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Buffalo Soldier
What kind of a girl steals the clothes from a dead man's back and runs off to join the army?
A desperate one, that's who.
World been turned on its head by that big old war, and the army seemed like the safest place to be, until we was sent off to fight them Indians. And then? Heck! When Death's so close you can smell his breath, ain't nothing makes you feel more alive.
A desperate one, that's who.
World been turned on its head by that big old war, and the army seemed like the safest place to be, until we was sent off to fight them Indians. And then? Heck! When Death's so close you can smell his breath, ain't nothing makes you feel more alive.
360 pages, Paperback
First published March 20, 2014
34 people are currently reading
833 people want to read
About the author
Tanya Landman
83 books91 followersCarnegie Medal winning Tanya Landman is the author of more than thirty books for children and young adults.
Born and brought up in Kent, Tanya had no intention of becoming a writer until the idea for Waking Merlin popped into her head. "It came from nowhere. It was completely out of the blue."
Tanya now lives and works in Bideford and the nearby coastline was the inspiration for her Flotsam & Jetsam series.
Tanya's first books were "adventure stories with a sprinkling of magic and spoonful of humour." But then Tanya turned to crime, writing Mondays are Murder (winner of a Red House Book Award) - the first in a series of ten "Agatha-Christie-for-kids" featuring child sleuth Poppy Fields and her friend Graham. Her new highly illustrated books for younger children feature Sam Swann, an accident-prone boy sleuth and his faithful canine sidekick Watson.
Although she writes across a broad age range, Tanya is probably best known for her historical novels for young adults. Apache - set in 19th century America - was shortlisted for several UK awards including the Teenage Book Trust and the Carnegie Medal (where it was voted the Shadowing Groups favourite). The US edition won a Borders Original Voices prize and a Spur award from the Western Writers of America. The Goldsmith's Daughter - set in the Aztec empire during the Spanish invasion - was nominated for the Carnegie Medal and the Guardian Children's Fiction prize. Buffalo Soldier won the 2015 Carnegie Medal. Hell and High Water - a swashbuckling thriller set in 18th century Devon - was shortlisted for the 2016 Guardian Children's Fiction Prize and nominated for the Carnegie Medal. Her latest book Beyond the Wall is set in Roman Britain. Passing for White comes out later this year.
Born and brought up in Kent, Tanya had no intention of becoming a writer until the idea for Waking Merlin popped into her head. "It came from nowhere. It was completely out of the blue."
Tanya now lives and works in Bideford and the nearby coastline was the inspiration for her Flotsam & Jetsam series.
Tanya's first books were "adventure stories with a sprinkling of magic and spoonful of humour." But then Tanya turned to crime, writing Mondays are Murder (winner of a Red House Book Award) - the first in a series of ten "Agatha-Christie-for-kids" featuring child sleuth Poppy Fields and her friend Graham. Her new highly illustrated books for younger children feature Sam Swann, an accident-prone boy sleuth and his faithful canine sidekick Watson.
Although she writes across a broad age range, Tanya is probably best known for her historical novels for young adults. Apache - set in 19th century America - was shortlisted for several UK awards including the Teenage Book Trust and the Carnegie Medal (where it was voted the Shadowing Groups favourite). The US edition won a Borders Original Voices prize and a Spur award from the Western Writers of America. The Goldsmith's Daughter - set in the Aztec empire during the Spanish invasion - was nominated for the Carnegie Medal and the Guardian Children's Fiction prize. Buffalo Soldier won the 2015 Carnegie Medal. Hell and High Water - a swashbuckling thriller set in 18th century Devon - was shortlisted for the 2016 Guardian Children's Fiction Prize and nominated for the Carnegie Medal. Her latest book Beyond the Wall is set in Roman Britain. Passing for White comes out later this year.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 125 reviews
August 12, 2015
For anyone who accuses YA fiction of being formulaic or superficial . . . I offer you this stunning historical novel by Tanya Landman. I was not familiar with Landman's writing before I read this book, although I do remember that she was shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal for her novel Apache (also historical, set in the American West and featuring a female protagonist). The publisher, Walker Books, should also get some credit as I doubt this book is an easy commercial sell. Let's see: it's history little known (if at all) in the UK, and it is intellectually and emotionally tough to read. It is a "12 Years a Slave" kind of book. You will find almost every moment heart-wrenching and painful, and yet the story has incredible power and momentum. It made me feel that I was reading to bear witness.
Zora Neale Hurston was famous for saying, in her novel "Their Eyes Were Watching God," that black women are the mule of the world (I'm paraphrasing). In essence, Hurston was suggesting that there was no human creature more subjugated and looked down upon than a black woman. So Tanya Landman introduces her heroine: a young black female slave, motherless, assistant to the plantation "Cookie", and pushed around by pretty much everyone. After their plantation is burned to the ground by General Sherman and his troops, this young girl soon discovers that instead of being made "free" by the end of the Civil War, she is made homeless, starving and wretched. In an act of desperation, after witnessing much violence and enduring much hardship, the young girl disguises herself as a young man, renames herself "Charley" and joins one of the newly formed African American cavalry troops being sent to fight the Indian Wars in the Great Plains. Finally she discovers another human creature even more hated than herself -- the American Indian.
Although there are precisely two white men who treat Charley and her fellow soldiers with some dignity and respect, (one of them is Buffalo Bill Cody, in an enjoyable cameo appearance), they are abused by the white Army nearly as badly as they were under slavery. The "Buffalo Soldiers" find some solidarity in friendship, and Charley has a touching alliance with her horse Abe, but loss and betrayal are constant companions. "The fine gentleman in Washington," as Charley refers to them, are seen to break their promises to the Indians over and over again; the dream of "freedom" for former slaves is just one more broken promise. Over time, Charley comes to doubt the government's view of the Indians (both problem and solution), and starts questioning what side she is on. This novel is all about being disenfranchised, and left without choices and room to maneuver; it is very much the dark side of the "American Dream."
There are some bright moments too, and even a rather touching romance, but Charley prevails mainly in the sense that she endures.
Recommended for 14+ readers who won't be put off by strong descriptions of violence and human cruelty.
Zora Neale Hurston was famous for saying, in her novel "Their Eyes Were Watching God," that black women are the mule of the world (I'm paraphrasing). In essence, Hurston was suggesting that there was no human creature more subjugated and looked down upon than a black woman. So Tanya Landman introduces her heroine: a young black female slave, motherless, assistant to the plantation "Cookie", and pushed around by pretty much everyone. After their plantation is burned to the ground by General Sherman and his troops, this young girl soon discovers that instead of being made "free" by the end of the Civil War, she is made homeless, starving and wretched. In an act of desperation, after witnessing much violence and enduring much hardship, the young girl disguises herself as a young man, renames herself "Charley" and joins one of the newly formed African American cavalry troops being sent to fight the Indian Wars in the Great Plains. Finally she discovers another human creature even more hated than herself -- the American Indian.
Although there are precisely two white men who treat Charley and her fellow soldiers with some dignity and respect, (one of them is Buffalo Bill Cody, in an enjoyable cameo appearance), they are abused by the white Army nearly as badly as they were under slavery. The "Buffalo Soldiers" find some solidarity in friendship, and Charley has a touching alliance with her horse Abe, but loss and betrayal are constant companions. "The fine gentleman in Washington," as Charley refers to them, are seen to break their promises to the Indians over and over again; the dream of "freedom" for former slaves is just one more broken promise. Over time, Charley comes to doubt the government's view of the Indians (both problem and solution), and starts questioning what side she is on. This novel is all about being disenfranchised, and left without choices and room to maneuver; it is very much the dark side of the "American Dream."
There are some bright moments too, and even a rather touching romance, but Charley prevails mainly in the sense that she endures.
Recommended for 14+ readers who won't be put off by strong descriptions of violence and human cruelty.
November 24, 2022
Even though the amount of rather overt and detailed textual violence and terror presented and featured by Tanya Landman in Buffalo Soldier did (while I was reading) often really get to me and forced me to take repeated reading breaks, well, my inner teenaged reader certainly understands and appreciates that Landman's 2015 Carnegie Medal winning young adult historical fiction novel (about a recently emancipated post Civil War African American girl impersonating a boy to join the Buffalo Soldiers) is meant to be realistic and that this definitely makes me both able and also more than willing to tolerate said violence and brutality as necessary and also from my own research regarding the American Civil War and the Buffalo Soldiers as being historically accurate and authentic feeling with regard to tone and with regard to thematic scope.
And indeed, even if the above certainly does make for an uncomfortable and painful reading experience in Buffalo Soldier and that Tanya Landman's writing often rather makes me internally cringe, although to be honest, Buffalo Soldier equally and thankfully does not feature ONLY the horrors of the American Civil War, racism, discrimination, that Landman also places a major textual focus on love, compassion, and most importantly on the concept of freedom, and that the latter, that freedom is necessary and important but also cannot and does not simply exist in a type of vacuum, that at the end of the Civil War, while former slaves like main protagonist Charlotte might have had their freedom, but that freedom without acceptance, respect, opportunities etc. is basically worthless (and sometimes even a lesser and a more wrath with threats life than African Americans had as slaves).
