Indio

by Sherry Garland, Alyssa Bresnahan (Narrated by)

Unabridged audio cassette. Fourteen-year-old Ipa-tah-chi has survived the Apache raid that took her grandmother and big brother. As she tries to resume a normal life, news of pale-faced men wearing hard shells like turtles, and riding giant dogs, reaches her village. This historically-based novel tells of a native girl’s struggle to survive a brutal time of change. Like many of her people, Ipa is captured by raiding Spaniards and taken to the silver mines. There she witnesses the terrible things that happen to her little brother and cousin. Ipa’s story dramatizes the devastation of the native indio people and the birth of the Mexican race in compelling, authentic detail. Acclaimed author Sherry Garland brings a little-known historical era to life in this beautifully written novel. With Alyssa Bresnahan’s expressive narration, listeners will experience all the heart-wrenching anguish and heroism this moving story offers. Indio is on school reading lists across the country.

Genres: Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Indigenous, Middle Grade

Audio Cassette

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

Sherry Garland is the award-winning author of 30 books for children, teens and adults.

Reviews

[Sienna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great historical fict read for maturish readers (14+). The beginning was a little slow and boring, describing the everyday life in Ipa's Native American village. But once the turning point of the story begins with the arrival of the Spaniards, it's much more interesting. I liked how both the "Indios" (natives) and the Spaniards were portrayed in good and bad light. Each society had its flaws and its good qualities. The style of writing is poetic and beautiful as we see the struggles of Ipa's heart as she strives to remember and honor her native culture and people while at the same time immersing herself in and becoming friends with those in the Spanish culture. She is a strong, compassionate, and smart character who has to be very wise with her decisions in different predicaments she finds herself in. The author did a great job at developing the personalities of her characters through the eyes of a sweet young lady. A very well-written story that brings to life a little-known part of the widespread Spanish conquest of Native American lands and peoples.

[Sonia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this when I was very young and it stuck with me until now. Great role model, informative, insightful, and beautifully written.

[Lesr · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5
“Into every life a changing wind must come.”

My heritage is tied up in Spanish/Indigenous history and a “short” story based on how it likely came to be was heart-wrenching. It wasn’t crude or explicit, but real and sad, even while our main character, Ipa, does not lose hope. Almost halfway through the book(page 125), the sensible and naive kindness of Ipa’s people versus the cruelty of those that came to enslave her was so palpable that I couldn’t help but shed deep heartfelt tears. (Also, I just so happen to be sick. So there is that) Inside it felt divisive. (Almost as if one side of my heritage angry at the other - Which half of me should I hate and blame for this?)

However, it is much more complicated than that as different peoples and tribes view their way as best, take what they can get, and rob others of freedom and free-will. Ultimately though, there were real victims in every crime, and monsters made from bitter, desperate circumstances.


For someone looking to know more about this history without the gory explicit details while still getting an idea, this book I highly recommend.
It is a young adult novel.

[Josephine (biblioseph) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't remember---I guess that'll be one for you to figure out. I remember finding it very mature and really fascinating.

Romance, about a girl who is courted by the hero of her Pueblo Indian Tribe. Cute, I'm a bit foggy on the details, but it's pretty heavy on drama. Then again, it was recommended for Middle School readers.

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Read a long time ago. Romantic, pretty interesting from what I remember, but it is a love-story... I don't know how romanticized their relationship is. The contrast of her life and the spaniards...

Whoa, I'm reading the flap and seem to have forgotten a lot. I liked it, but maybe you aught to wait until I re-read!

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book along the lines on Island of the Blue Dolphin. I liked it. I learned more about a culture and time period.

[Kali · Rating 4 out of 5]

I must have read this book over 10 times in my early teens.

[Lali · Rating 3 out of 5]

While this fictionalized story is an interesting historical snapshot, it suffers from stiff dialogue and formal writing style, and very stereotypical characters. I found the most interesting part of the story to be the last quarter of the book when we see how the effects of Spanish Colonialism forever change the cultures and heritage of the indigenous peoples of Mexico and the American Southwest.

[April · Rating 3 out of 5]

1500s Native American girl survivor of an Apachee raid only to be captive by the Spanish conquistadors to the deadly work in the silver mines as she plans her escape.

[Julia W · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has haunted me since I was a kid. That’s how you know it’s good.