quest more special. Feather's mom, Ann, is resistant to the old ways and doesn't want anything to do with a traditional healing ceremony, but Feather and Spotted Eagle are determined to help Peter.

I really enjoyed the fact that this book highlights a culture not seen in children's realistic fiction very often, the Native American culture. I also liked that it was not only set in modern times, but also in a modern city. It highlighted how Native Americans can adapt their cultural traditions to fit a modern world, but still honor those ancient customs. I thought Feather and her grandfather were both fun, dedicated, interesting characters throughout the book. I did think Feather's parents were a little one-dimensional, but they didn't play a very big role in the book. I liked how the reader was left wondering if there was really magic playing a part or if it was just coincidences. A very special book that I am sure would be great for discussions.

[Sharon]

Feather's younger brother has been very ill, and a a series of coincidences begin with the appearance of her grandfather at school. This book could easily be called "A Day in the Life..." since events unfold over the course of a very snowy winter day. Wonderful characters with wonderful voices make this a memorable read.

[Cara Cahill]

This is about Feather and her Grandfather. It takes them through an adventurous day as Feather finds out about her ancestors and her future. A touching book about the power of family. Grade 4 and up

[Pegasus]

This book is fantastic! I loved it as much as I did Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone! That's a lot!!

[Heidi Stallman]

The ending felt a little too neatly tied up for me, but overall this was an enchanting book with a lovable cast of characters. I really enjoyed how the Lakota characters went on a traditional vision quest in New York City, especially their trip to "high country" at the Empire State Building.

[Leora Stangler]

I read this book in 3rd grade in about a day. It was a really good book, but it wasn't my favorite. I always remember my favorite books or at least part of them. What happened this book slipped my memory. I would only recommend this book to certain people.

[Bennett]

3.5 stars

I've always found Native American history interesting. But this book takes it to a new level by mashing it up with a dose of realistic fiction.

The characters were nice and realistic. Grandfather was a very cool character.

Feather and Emily's (her best friend) was very strong and a good touch to the story.

The Native American culture was very interesting to read about and it is a rare theme in middle grade books. Mrs. Silverman was a good addition, too.

The pacing was a little bit too slow for more, except for the last 30 pages, when it become lightning fast.

Feather's mother (who had long ago stopped believing in her Native American ancestors' stories and myths) had a really quick and rather unbelievable transformation at the end of the book.

And also, the cover looks self-published and bland.

It was an entertaining little read, but I wouldn't call it an awesome book. Many parts wanted me to give it 4 stars, but when it all evened out, it came out to 3. I would probably recommend, but wouldn't be my first choice to just hand out to people and say it's great. There's heavy religion in this book, so that might not be for all kids. Then again, no where in the book does it say "This is the one and only true religion" so that isn't much of a problem.

This a nice little book that will satisfy a bored reader, but maybe not a reader searching for a memorable piece of art.

Alternate rating: B+

[Erin]

I can see how this would appeal to late elementary aged kids as it has that cutesy, coincidental feel to the story events, but that's probably the part I disliked the most as it detracts from the deeper meaning of the story. The part I was impressed with is what will probably float right over the target audience heads. Feather's grandfather, a Lakota medicine man living in New York City with Feather, her mother, and her younger brother. Feather's brother Peter falls sick and doctors cannot pinpoint the cause. We come into the story as Feather documents the adventures she and her grandfather experienced as he lead her on a modern day vision quest, ultimately in the hope of teaching her about her Native American heritage.

While I enjoyed the idea of working within your circumstances and passing knowledge from generation to generation so our young people understand their culture, I think most kids will get caught up in the unrealistic tales of ghost wolves and sneaky visits to grizzly bears instead of seeing the historical significance of the book.

[Carolina Colleene]

Language - PG (9 swears, 0 "f"), Sexual Content - G; Violence - G
Feather's brother Peter is in the hospital worrying everybody. Feather wants to do something helpful, so, when her grandfather takes her out of school, she's relieved to go see her brother. However, the hospital isn't their first stop. Or their second. Or their third! Can all this running around really help Peter?
The Native American culture I learned in this book is really interesting. Feather's grandfather is a medicine man and he shares some of the Indian ways with Feather and the readers. Another thing I like about this book is how Feather gets to go on an adventure in the city she's grown up in. An adventure doesn't have to mean going somewhere exotic as long as one can met new people, learn new skills, and discover the courage within themselves.
Reviewed for https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/

[Susan]

This touching, entertaining and educational story for middle readers is a finalist for the 2015 Mark Twain Readers Award. While engaging readers young and old alike in its suspenseful, occasionally delightfully comedic, one of a kind tale (a vision quest in contemporary Manhattan!), it also gently introduces important, authentically-sourced information about the traditions of the Lakota people of North America (see http://www.charlesbridge.com/client/c...). The close relationship between its feisty, young female lead and her beloved Native American grandfather is especially well-depicted. Highly recommended for educators, librarians, and young readers interested in well-told tales featuring good, old exciting adventure, diversity themes, and Native American history and legends.