But what my above mentioned inner teenaged reader totally loves regarding Buffalo Soldier(such as in particular Tanya Landman's style of narration), my older adult self tends to find considerably problematic and mainly so because Buffalo Soldier has been penned not by an African American author but by a White Anglo Saxon Protestant author hailing from Devon, England. So indeed, albeit I do find first person narrator Charlotte's (Charley's) voice and point of view compelling, interesting and personable in Buffalo Soldier, I do wonder how authentic this all is and that I do indeed feel a bit off and even guilty reading a first person account of a young African American girl written by basically an outsider, by someone ethnically very much different. And similarly so, while I on one one level really appreciate how in Buffalo Soldier Tanya Landman depicts not only the plantation and slave owners but also the Buffalo Soldiers themselves (including Charlotte, including the main character) as being pretty much racially intolerant in many ways, again, considering Landman's Caucasian ethnicity, I do have to wonder if there perhaps is a bit of a "see, the former slaves were also racists" type of attitude to be found in Buffalo Soldier, leaving me with a feeling of having enjoyed Charlotte's story, but also with there being some major caveats and issues that prevent me from rating Buffalo Soldier with more than three stars.
And indeed, even if the above certainly does make for an uncomfortable and painful reading experience in Buffalo Soldier and that Tanya Landman's writing often rather makes me internally cringe, although to be honest, Buffalo Soldier equally and thankfully does not feature ONLY the horrors of the American Civil War, racism, discrimination, that Landman also places a major textual focus on love, compassion, and most importantly on the concept of freedom, and that the latter, that freedom is necessary and important but also cannot and does not simply exist in a type of vacuum, that at the end of the Civil War, while former slaves like main protagonist Charlotte might have had their freedom, but that freedom without acceptance, respect, opportunities etc. is basically worthless (and sometimes even a lesser and a more wrath with threats life than African Americans had as slaves).
But what my above mentioned inner teenaged reader totally loves regarding Buffalo Soldier(such as in particular Tanya Landman's style of narration), my older adult self tends to find considerably problematic and mainly so because Buffalo Soldier has been penned not by an African American author but by a White Anglo Saxon Protestant author hailing from Devon, England. So indeed, albeit I do find first person narrator Charlotte's (Charley's) voice and point of view compelling, interesting and personable in Buffalo Soldier, I do wonder how authentic this all is and that I do indeed feel a bit off and even guilty reading a first person account of a young African American girl written by basically an outsider, by someone ethnically very much different. And similarly so, while I on one one level really appreciate how in Buffalo Soldier Tanya Landman depicts not only the plantation and slave owners but also the Buffalo Soldiers themselves (including Charlotte, including the main character) as being pretty much racially intolerant in many ways, again, considering Landman's Caucasian ethnicity, I do have to wonder if there perhaps is a bit of a "see, the former slaves were also racists" type of attitude to be found in Buffalo Soldier, leaving me with a feeling of having enjoyed Charlotte's story, but also with there being some major caveats and issues that prevent me from rating Buffalo Soldier with more than three stars.
February 18, 2025
There was nothing romantic about the Wild West or the American Civil War. And there was nothing romantic about being a freed slave at that time. This book describes how Yankee soldiers razed plantations to the ground and either left slaves to rot or “confiscated” them as enemy contraband and put them to work. Those not seized faced a perilous existence, wandering the land looking for food and shelter, male ex-slaves risked being lynched; female ex-slaves risked rape then lynching.
This is a novel about a teenage girl (she has no name but calls herself Charley) whose only means of survival is to disguise herself as a man and join the US Army to fight for the white man against the indigenous population of America. Gradually she sees that these native tribes are suffering the same oppression as the slaves. This is a harrowing story but Charley is an engaging character who speaks with a beautifully authentic rhythm in her narrative voice. The brutality she witnesses doesn’t make her bitter and full of hate. She grows resilient and wise. Despite the horror – rape and murder are never far from the page – this is also a thrilling adventure. Above all we see the triumph of the human spirit.
It is set 150 years ago but never has a story been more relevant to today.
This is a novel about a teenage girl (she has no name but calls herself Charley) whose only means of survival is to disguise herself as a man and join the US Army to fight for the white man against the indigenous population of America. Gradually she sees that these native tribes are suffering the same oppression as the slaves. This is a harrowing story but Charley is an engaging character who speaks with a beautifully authentic rhythm in her narrative voice. The brutality she witnesses doesn’t make her bitter and full of hate. She grows resilient and wise. Despite the horror – rape and murder are never far from the page – this is also a thrilling adventure. Above all we see the triumph of the human spirit.
It is set 150 years ago but never has a story been more relevant to today.
April 27, 2015
Oh Buffalo Soldier. You were my Ghost Hawk of this year’s Carnegie Shortlist. The two star rating is my personal opinion… but don’t get me wrong this is not a bad book! It’s very well written, Charley is an engaging character, and it explores very well notions of freedom... I just definitely don’t get on with American History; it just turns me off… Yes it was horrible and there was a lot of really messed up thinking (the European settlers just generally seem to be the worst) but it is not a setting that I can engage with. I really had to power my way through. It got a bit better in the last 50 pages but by then the story was over!
Charlotte grew up a slave until the Civil War brought them all so called ‘freedom.’ Left alone in a land dangerous for black people, and even more dangerous for a woman, she finds her best option is to disguise herself as a man and join the US Army. Her life as a soldier takes her right across the country as the army tries to take the problem with the Native Americans.
First of all I really like the idea of exploring the conflict between the pioneers of the new United States from the perspective of a freed slave. Having grown up knowing nothing different Charley begins with the same hostile attitude towards the Indians as the white people have. Over time the horrors and injustices that she witnesses begin to change her mind. She doesn’t ever mention or draw any parallels with the way her own race has been treated, which I did find a little disappointing. The freedom the slaves were given was a false promise, in reality they were abandoned with nowhere to go in a hostile world that still viewed them as nothing better than animals. The life that the Native Americans were promised on the reservations was also a lie.
Charley is a great character. She’s resilient, strong and brave in some truly terrifying situations. When she joins the army she gives up being a woman, and you forget that she is for much of the novel except her need to deal with her ‘monthlies.’ Landman is not afraid to be clear about how dangerous it was to be a woman in this time and there are a lot of references to rape. The personal journey that Charlie goes on through the novel is nuanced and human, it takes her a long time to arrive at the natural conclusion that she does. I never felt like we really got to know her soldier friends particularly well, which was a shame. Captain Smith and his family I really liked, and although there was an attempt to flesh out Jonas I found it difficult to see past his cruelty.
What I found disappointing is that I found the point form when she met Jim the most interesting, and that happens right towards the end when things come to an abrupt conclusion. I would rather have read more about their relationship and witnessed it develop. They barely share any conversations, certainly not any we witness. I’d have liked to see them cross their cultural lines and forge their bond. As it is the romance is a little bit ‘instant love’ with little foundation... I still found it believable but when I think about it there wasn’t much substance behind it!
I will also say that the narrative is first person and written in what is supposed to be Charley’s dialect. I found this pretty annoying. In fact I found that my brain just adjusted for it and I was reading it in proper full sentences because I couldn’t take the accent! I get what the effect was meant to be but I’m never a fan of this device.
This is a very worthy nomination but at the end of the day I tend to struggle with historical novels and if the historical setting is American than you’ve killed it for me! Maybe one day I’ll find the exception!
I’ve only got Cuckoo Calling left to read... maybe that will be my 5 star for this year?! Such a disappointing list for me.
Charlotte grew up a slave until the Civil War brought them all so called ‘freedom.’ Left alone in a land dangerous for black people, and even more dangerous for a woman, she finds her best option is to disguise herself as a man and join the US Army. Her life as a soldier takes her right across the country as the army tries to take the problem with the Native Americans.
First of all I really like the idea of exploring the conflict between the pioneers of the new United States from the perspective of a freed slave. Having grown up knowing nothing different Charley begins with the same hostile attitude towards the Indians as the white people have. Over time the horrors and injustices that she witnesses begin to change her mind. She doesn’t ever mention or draw any parallels with the way her own race has been treated, which I did find a little disappointing. The freedom the slaves were given was a false promise, in reality they were abandoned with nowhere to go in a hostile world that still viewed them as nothing better than animals. The life that the Native Americans were promised on the reservations was also a lie.
Charley is a great character. She’s resilient, strong and brave in some truly terrifying situations. When she joins the army she gives up being a woman, and you forget that she is for much of the novel except her need to deal with her ‘monthlies.’ Landman is not afraid to be clear about how dangerous it was to be a woman in this time and there are a lot of references to rape. The personal journey that Charlie goes on through the novel is nuanced and human, it takes her a long time to arrive at the natural conclusion that she does. I never felt like we really got to know her soldier friends particularly well, which was a shame. Captain Smith and his family I really liked, and although there was an attempt to flesh out Jonas I found it difficult to see past his cruelty.
What I found disappointing is that I found the point form when she met Jim the most interesting, and that happens right towards the end when things come to an abrupt conclusion. I would rather have read more about their relationship and witnessed it develop. They barely share any conversations, certainly not any we witness. I’d have liked to see them cross their cultural lines and forge their bond. As it is the romance is a little bit ‘instant love’ with little foundation... I still found it believable but when I think about it there wasn’t much substance behind it!
I will also say that the narrative is first person and written in what is supposed to be Charley’s dialect. I found this pretty annoying. In fact I found that my brain just adjusted for it and I was reading it in proper full sentences because I couldn’t take the accent! I get what the effect was meant to be but I’m never a fan of this device.
