Legend Days

by Jamake Highwater

Abandoned in the wilderness after smallpox devastates her tribe, eleven-year-old Amana acquires from Grandfather Fox a warrior's courage and a hunter's prowess, gifts that sustain her as she watches the progressive disintegration of her people.

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction

147 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 1984

About the author

Jamake Highwater, born as Jackie Marks, and also known as Jay or J Marks (14 February 1931–June 3, 2001), was an American writer and journalist of eastern European Jewish ancestry.[1] From the late 1960s he claimed to be of Native American ancestry, specifically Cherokee. In that period, he published extensively under the name of Jamake Highwater. One version of his shifting story was that he had been adopted as a child and taken from his Indian home in Montana to grow up in a Greek or Armenian family in Los Angeles, California.

Reviews

[Cassandra Sinclair · Rating 1 out of 5]

I just finally tracked this book down. My second grade teacher (back in the late 80s) read this to my class. I was thoroughly traumatized at the time by the graphic descriptions of smallpox infection. Disappointed to learn that the author was a complete fraud who profited from claiming to be Native American for literally decades, when it turns out he was actually born to Russian immigrant parents and did not have a drop of Cherokee blood in his body. He literally received hundreds of thousands of dollars in grant money that should have gone to actual Native Americn writers.

[South · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredible journey sits us on the shoulder of a rare young woman. A graphic picture of life on the prairies as Native Americans lost territory and the world changed forever. Insight, wisdom and dreams weave the landscape of this girls life. Her lessons are heartbreaking and fiercely visionary, leading towards her own independence and potential.

The author holds deep revelations about these histories and our shared human experience.

I loved this book and wished only one change: more pages.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

different- some really intriguing passages and legends

[Cws]

AI JHig