[Kendall]

MT nominee 2014-2015. 2.75 stars. There were parts of this book that I liked, but my main issue with it is that it vacillated between good writing and not-so-believable internal dialogue on the part of the main character. Most tween girls don't use the words "corridor" or "foul-up". Phrases like "busty blonde nurse" and "quite frankly" don't ring true either. However, other parts of the book are well-written and quite believable. I like the fact that the book teaches the reader about many different aspects of Native American cultures. I just wish an editor had a heavier hand...this one almost seems self-published because of its intermittent flaws. Incomplete character development and a few other writing problems mask the better parts of the story.

[Remington Barnett]

Feather is in class when her grandfather comes and tells her, her brother is very sick so they do many things including burning a plant on the top of the Empire State Building, getting him a fire truck toy and burning the same plant in the room where ? is very,very sick they had too hatch a weird plan so they could get into the room because the nurses thought her grandfather was some crazy crackpot and when he did it ? woke up and her mother never believed in the tribe her grandfather was from but when he woke up her mom believed again. My favorite part was when the lady was distracting the nurse and started crying about something made up.

[Geri]

Frank McMillan's "The Young Healer" is so, so needed in today's world. The joy, the wisdom, the love of family and friends, and the loving, creative imagination embodied in this beautiful and heartfelt story narrated by a young Native American woman just setting foot on her own personal journey to become who she is truly meant to be are totally and amazingly -- yes -- healing. It's magic! Needless to say, I give this wonderful book two big thumbs up. A must, must read; especially for girls and young women. I give it my highest rating. It's that powerful. I love this book!

[Pam]

This new book by Frank N McMillan III is fantastic. It is definitely one to be read by junior high students. His knack of writing using the voice of a young girl is amazing. Young Feather Anderson is taken from school one winter day by her Grandfather, a traditional Lakota healer. He takes her on a oldfashioned vision quest in present day New York City during a blizzard hoping to find a traditional cure for her ill brother. This book is not to be missed.

[Emilee]

A co-worker read this book before I did and she claims it as one of her favorite books. I could see why after I read it. It's about a young girl and her grandfather. They are Lakota Indians. Grandfather is a healer or what some call a medicine man. He came to America after his wife died to give his daughter more of a chance of a better life. She has since grown up and become a lawyer and has 2 children. Grandfather

[Laura Phelps]

I loved the premise of this book - a Lakota healer and his granddaughter undertake a modern day vision quest in the middle of New York city. While the plot was eminently readable and I enjoyed the “magic” that happened along the way, many of the characters are one dimensional (and at times stereotypical) and I wondered about the authenticity of some aspects of the grandfather’s tradition.

[Valerie]

This is a book that my almost 12 year old is to read for a book battle club. I read it before her, lacking other items to read. It was nicely written; however, there were a few "liberties" or "artistic license" moments--especially nearing the end of the book at the Empire State Building. I think my gal will enjoy it!

[Katie]

Eh. This was a perfectly acceptable novel about a young Native American protagonist getting in touch with her heritage. The characters were not well developed though, in my opinion. What was up with Feather's mother's hatred of her heritage? That wasn't well-explained. Doubt I'll do a book chat on this one.

[Nancy]

I was so excited by the summary of this book to read about Native American culture. I was disappointed that I never really engaged with the characters and the plot stalled almost the whole book. I did enjoy learning of Native American customs which were an important thread in the story.

[Shay Brewer]

I truly enjoyed the story. the relationship between young Feather and her Tunkashila is beautiful. It is a wonderful look at a family and its inter-workings and full of reminders to look beyond what you see. To see the beauty that was and is and to look for the "everyday magic".

[Ann]

Mark Twain Preliminary Nominee 2015
Mark Twain Nominee 2014-15

[Lea]

Liked premise of story but questioned authenticity of tribal traditions and legends. Curious to see how my students like it.

[Tricia Price]

Read this because it was a 2014-15 Mark Twain Award nominee. It was ok; an interesting look at Native American culture.

[Teresa]

I would've loved this one as a preteen. The cover art seems a little uninspired as far as getting kids to pick it up.

[Kiki W.]

it was cute