This is a very worthy nomination but at the end of the day I tend to struggle with historical novels and if the historical setting is American than you’ve killed it for me! Maybe one day I’ll find the exception!
I’ve only got Cuckoo Calling left to read... maybe that will be my 5 star for this year?! Such a disappointing list for me.
April 8, 2015
This book is the most impressive book I’ve read in such a long time. And as usual with all my five star reviews, this probably will be pathetically short. I’m sorry, I find it hard to write a lengthy positive review without going round in circles. Anyway, to continue:
I have not read anything like ‘Buffalo Soldier’ before. I didn’t know much about the history apart from: Americans want land and they kill Native Americans to get land. Apart from that, I knew zilch. All I knew about the American Civil War was from the film, ‘Cold Mountain’, and all I really remember was Renee Zellweger killing a chicken. (I’m British, ok.) I really want to thank Tanya Landman for teaching me about this, since if I hadn’t read this book, I’d certainly be poorer for it.
Charley, our heroine is an exceptionally well rounded character – she certainly wasn’t stereotypical and she was really interesting and flawed. It seemed that Landman had really taken her time to research the character and the history and this really shone through. You did not just feel you were in mid 19th century American, you knew you were. You did not think you were reading the story of a former slave, lieutenant in the army, you knew you were Charley.
Uhh, and now I’ve reached the point in my review where I deeply regret not writing notes while reading this as now it sounds clichéd. I probably had other things to say about how amazing this book is, but I’ve forgotten. (*sigh*) Just read it.
I have not read anything like ‘Buffalo Soldier’ before. I didn’t know much about the history apart from: Americans want land and they kill Native Americans to get land. Apart from that, I knew zilch. All I knew about the American Civil War was from the film, ‘Cold Mountain’, and all I really remember was Renee Zellweger killing a chicken. (I’m British, ok.) I really want to thank Tanya Landman for teaching me about this, since if I hadn’t read this book, I’d certainly be poorer for it.
Charley, our heroine is an exceptionally well rounded character – she certainly wasn’t stereotypical and she was really interesting and flawed. It seemed that Landman had really taken her time to research the character and the history and this really shone through. You did not just feel you were in mid 19th century American, you knew you were. You did not think you were reading the story of a former slave, lieutenant in the army, you knew you were Charley.
Uhh, and now I’ve reached the point in my review where I deeply regret not writing notes while reading this as now it sounds clichéd. I probably had other things to say about how amazing this book is, but I’ve forgotten. (*sigh*) Just read it.
January 12, 2015
Wow! This is a HUGELY powerful novel (as I've come to expect from Tanya Landman, to be honest!) The story is one that I've never heard told before, of newly "liberated" slaves joining the Civil War and fighting against the Native Americans. It's a strange concept that those who have been oppressed for thier entire lives would join the army and strip the native inhabitants of everything they own.
Tanya's story-telling is so engaging and consuming, I've found it difficult to tear myself away from the text, there are really brutal scenes (completely reallistic and not out of place) that send home how dangerous it was to be not only black at the time but also a girl. It's horrific the things humans do to others and Tanya is always able to illusrate this in way that is accessible to YA readers without having to dwell on the horror too much. She also includes some great "at one with nature" and happier scenes which mean the novel doesnt wallow in the sadness of the plight of the down-trodden.
Overall, a fantastic book. Perhaps not for everyone, but I think if tehy gave it a go they would find loads in it.
Tanya's story-telling is so engaging and consuming, I've found it difficult to tear myself away from the text, there are really brutal scenes (completely reallistic and not out of place) that send home how dangerous it was to be not only black at the time but also a girl. It's horrific the things humans do to others and Tanya is always able to illusrate this in way that is accessible to YA readers without having to dwell on the horror too much. She also includes some great "at one with nature" and happier scenes which mean the novel doesnt wallow in the sadness of the plight of the down-trodden.
Overall, a fantastic book. Perhaps not for everyone, but I think if tehy gave it a go they would find loads in it.
January 18, 2016
Continues a long tradition of the worthy telling someone else's story. Two examples of black history and culture (one from America, one from Ethiopia) in this year's Carnegie short-list. One last year: again America) told by comfortably off white middle-class English women. I thought all that went out with Uncle Tom's Cabin. This one has the nerve to use the name Beecher for central family. Not entirely without merit though has far more faults than virtues.
Shouldn't have been awarded the Carnegie Medal (even though it's a bit of a barren year). Back to the Pierian Spring you judges.
Shouldn't have been awarded the Carnegie Medal (even though it's a bit of a barren year). Back to the Pierian Spring you judges.
July 14, 2015
This book has won this year's Carnegie Award. So I had to read it.It's very well written and is a good book, but personally I didn't enjoy it. If that makes sense. There are so many teenage fiction books out there at the moment that are hard to read, they are raw and emotional this book is one of them.
December 31, 2022
This is such a lovely book to read. I wished that I hadn’t when I finished it. It is a beautiful book about a girl who has lost everyone she loves so she decides to join the army and fight for the rights of the Black People of America. I absolutely adore Buffalo Soldier and definitely think it deserves five stars.
August 14, 2015
Beautiful and sad.
January 4, 2022
Brilliant book, had me gripped from the very first chapter. Charley is a very intriguing main character whether it be as a woman or male.
January 21, 2019
One of my favorite genre of book is historical fiction, which is ironic since I don’t consider history to be an interesting subject in school. I guess it is logical to conclude that I prefer to learn facts from reading this genre of books rather than in the classroom setting. The year has only just begun, yet I already feel that my preference in book genre will not be changing.
Like the previous book that I have read (All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque), Buffalo Soldier is about an individual’s experience during war. To be more specific, this book is about a young black woman who disguises herself as a man to join the army after the American civil war. What I found most interesting about this book was the interactions that the buffalo soldiers--black soldiers-- had with the Native Americans. The goal that each soldier in the army had in mind was a free America; the goal that each buffalo soldier had in the back of their heads was their freedom. Both the buffalo soldiers and the Native Americans had the same goal in mind, yet they were on separate plates made to be served to the white soldiers.
The fact that this book is based on a true story is surprising to me. Tanya Landman, author of Buffalo Soldier, tells us in the author’s notes that while researching about the buffalo soldiers and their contribution in the army she found information about a woman who did disguise herself as a man and joined the army (Landman p.360). Now knowing and understanding the circumstances that faced black people during this time, it occurred to me how it was inevitable it was for black people to join the us army. Even if these people were considered “free” by law, there were many others who still held their racist views close to them. Landman does an excellent job in depicting the mild and extreme segregation of black and white people in her book.
The question of racism is always circling through my head. In present time, my US history class is beginning to cover the subject of the American civil war, and part of me believes that race will be one of the most prominent topics for the next few weeks or so. Race is such a weird concept to me, and the fact that some individuals have feelings of superiority because of race is mind-boggling. Every year I hear the same phase: “It is the year 201*, and racism should still not exist!”, but when will it end? It seems that racist people will always ingrain racism into other people’s systems, and there really isn’t much that can be done about the matter.
I think one of the main reasons that I really enjoyed this book was the fact that the main character was women of color and a recurring topic was segregation and racism. The story of charlotte had multiple turning points that kept me on edge, and every chapter had a lesson to teach--whether it be a historical fact or a general life lesson. I might take the time to research a bit about the buffalo soldiers myself just because their contribution to the army was so interesting to read about.
Like the previous book that I have read (All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque), Buffalo Soldier is about an individual’s experience during war. To be more specific, this book is about a young black woman who disguises herself as a man to join the army after the American civil war. What I found most interesting about this book was the interactions that the buffalo soldiers--black soldiers-- had with the Native Americans. The goal that each soldier in the army had in mind was a free America; the goal that each buffalo soldier had in the back of their heads was their freedom. Both the buffalo soldiers and the Native Americans had the same goal in mind, yet they were on separate plates made to be served to the white soldiers.
The fact that this book is based on a true story is surprising to me. Tanya Landman, author of Buffalo Soldier, tells us in the author’s notes that while researching about the buffalo soldiers and their contribution in the army she found information about a woman who did disguise herself as a man and joined the army (Landman p.360). Now knowing and understanding the circumstances that faced black people during this time, it occurred to me how it was inevitable it was for black people to join the us army. Even if these people were considered “free” by law, there were many others who still held their racist views close to them. Landman does an excellent job in depicting the mild and extreme segregation of black and white people in her book.
The question of racism is always circling through my head. In present time, my US history class is beginning to cover the subject of the American civil war, and part of me believes that race will be one of the most prominent topics for the next few weeks or so. Race is such a weird concept to me, and the fact that some individuals have feelings of superiority because of race is mind-boggling. Every year I hear the same phase: “It is the year 201*, and racism should still not exist!”, but when will it end? It seems that racist people will always ingrain racism into other people’s systems, and there really isn’t much that can be done about the matter.
I think one of the main reasons that I really enjoyed this book was the fact that the main character was women of color and a recurring topic was segregation and racism. The story of charlotte had multiple turning points that kept me on edge, and every chapter had a lesson to teach--whether it be a historical fact or a general life lesson. I might take the time to research a bit about the buffalo soldiers myself just because their contribution to the army was so interesting to read about.
March 25, 2020
No problem giving this book 5 stars. What a great story and strong. I have switched libraries for a year and need to get into the stock of the new one so I can 'talk' the books to students and staff. What better time than 4 weeks government-sanctioned home time to crank through a few titles. So lucky to 'work at home'!
Highly recommended to Y11 to adult (15+ years) - there is a lot of violence between the slaves, native americans and white settlers.
Highly recommended to Y11 to adult (15+ years) - there is a lot of violence between the slaves, native americans and white settlers.
January 22, 2019
"What kind of girl steals the clothes off a dead man's back and runs off to join the army? a desperate one that's who."
"I figured General Sherman must be Moses, Jesus and Joseph all rolled into one. He was gonna lead us to the Promised Land. I was expecting them Yankees to bring us a slice of heaven
But what they bring is more like hell on earth."
"The Indians call them the Buffalo Soldiers. Not those whiteys. Them.
They are the Buffalo Soldiers."
September 12, 2015
This book does not hold back in its realistic portrayal of life for coloured people before, during and after the American Civil War. It makes plain the injustices that existed and the fact that abolishing slavery did not in fact achieve that, but left former slaves with no jobs and nowhere to go. There is also the savage manner in which white men dealt with the Indian population. In fact, if you are white, by the end of this book you are, hopefully, thoroughly ashamed of being so. The narrative is bleak and simply moves Charley from one wretched situation to another at the whim and control of firstly her plantation owner and then the US Army. There are not many lighter moments and they only serve to highlight the harsh reality of life for non-whites in the American west. Charley endures and survives and is an amazingly resilient character.
This is an uncomfortable read, although it is an excellent story. I found it lost a little of its impact and drive about three-quarters of the way through when I felt there was probably one or two army patrols and pursuits of Indians too many. But it recovered itself to finish strongly. Very highly recommended for its originality, characterisation and sense of history all of which are aided and added to by the excellent use of colloquial speech for the narrative.
Assisting Cookie becomes even harder when Mr. Delaney takes a wife, the young, empty-headed Louellen.
Then a new blacksmith, Amos, takes Cookie's eye and they get permission to marry.
The war is brutal; Mr Delaney is hot on the porch of his plantation, which is then raised to the ground and the animals slaughtered. The slaves are freed but have nowhere to go.
After following the army, eventually Cookie, Amos and Charley find their way back to the Delaney plantation.
A trip into town is fatal. Charley upsets the white locals and they come looking for them; Amos is hanged, Cookie is raped and hanged. Charley hides and escapes but realises one of the perpetrators is her childhood nemesis, Jonas Beecher.
with few options, Charley joins the one of the recently formed African American army regiments, convinced she can hide the fact she is a teenage girl.
The scene where they try riding horses for the first time is very funny.
The troop is led by the white officer Captain Smith, who treats his men fairly and with respect. He is pretty much the only white man to do so.
Whenever they travel, the white troops get the decent tents and best ground to set them up on, Company W always has to make do.
They are sent to help fight Indians.
They go into town and are humiliated by the white population, despite wearing their uniforms.
Henry, her friend dies in an Indian attack.
George is killed by a rattler.
Thomas deserts and joins the Indians.
The Indians are told where and how to live and given terrible rations that are full of weevils and such.
Charley loses his horse, Abe, to the Indians then he is killed when white soldiers slaughter the Indians' livestock despite Charley's best efforts to save him.
Reuben deserts.
Charley wins a bet for William Cody and a rifle for herself from him. (Neat little cameo.)
Elijah's family are killed and he burns the wooden figures he has carved for them.
'We'd done what we was told and built a new fort, and the Indians had come in from the wilderness onto the reservation , so they'd done what they was told so we was both behaving real well. But them fine gentlemen in Washington wasn't. Supplies was always late coming and when they did arrive they was the kinda stuff you wouldn't want to feed your hogs let alone your children. I felt shamed every ration day.' p.234
Injustice follows injustice for the Indians.
Charley is attracted to an Indian scout named Jim, who discovers her secret but promises to keep it.
Captain Smith leaves and is replaced by ... Jonas Beecher, who is very much the opposite of Smith and treats his charges with disdain.
Gradually, however, Charley unpicks the reason behind Jonas's hatred for coloured people and makes a discovery about herself and her history.
This doesn't stop her sorting out the problem of Beecher and his brutality: permanently.
Her secret is discovered and she is discharged.
She joins Cody's travelling show and has to wait twenty-seven years for Jim to be freed after all Indian scouts are arrested and imprisoned.
This is an uncomfortable read, although it is an excellent story. I found it lost a little of its impact and drive about three-quarters of the way through when I felt there was probably one or two army patrols and pursuits of Indians too many. But it recovered itself to finish strongly. Very highly recommended for its originality, characterisation and sense of history all of which are aided and added to by the excellent use of colloquial speech for the narrative.
Assisting Cookie becomes even harder when Mr. Delaney takes a wife, the young, empty-headed Louellen.
Then a new blacksmith, Amos, takes Cookie's eye and they get permission to marry.
The war is brutal; Mr Delaney is hot on the porch of his plantation, which is then raised to the ground and the animals slaughtered. The slaves are freed but have nowhere to go.
After following the army, eventually Cookie, Amos and Charley find their way back to the Delaney plantation.
A trip into town is fatal. Charley upsets the white locals and they come looking for them; Amos is hanged, Cookie is raped and hanged. Charley hides and escapes but realises one of the perpetrators is her childhood nemesis, Jonas Beecher.
with few options, Charley joins the one of the recently formed African American army regiments, convinced she can hide the fact she is a teenage girl.
The scene where they try riding horses for the first time is very funny.
The troop is led by the white officer Captain Smith, who treats his men fairly and with respect. He is pretty much the only white man to do so.
Whenever they travel, the white troops get the decent tents and best ground to set them up on, Company W always has to make do.
They are sent to help fight Indians.
They go into town and are humiliated by the white population, despite wearing their uniforms.
Henry, her friend dies in an Indian attack.
George is killed by a rattler.
Thomas deserts and joins the Indians.
The Indians are told where and how to live and given terrible rations that are full of weevils and such.
Charley loses his horse, Abe, to the Indians then he is killed when white soldiers slaughter the Indians' livestock despite Charley's best efforts to save him.
Reuben deserts.
Charley wins a bet for William Cody and a rifle for herself from him. (Neat little cameo.)
Elijah's family are killed and he burns the wooden figures he has carved for them.
'We'd done what we was told and built a new fort, and the Indians had come in from the wilderness onto the reservation , so they'd done what they was told so we was both behaving real well. But them fine gentlemen in Washington wasn't. Supplies was always late coming and when they did arrive they was the kinda stuff you wouldn't want to feed your hogs let alone your children. I felt shamed every ration day.' p.234
Injustice follows injustice for the Indians.
Charley is attracted to an Indian scout named Jim, who discovers her secret but promises to keep it.
Captain Smith leaves and is replaced by ... Jonas Beecher, who is very much the opposite of Smith and treats his charges with disdain.
Gradually, however, Charley unpicks the reason behind Jonas's hatred for coloured people and makes a discovery about herself and her history.
This doesn't stop her sorting out the problem of Beecher and his brutality: permanently.
Her secret is discovered and she is discharged.
She joins Cody's travelling show and has to wait twenty-seven years for Jim to be freed after all Indian scouts are arrested and imprisoned.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 3, 2018
As you probably know, I’m a sucker for historical fiction but I haven’t actually read a accurate historical fiction read in quite a while (The Diviners doesn’t count because unfortunately there wasn’t magic and awesome powered people in 1920’s New York.) I picked this book up mainly on a whim – the cover caught my eye, the premise sounded intriguing and it also seemed to relate quite well to the topic that I was currently studying at school – The American West.
This isn’t the typical read that I would go for: there’s next to no romance and there’s no humour. But that isn’t the point of this book. This book is trying to show a particularly violent and merciless period in history, when the US didn’t really know what it was doing. This isn’t a happy, comfort read; this book is intense and bloody and quite deep and you’re definitely going to have to dedicate some time to get through this. But after reading it, it provides you with a different perspective on this era in history and even though the American Civil War and the years that followed it aren’t exactly my favourite period in history, I still think it is a good read for any history-buff.
At the end of the American Civil War, Charley – a young African-American slave from the deep south – is ostensibly freed. But then her adopted mother is raped and lynched at the hands of a mob and Charley is left alone. In a terrifyingly lawless land, where the colour of a person’s skin can bring violent death, Charley disguises herself as a man and joins the US army. Soon she’s being sent to the prairies to fight a whole new war against the “savage Indians”. Along with trying to stay alive, she’s battling her morals to continue killing innocent people and to keep her identity hidden. Trapped in a world of injustice and inequality, it’s only when Charley is posted to Apache territory that she begins to learn what it is to be truly free.
This story is definitely more plot driven than it is character driven which isn’t necessarily a instant hit with me, but the point of the book isn’t really to have amazingly interesting characters – it’s to show this period of history as it was. I didn’t particularly connect with any of the characters, but I did empathize massively with Charley. She goes through so much development throughout the course of the book (which actually spans several years) and some of the horrors that she goes through are terrifying. As well as giving a black person’s perspective on the American Civil War, it also shows you how women were treated and different people’s opinions of women which is something that I love learning about in history. I don’t know whether the characters in this book really existed or not or are even based off real people, but all the characters in this book serve a purpose in showing a different perspective and background on the events that are happening.
This book is written from Charley’s point of view – almost in a diary format – and the writing style is very reflective of this. It is written as almost a stream of Charley’s consciousness and when you are reading you can almost hear her sat next to you, reading. I’m a stickler for words and grammar – and there were quite a lot of mistakes, but the mistakes were intentional to add depth and warmth to the character of Charley. I understand this, but if you are a English language buff like me, sometimes it was slightly annoying. This book is also quite dense. It’s not in any way overly large – it’s just under 370 pages – but as there is no humour and it’s intense scene after intense scene sometimes your focus can wander or the story just becomes a bit too much. I doubt this is a book that you can read in one sitting – rather in several stints like I did, and it took me about a week to finish it.
Overall, I’d give this book a 4 out of 5 stars for pure historical content. It’s informative and gripping and painfully real, but definitely not a feel-good pick me up. If you’re a lover of historical fiction or the American West, then I’d definitely recommend picking this book up.
This isn’t the typical read that I would go for: there’s next to no romance and there’s no humour. But that isn’t the point of this book. This book is trying to show a particularly violent and merciless period in history, when the US didn’t really know what it was doing. This isn’t a happy, comfort read; this book is intense and bloody and quite deep and you’re definitely going to have to dedicate some time to get through this. But after reading it, it provides you with a different perspective on this era in history and even though the American Civil War and the years that followed it aren’t exactly my favourite period in history, I still think it is a good read for any history-buff.
At the end of the American Civil War, Charley – a young African-American slave from the deep south – is ostensibly freed. But then her adopted mother is raped and lynched at the hands of a mob and Charley is left alone. In a terrifyingly lawless land, where the colour of a person’s skin can bring violent death, Charley disguises herself as a man and joins the US army. Soon she’s being sent to the prairies to fight a whole new war against the “savage Indians”. Along with trying to stay alive, she’s battling her morals to continue killing innocent people and to keep her identity hidden. Trapped in a world of injustice and inequality, it’s only when Charley is posted to Apache territory that she begins to learn what it is to be truly free.
This story is definitely more plot driven than it is character driven which isn’t necessarily a instant hit with me, but the point of the book isn’t really to have amazingly interesting characters – it’s to show this period of history as it was. I didn’t particularly connect with any of the characters, but I did empathize massively with Charley. She goes through so much development throughout the course of the book (which actually spans several years) and some of the horrors that she goes through are terrifying. As well as giving a black person’s perspective on the American Civil War, it also shows you how women were treated and different people’s opinions of women which is something that I love learning about in history. I don’t know whether the characters in this book really existed or not or are even based off real people, but all the characters in this book serve a purpose in showing a different perspective and background on the events that are happening.
This book is written from Charley’s point of view – almost in a diary format – and the writing style is very reflective of this. It is written as almost a stream of Charley’s consciousness and when you are reading you can almost hear her sat next to you, reading. I’m a stickler for words and grammar – and there were quite a lot of mistakes, but the mistakes were intentional to add depth and warmth to the character of Charley. I understand this, but if you are a English language buff like me, sometimes it was slightly annoying. This book is also quite dense. It’s not in any way overly large – it’s just under 370 pages – but as there is no humour and it’s intense scene after intense scene sometimes your focus can wander or the story just becomes a bit too much. I doubt this is a book that you can read in one sitting – rather in several stints like I did, and it took me about a week to finish it.
Overall, I’d give this book a 4 out of 5 stars for pure historical content. It’s informative and gripping and painfully real, but definitely not a feel-good pick me up. If you’re a lover of historical fiction or the American West, then I’d definitely recommend picking this book up.
April 6, 2016
Buffalo Soldier is an eye opening account of the Cavalry Regiment in the Civil war, told through the eyes of soldier Charley.
This is a stunning historical novel, particularly for those who are ignorant about America's civil war. Admittedly, I knew very little about the American civil war, and this book, for the historical information alone, was fantastic (at filling me in, to say the least). However, it is also an interesting read because it reads into the fate of slaves once they've been freed. Many assume that once the slaves were freed, the world was theirs, but as we learn, that was far from the case. As well as that, Landman uncovers some of America's darkest history, making it a challenging, yet worthwhile read.
Charlotte grew up as a slave, facing years of hardship and deprivation, and was mistreated, to say the least, by the family that owned her. Then the war came around and she was 'freed'. Yet freedom turned out to be far from the salvation that she desperately sought out, and as a result, Charlotte spent years after her master's house had been burned down, facing severe hardship and extreme prejudice. It turns out that she was far from free, and after years of insecurity, she finds herself with incredibly limited options. So Charlotte turn to the army, the Cavalry to be precise.
Charlotte, (from this point on called Charley, because she had to pretend to be a man; after all only men were allowed in the army,) and the rest of the soldiers in her regiment, bond through their shared experiences, and they find strength in each other's companionship. I thought that her fellow soldiers had very rich characters, and it was clear that their friendship with Charley was valued highly, so it was slightly bizarre that we were given only basic information about them.
They were the Buffalo Soldiers, the members of the U.S 10th Cavalry Regiment, and yet even in the army, where they were all working towards the same goal, there was still signs of racial tension. This reminds the reader again, that although the slaves are freed, this by no way means that they are respected and treated equally.
Charley is a bold, independent, resilient and intelligent person and I think that her character will appeal to everyone. She is evidently naive, yet after everything she has experience, she is ultimately wiser. The book is written from her point of view and gives us an utterly unique view of the civil war. Notably, the novel is written in Charley's dialect, so it can be quite difficult to adjust to, and I think that whilst others will love this style, because it makes you feel immersed in the character, it can on the other hand be quite off-putting.
I thought it was fascinating to have a direct comparison to the way the pioneers of America were treated and the freed slaves, because often the freed slaves were viewed as lowest in society, and yes, they were treated appallingly, but in comparison to the Native Americans, they were living in luxury. It was also interesting to observe that instead of sympathising with the Native Americans, slaves, or ex-slaves, shared the same opinion as their master/ everyone else. As the book progresses though, we see that Charley's opinion of them changes, as she realises that although so of the pioneers' actions were questionable, they had unfairly been given a label.
Overall, an intriguing novel, and will delight those interested both in historical novels and YA. This book is not recommended for those under 13 because of the human cruelty and violence featured and is also probably not for those who find American history dull!
If you liked this review, you can head over to my blog for more! https://theinkcloud.wordpress.com
Thanks!
This is a stunning historical novel, particularly for those who are ignorant about America's civil war. Admittedly, I knew very little about the American civil war, and this book, for the historical information alone, was fantastic (at filling me in, to say the least). However, it is also an interesting read because it reads into the fate of slaves once they've been freed. Many assume that once the slaves were freed, the world was theirs, but as we learn, that was far from the case. As well as that, Landman uncovers some of America's darkest history, making it a challenging, yet worthwhile read.
Charlotte grew up as a slave, facing years of hardship and deprivation, and was mistreated, to say the least, by the family that owned her. Then the war came around and she was 'freed'. Yet freedom turned out to be far from the salvation that she desperately sought out, and as a result, Charlotte spent years after her master's house had been burned down, facing severe hardship and extreme prejudice. It turns out that she was far from free, and after years of insecurity, she finds herself with incredibly limited options. So Charlotte turn to the army, the Cavalry to be precise.
Charlotte, (from this point on called Charley, because she had to pretend to be a man; after all only men were allowed in the army,) and the rest of the soldiers in her regiment, bond through their shared experiences, and they find strength in each other's companionship. I thought that her fellow soldiers had very rich characters, and it was clear that their friendship with Charley was valued highly, so it was slightly bizarre that we were given only basic information about them.
They were the Buffalo Soldiers, the members of the U.S 10th Cavalry Regiment, and yet even in the army, where they were all working towards the same goal, there was still signs of racial tension. This reminds the reader again, that although the slaves are freed, this by no way means that they are respected and treated equally.
Charley is a bold, independent, resilient and intelligent person and I think that her character will appeal to everyone. She is evidently naive, yet after everything she has experience, she is ultimately wiser. The book is written from her point of view and gives us an utterly unique view of the civil war. Notably, the novel is written in Charley's dialect, so it can be quite difficult to adjust to, and I think that whilst others will love this style, because it makes you feel immersed in the character, it can on the other hand be quite off-putting.
I thought it was fascinating to have a direct comparison to the way the pioneers of America were treated and the freed slaves, because often the freed slaves were viewed as lowest in society, and yes, they were treated appallingly, but in comparison to the Native Americans, they were living in luxury. It was also interesting to observe that instead of sympathising with the Native Americans, slaves, or ex-slaves, shared the same opinion as their master/ everyone else. As the book progresses though, we see that Charley's opinion of them changes, as she realises that although so of the pioneers' actions were questionable, they had unfairly been given a label.
Overall, an intriguing novel, and will delight those interested both in historical novels and YA. This book is not recommended for those under 13 because of the human cruelty and violence featured and is also probably not for those who find American history dull!
If you liked this review, you can head over to my blog for more! https://theinkcloud.wordpress.com
Thanks!
August 30, 2018
It had a good message with an in-depth critique of the human psyche but it was a tad dragging for me. If I’d known so much of the book would spent on her years as a soldier... Not that it isn’t a good story to tell (Charley is based on a real slave woman who joined the army as a man after emancipation) it’s just I thought there would be more to it. Even the romance that bought Charley out of her disguise and grief-hardened psyche in the latter chapters fell flat - there wasn’t much time dedicated to it, this there wasn't an emotional connection for me to her love interest or their relationship. I feel that many have been because of the eternal author’s conundrum: the ability to balance telling and showing. There was a lot of telling in this book, showing not so much. (Like the aforementioned romance, mostly told, the love interest not even appearing until the last third of the book.) I think it’s because of that that I feel it’s lacking. It’s quite a depressing book actually, and if I hadn’t wanted a break for sunshine and roses books in the first place it would have been too depressing for me. Even then I feel like it was; Charley’s lows were very low, and her highs, of which there were few to begin with, didn’t impact me in the same way emotionally. It didn’t help that we the readers were told of those highs, like reeling items off a shopping lists. The lows in contrast, deaths of people near to Charlotte/Charley ect are hard to distance from emotionally. That makes the book rather dark, and it feels like there’s no let-up. A heavy read.
Also she was a character that had things happen to her. For much of the book she doesn’t make things happen (arguably when she should) and it just made me so frustrated. I was looking for something different.
Also she was a character that had things happen to her. For much of the book she doesn’t make things happen (arguably when she should) and it just made me so frustrated. I was looking for something different.
May 4, 2015
Charlotte/Charley
When the Yankees win the war against the Confederates (Southerners) and slaves are declared free, joining the army is a way for Charley to survive after the murder by Jonas Delaney (her plantation master's son) of Cookie, her surrogate mother, who is raped and hanged, and Amos, Cookie's partner, who is hanged while Charley is hiding in a hole in the ground. It gives her an income and it means she can hide the fact that she is female.
Charley feels guilty that she survived and almost everyone else she has cared for is killed.
When simple-minded Henry is killed by Indians (a tomahawk in the head), Charley says the girl she had been is killed. She feels she is a fighter, a man who will do what has to be done to survive.
Charley is an excellent soldier. At the point where she might have given up, when all her soldier-friends are dead (Reuben is the one she hugs and feels something for; he deserts and his head is later found displayed by army soldiers who slaughtered a whole tribe of Indians, Reubens among them), she meets Jim and has a reason to continue.
Freedom is one of the main themes in the novel. It does not mean the same to everyone. To Charley it meant not being kept as a slave, but she quickly realises that as a member of the army she is not free to do as she wishes. Her early years in the army are made bearable only because Captain Smith is a humane and fair man who treats all soldiers as equal. To the Indians, it means the freedom to move around the land and not put down roots in a fixed place; to the Settlers, it means the freedom to claim land as their own and to keep it for themselves.
Ultimately, to say Charley is naïve in her expectations of freedom is unfair given her young age and the limits of her experience. She thinks freedom will be happiness and beauty; and learns that is not happen without a fight.
When General Michaels sends soldiers in to kill the Indians in their camp, Charley understands that there are differences amongst white people, and amongst Indians, and that the fighting is not a clear-cut battle between right and wrong.
Charley and Jim end up being captured by the army. Charley is released and goes on to have Jim's baby while working for the Buffalo Bill show (behind the scenes). Jim is imprisoned for seventeen years after which, he and Charley live together happily.
When the Yankees win the war against the Confederates (Southerners) and slaves are declared free, joining the army is a way for Charley to survive after the murder by Jonas Delaney (her plantation master's son) of Cookie, her surrogate mother, who is raped and hanged, and Amos, Cookie's partner, who is hanged while Charley is hiding in a hole in the ground. It gives her an income and it means she can hide the fact that she is female.
Charley feels guilty that she survived and almost everyone else she has cared for is killed.
When simple-minded Henry is killed by Indians (a tomahawk in the head), Charley says the girl she had been is killed. She feels she is a fighter, a man who will do what has to be done to survive.
Charley is an excellent soldier. At the point where she might have given up, when all her soldier-friends are dead (Reuben is the one she hugs and feels something for; he deserts and his head is later found displayed by army soldiers who slaughtered a whole tribe of Indians, Reubens among them), she meets Jim and has a reason to continue.
Freedom is one of the main themes in the novel. It does not mean the same to everyone. To Charley it meant not being kept as a slave, but she quickly realises that as a member of the army she is not free to do as she wishes. Her early years in the army are made bearable only because Captain Smith is a humane and fair man who treats all soldiers as equal. To the Indians, it means the freedom to move around the land and not put down roots in a fixed place; to the Settlers, it means the freedom to claim land as their own and to keep it for themselves.
Ultimately, to say Charley is naïve in her expectations of freedom is unfair given her young age and the limits of her experience. She thinks freedom will be happiness and beauty; and learns that is not happen without a fight.
When General Michaels sends soldiers in to kill the Indians in their camp, Charley understands that there are differences amongst white people, and amongst Indians, and that the fighting is not a clear-cut battle between right and wrong.
Charley and Jim end up being captured by the army. Charley is released and goes on to have Jim's baby while working for the Buffalo Bill show (behind the scenes). Jim is imprisoned for seventeen years after which, he and Charley live together happily.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 4, 2015
Uncle Tom's Cabin meets Dances with Wolves?
This story twists suddenly from a story of a young girl confused by her sudden 'freedom' as slavery is repealed after a bloody Civil War to a story of a young woman disguised as a male soldier. Charlotte remembers little of her early life but slavery, with violence and hard work the norm. Sticking close to Cookie, she sees War coming by and is caught up in it, surviving any way she can until.. suddenly slavery is over. Officially. Charlotte soon finds that things haven't changed all that much though, and her only way of protecting herself is by turning herself into a boy and joining the army.
As Charley O'Hara she leads a very different life in some ways, and in others, nothing has changed. But now she is caught up in a new war - one of the white man versus the Native, who are refusing to move from their hunting grounds. Slowly, her opinion of these lazy, stupid natives changes and she sees parallels between them and her own subjugated people. But can she stand up against the army, her training, her hard-won freedom and do something to make a difference?
This was powerful stuff. And in two stories as well, for slavery and war both take a share of the novel, both have issues and questions to be discussed. Both will be eye-opening for the young target market. It isn't overly violent for the age group, but there is brutality as you would expect from both scenes of slavery and battle.
And the fact that it's based on a real story of a black teenager enlisting as a boy and fighting... How she copes with her secret is only a small part of the story, it's more about what she experiences and a history lesson for anyone reading. This could be a very useful book for secondary schools looking at the after-effects of the American Civil War, slavery and also how America took land from its native inhabitants.
Charley is such a strong character, a survivor, and also introspective and observant. The story is incredibly sad, one you wish wasn't really a true story of our recent past. But one that it's important for the next generation to learn from.
This has been shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal for 2015, and if it wins, will make a worthy winner.
This story twists suddenly from a story of a young girl confused by her sudden 'freedom' as slavery is repealed after a bloody Civil War to a story of a young woman disguised as a male soldier. Charlotte remembers little of her early life but slavery, with violence and hard work the norm. Sticking close to Cookie, she sees War coming by and is caught up in it, surviving any way she can until.. suddenly slavery is over. Officially. Charlotte soon finds that things haven't changed all that much though, and her only way of protecting herself is by turning herself into a boy and joining the army.
As Charley O'Hara she leads a very different life in some ways, and in others, nothing has changed. But now she is caught up in a new war - one of the white man versus the Native, who are refusing to move from their hunting grounds. Slowly, her opinion of these lazy, stupid natives changes and she sees parallels between them and her own subjugated people. But can she stand up against the army, her training, her hard-won freedom and do something to make a difference?
This was powerful stuff. And in two stories as well, for slavery and war both take a share of the novel, both have issues and questions to be discussed. Both will be eye-opening for the young target market. It isn't overly violent for the age group, but there is brutality as you would expect from both scenes of slavery and battle.
And the fact that it's based on a real story of a black teenager enlisting as a boy and fighting... How she copes with her secret is only a small part of the story, it's more about what she experiences and a history lesson for anyone reading. This could be a very useful book for secondary schools looking at the after-effects of the American Civil War, slavery and also how America took land from its native inhabitants.
Charley is such a strong character, a survivor, and also introspective and observant. The story is incredibly sad, one you wish wasn't really a true story of our recent past. But one that it's important for the next generation to learn from.
This has been shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal for 2015, and if it wins, will make a worthy winner.
Read
March 31, 2017I'd been meaning to read this book for a while, because I've been interested in the Buffalo Soldiers for a couple of years and have read a couple of other books about them. That this won Carnegie 2015 also made me want to read it. Then a friend recommended it as well, and I finally got around to reading it. I'm so glad I did. This is one of the best books, adult or YA, that I've ever read.
It starts in Civil War America. Charlotte is a slave girl living on a southern plantation. She never knew her parents, and is under the loving care of the family cook. Life is hard, racism is pretty much the norm and Charlotte is tormented in particular by the overseers son, Jonas. Then a bunch of Yankee soldiers arrive. Far from being the salvation Charlotte hoped they would be, she winds up homeless and alone. Knowing that travelling alone as a black man is marginally safer than travelling alone as a black woman, she disguises herself as a boy. After wandering alone for a time, she learns that the U.S. Army is recruiting African-American soldiers. Creating the name 'Charley O'Hara' she signs up to the cavalry. Once there, Charley finds friends in the form of fellow recruits Elijah, Isiah, and Henry. She also discovers an unlikely protector in the form of the white officer assigned to her company - Captain Smith. Along with the rest of the company, Charley goes out into the wilderness fighting Indians and defending white settlers. At first, she hates and fears the Indians, because of their savage reputation. But then she begins to wonder whether they are as bad as the white men in Washington make out, and if in fact she isn't more like them than she thinks...
Charley is everything I love in a YA female lead - feisty, smart, independent, yet vulnerable. The historical context is fascinating, well portrayed, and depressing all at once (the blatant racism which is pretty much standard). Landman does a wonderful job of showing the all-pervading nature of racism and it's myriad levels and forms and how it can be both deliberate and obvious and unthinking and insidious.
Anyone with an interest in American history, race relations, or just well written YA or historical fiction should read this book.
It starts in Civil War America. Charlotte is a slave girl living on a southern plantation. She never knew her parents, and is under the loving care of the family cook. Life is hard, racism is pretty much the norm and Charlotte is tormented in particular by the overseers son, Jonas. Then a bunch of Yankee soldiers arrive. Far from being the salvation Charlotte hoped they would be, she winds up homeless and alone. Knowing that travelling alone as a black man is marginally safer than travelling alone as a black woman, she disguises herself as a boy. After wandering alone for a time, she learns that the U.S. Army is recruiting African-American soldiers. Creating the name 'Charley O'Hara' she signs up to the cavalry. Once there, Charley finds friends in the form of fellow recruits Elijah, Isiah, and Henry. She also discovers an unlikely protector in the form of the white officer assigned to her company - Captain Smith. Along with the rest of the company, Charley goes out into the wilderness fighting Indians and defending white settlers. At first, she hates and fears the Indians, because of their savage reputation. But then she begins to wonder whether they are as bad as the white men in Washington make out, and if in fact she isn't more like them than she thinks...
Charley is everything I love in a YA female lead - feisty, smart, independent, yet vulnerable. The historical context is fascinating, well portrayed, and depressing all at once (the blatant racism which is pretty much standard). Landman does a wonderful job of showing the all-pervading nature of racism and it's myriad levels and forms and how it can be both deliberate and obvious and unthinking and insidious.
Anyone with an interest in American history, race relations, or just well written YA or historical fiction should read this book.
April 20, 2015
I love a good historical novel. Historical YA? Count me in. And something with the pedigree to be on the Carnegie shortlist? Yes please.
So, obviously, Buffalo Soldier by Tanya Landman was always going to tick all the right boxes for me. It starts at the onset of the American Civil War. Our heroine, Charlotte, is a teenage kitchen slave, suffering all the arbitrary cruelty and deprivation of life on a plantation. As war breaks out, she experiences the downfall of the south, and discovers that the freedom she longs for brings with it starvation and insecurity. She makes the decision to disguise herself as a man and join the army. Now named Charley, she will be a ‘buffalo soldier’, as the Native American named the black soldiers. The army will pay her, feed her and give her a roof over her head, and, disguised as a man, she will no longer have to worry about the constant sexual threats from men which she is subjected to as a woman alone. What Charlotte doesn’t realise is that her job will involve chasing Native Americans off their tribal lands and enclosing them in reservations, depriving them of the freedom she’s struggling to maintain for herself.
It’s a fascinating book, gripping and surprising, full of horrors and tender moments. The focus is wide, wider than a lot of recent YA; we get not just a single story in a part of Charlotte’s life, but almost her whole life, from childhood to middle age. Possibly those moments when the story moves on several years could have been handled better. There is something about saying ‘they wandered about the countryside for a year or two’ that makes you feel something is missing, in a way that perhaps just moving on and making us aware that that is what has happened would not. It’s a minor quibble, and, really, Tanya Landman could hardly have given us every detail of all those years. The historical scope is huge. It will bring home to you ideas about how the USA has treated its citizens in a way that is more difficult to do in a history text book. And THAT is what I love about historical fiction.
Shortlisted for the Carnegie Prize 2015
So, obviously, Buffalo Soldier by Tanya Landman was always going to tick all the right boxes for me. It starts at the onset of the American Civil War. Our heroine, Charlotte, is a teenage kitchen slave, suffering all the arbitrary cruelty and deprivation of life on a plantation. As war breaks out, she experiences the downfall of the south, and discovers that the freedom she longs for brings with it starvation and insecurity. She makes the decision to disguise herself as a man and join the army. Now named Charley, she will be a ‘buffalo soldier’, as the Native American named the black soldiers. The army will pay her, feed her and give her a roof over her head, and, disguised as a man, she will no longer have to worry about the constant sexual threats from men which she is subjected to as a woman alone. What Charlotte doesn’t realise is that her job will involve chasing Native Americans off their tribal lands and enclosing them in reservations, depriving them of the freedom she’s struggling to maintain for herself.
It’s a fascinating book, gripping and surprising, full of horrors and tender moments. The focus is wide, wider than a lot of recent YA; we get not just a single story in a part of Charlotte’s life, but almost her whole life, from childhood to middle age. Possibly those moments when the story moves on several years could have been handled better. There is something about saying ‘they wandered about the countryside for a year or two’ that makes you feel something is missing, in a way that perhaps just moving on and making us aware that that is what has happened would not. It’s a minor quibble, and, really, Tanya Landman could hardly have given us every detail of all those years. The historical scope is huge. It will bring home to you ideas about how the USA has treated its citizens in a way that is more difficult to do in a history text book. And THAT is what I love about historical fiction.
Shortlisted for the Carnegie Prize 2015
March 5, 2018
Buffalo Soldier is a fictional story based on well-researched facts.
Charlotte, the protagonist, was a young black girl, who grew up enslaved on a plantation - and worked in the cook-house. Having no memory of her mother, she formed an emotional attachment to Cookie, who took Charlotte under her wing and became her mother figure.
When the Civil War ended, Charlotte was ostensibly free. However, the Yankees were on the rampage: looting, killing, setting the Confederates’ properties on fire and trampling over the vegetable plantations. Consequently, the former slaves were left with no roof over their heads, no work and no food.
Their liberation was filled with confusion. Their notion of freedom, and the reality, proved very different. The white people treated them with alarming hostility. Charlotte was to witness a scene so appallingly brutal that it rocked the foundations of her life, leaving her totally alone.
Cognizant that, if she was a man she would avoid being violated by white men- she dressed in men’s clothes – and, under the pseudonym Charley, she joined the army so she could at least have regular meals. From this point onwards the book grabbed my interest.
Charley trained as hard as any man and became a fine soldier. She belonged to company W, who were commissioned to protect the white settlers from the Indians. (It seemed that black men were considered good enough to die for their country, but not to treat as human beings). As the book unfolded, I found myself sympathising with the Indians. I learned that the white man had created their own problems and the marauding Indians were actions of survival and self-preservation.
Charlotte’s character is very real. She’s plucky, courageous and feisty. The propulsive force that drives the book is the fear of her true identity being revealed. When Charlotte encounters her nemesis from the past, it ramps up the excitement, making the powerful story even more compelling ....
I found it interesting that Charlotte’s character was inspired by Cathay Williams, who, dressed as a man, became the first African American woman to enlist and serve in the United States army.
Charlotte, the protagonist, was a young black girl, who grew up enslaved on a plantation - and worked in the cook-house. Having no memory of her mother, she formed an emotional attachment to Cookie, who took Charlotte under her wing and became her mother figure.
When the Civil War ended, Charlotte was ostensibly free. However, the Yankees were on the rampage: looting, killing, setting the Confederates’ properties on fire and trampling over the vegetable plantations. Consequently, the former slaves were left with no roof over their heads, no work and no food.
Their liberation was filled with confusion. Their notion of freedom, and the reality, proved very different. The white people treated them with alarming hostility. Charlotte was to witness a scene so appallingly brutal that it rocked the foundations of her life, leaving her totally alone.
Cognizant that, if she was a man she would avoid being violated by white men- she dressed in men’s clothes – and, under the pseudonym Charley, she joined the army so she could at least have regular meals. From this point onwards the book grabbed my interest.
Charley trained as hard as any man and became a fine soldier. She belonged to company W, who were commissioned to protect the white settlers from the Indians. (It seemed that black men were considered good enough to die for their country, but not to treat as human beings). As the book unfolded, I found myself sympathising with the Indians. I learned that the white man had created their own problems and the marauding Indians were actions of survival and self-preservation.
Charlotte’s character is very real. She’s plucky, courageous and feisty. The propulsive force that drives the book is the fear of her true identity being revealed. When Charlotte encounters her nemesis from the past, it ramps up the excitement, making the powerful story even more compelling ....
I found it interesting that Charlotte’s character was inspired by Cathay Williams, who, dressed as a man, became the first African American woman to enlist and serve in the United States army.
July 30, 2015
A big thanks to Stevie (SableCaught), since I won this book at a giveaway at her youtube channel. Without the giveaway I would probably not have heard of this book, and that would be a loss.
In short the book is about a slave girl in the US who becomes free, disguises herself as a boy, joins the army and gets caught up in the American Indian Wars.
The book touches so many dark parts of US history, the treatment of the former slave population who might have been free on paper but are not accepted by society, the horrible ways the Native Americans were driven from their lands and forced to live in reservations where life is barely possible. The book is truly hart-breaking and full of desperation, almost every person in the book is fighting to make the best of an impossible situation.
The book is written in a very typical style, using colloquial speech. It took some time to get used to, at least for me since English is not my first language, but it really helped draw me into the story and connect with the main character Charlotte/Charley. It also made the racism that accurse a lot throughout the book, given the time it is set in, especially clear. Because you are so close to the character it becomes more than a historical fact and it hits you how terribly normal and expected it was at the time. Something that was impossible to escape because it was everywhere.
What I did miss a bit in the book is dates and clearer mentions of places where things take place. Since the book is so vague about these things it’s hard to see how much is based on real historical events and how much is more of a general re-imagining of events that could have taken place .
The book also starts of a little … I wouldn’t say slow since I was drawn in from the beginning, but it gets much better later on. In the beginning I thought “it’s a good book but I’m not sure why it gets so much love from critics” but the farther I got the better the book got and I read the last 1/3 of the book in one evening because I could not put the book down.
March 7, 2016
This novel tells the gripping story of Charley O'Hara, soldier in the US army at the end of the Civil War. Charley is in fact Charlotte - an ex-slave who has had to dress up as a man and join the army to find employment. Her story is based on the true story of Catherine Williams who enlisted in the army disguised as a man.
If you like action and adventure, this book is for you. Charley's regiment, nicknamed 'Buffalo Soldiers', is sent to find native American Indians and the tales of her exploits will have you hooked. The Indians are attacking settlers who have come to make a home on the wild prairies and it is Charley's job to defend them. She learns to ride a horse, use a pistol, survive harsh winters and put up with the racism of the white soldiers. She also for the first time tastes what it's like to be free, to earn a living, to fall in love...
The descriptions of brutal violence suffered by slaves and those who fought in the wars are not for the faint hearted. However, the book will also open your eyes to a fascinating chapter in US history and inspire you with the amazing story of Charley and the Buffalo Soldiers.
Winner of the Carnegie Medal 2014, I would highly recommend this gripping, thought-provoking, funny and very well written book.
If you like action and adventure, this book is for you. Charley's regiment, nicknamed 'Buffalo Soldiers', is sent to find native American Indians and the tales of her exploits will have you hooked. The Indians are attacking settlers who have come to make a home on the wild prairies and it is Charley's job to defend them. She learns to ride a horse, use a pistol, survive harsh winters and put up with the racism of the white soldiers. She also for the first time tastes what it's like to be free, to earn a living, to fall in love...
The descriptions of brutal violence suffered by slaves and those who fought in the wars are not for the faint hearted. However, the book will also open your eyes to a fascinating chapter in US history and inspire you with the amazing story of Charley and the Buffalo Soldiers.
Winner of the Carnegie Medal 2014, I would highly recommend this gripping, thought-provoking, funny and very well written book.
October 6, 2016
Read this book, read this book, just in case you didn't hear me READ THIS BOOK.
This title is new in SENIOR FICTION.
Last year's CARNEGIE Winner
Told in the first person, a young girl begins her life on a plantation, no idea where she was before then, or who her mother is. No she lives there with Cookie , Mr Delaney, Miss LouEllen and everyone else who works there including the awful Jonas. Then her master dies, Miss LouEllen leaves for her own family, and the world goes mad, its the start of what will become a war. Running for her life she ends up joining the army, her commanding officer however is not like any other white man she has ever met, he treats her with respect, which is not how she has seen white people do in the past. They are off to fight the Indians, which she does, but begins to question why she is fighting them. One by one her friends die out there in the wilderness, her officer gets transferred and she gets a new one, one that isn't anywhere near as nice. Fighting for her life, all the time hiding the fact she's a girl becomes more and more difficult. She wonders what she is fighting for, she's been told that she is fighting for freedom, but what is freedom? What does it mean to be free?
This title is new in SENIOR FICTION.
Last year's CARNEGIE Winner
Told in the first person, a young girl begins her life on a plantation, no idea where she was before then, or who her mother is. No she lives there with Cookie , Mr Delaney, Miss LouEllen and everyone else who works there including the awful Jonas. Then her master dies, Miss LouEllen leaves for her own family, and the world goes mad, its the start of what will become a war. Running for her life she ends up joining the army, her commanding officer however is not like any other white man she has ever met, he treats her with respect, which is not how she has seen white people do in the past. They are off to fight the Indians, which she does, but begins to question why she is fighting them. One by one her friends die out there in the wilderness, her officer gets transferred and she gets a new one, one that isn't anywhere near as nice. Fighting for her life, all the time hiding the fact she's a girl becomes more and more difficult. She wonders what she is fighting for, she's been told that she is fighting for freedom, but what is freedom? What does it mean to be free?
June 25, 2015
Especially for UK readers, this story is quite probably unlike anything they've every read. Set in a part of history that Brits probably only ever hear about if they study history at university, I wonder how much of the award-winning power of this book is because it is telling a never before heard story to many of its readers. Don't get me wrong, it's well written (at least to my UK ears, when it comes to pitching the tone of a 19th century freed slave, with syntax and idiom that sounds right to me - but I'm aware I don't really know if this is true), although there are one or two plot twists which didn't quite work for me (in that I sat up and noticed them as devices to move the story on, rather than it all seeming so perfectly fitted together I just kept turning the pages). It's not afraid of facing up to brutality, and making us question why we as humans do what do sometimes to others. Reading it in the weeks after the shooting in the Charleston church it seemed extremely pertinent. It's a book I'd love for lots of kids to read - opening eyes and hearts to others' situations and histories.
May 31, 2015
I had such high hopes for this book. It starts out great, we meet Charlotte who is a slave in a wealthy land owner's house. You get to experience her life as a slave and the story touches on the politics at the time and what it meant to the former slaves once they're set free. Are they truly free?
Charlotte or Charley as we know her later on in the book is such a strong and powerful character. The hardships she has to go through in life will stick in my head. I love the whole idea of a woman joining the army and pretending to be a man because it would give her a better chance in life, money, food, clothes.
But the second half of this book is just depressing, full of death and sadness. Very well written though and I hated the character of Jonas. He was horrible and crazy. I'm not sure I liked the fact that he turned up in the end, I guess it rounds up Charley's story but it sends so coincidental that he would find himself in the same company if the army as her.
Charlotte or Charley as we know her later on in the book is such a strong and powerful character. The hardships she has to go through in life will stick in my head. I love the whole idea of a woman joining the army and pretending to be a man because it would give her a better chance in life, money, food, clothes.
But the second half of this book is just depressing, full of death and sadness. Very well written though and I hated the character of Jonas. He was horrible and crazy. I'm not sure I liked the fact that he turned up in the end, I guess it rounds up Charley's story but it sends so coincidental that he would find himself in the same company if the army as her.
March 30, 2015
Not sure how any of the Carnegie short list books are supposed to top this. As far as I am concerned this is a work of genius.
It's hard. And brutal. And difficult to get through, but boy oh boy has a book ever been more necessary to read?
We don't get taught much, if anything, about the Indian Wars in America at school. We get told a bunch about the abolishment of slavery, but I doubt it involves any of the information presented in this piece of historical fiction.
The main protagonist in this novel is so real, so alive, that I dare anyone not to love her from the first pages. Charley O'hara is grit and guts and a surviver. Her voice is both naive and wise, and Landman crafts her beautifully from the get-go.
I can't recommend it enough. This is as much an adult novel as it is YA. Never has there been a more perfect example of why YA is groundbreaking and challenging and full of thoughtful, smart readers.
It's hard. And brutal. And difficult to get through, but boy oh boy has a book ever been more necessary to read?
We don't get taught much, if anything, about the Indian Wars in America at school. We get told a bunch about the abolishment of slavery, but I doubt it involves any of the information presented in this piece of historical fiction.
The main protagonist in this novel is so real, so alive, that I dare anyone not to love her from the first pages. Charley O'hara is grit and guts and a surviver. Her voice is both naive and wise, and Landman crafts her beautifully from the get-go.
I can't recommend it enough. This is as much an adult novel as it is YA. Never has there been a more perfect example of why YA is groundbreaking and challenging and full of thoughtful, smart readers.
June 27, 2015
Well... that was an emotional rollercoaster! What a fantastic book! I can now see why this won the Carnegie, (congratulations Tanya Landman).
This is a book with a theme and storyline unlike one I have ever read before. The character of Charley (Charlotte) is so relatable, and the empathy I felt towards her was unreal! This book had me close to tears on many occasions.
The twists and turns of the plot just keep coming. Just when the reader thinks that Landman can't take this story anywhere else, she does, and she does a great job! Her straight to the point descriptions can be at times difficult to read, but this makes the plot even more emotionally testing on the reader, dragging them deeper into the plot.
All in all, this was a fantastic read that was a pleasantly surprising. It's clear to see why this was chosen as the Carnegie winner 2015.
This is a book with a theme and storyline unlike one I have ever read before. The character of Charley (Charlotte) is so relatable, and the empathy I felt towards her was unreal! This book had me close to tears on many occasions.
The twists and turns of the plot just keep coming. Just when the reader thinks that Landman can't take this story anywhere else, she does, and she does a great job! Her straight to the point descriptions can be at times difficult to read, but this makes the plot even more emotionally testing on the reader, dragging them deeper into the plot.
All in all, this was a fantastic read that was a pleasantly surprising. It's clear to see why this was chosen as the Carnegie winner 2015.
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