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Seventh Generation
Life is a mess. Trae lost his mom. He had to move from the reservation to New York City. Now, he’s having visions of burning rivers and a decaying world. What else could go wrong?
After his mother’s death from cancer, Trae and his father moved into the city. It seemed all his father wanted was to get as far away from the reservation as possible, forgetting their life there and the heartache of his wife’s death. Sometimes, it seemed to Trae, his father would like to forget him, too.
Trae had been told by some of his teachers that he was “crazy.” He had never believed them and told himself they just didn’t understand him and were too lazy to get to know him. After coming face to face with Ela, one of the Little People of legend, Trae starts to believe maybe he is as crazy as they had always accused him of being. As Trae’s friendship with Ela grows, his imagination becomes plagued by visions of burning rivers and a decaying world.
Is it an active imagination trying to come to grips with the death of his mother? Madness? Or an ancient prophecy coming to life?
After his mother’s death from cancer, Trae and his father moved into the city. It seemed all his father wanted was to get as far away from the reservation as possible, forgetting their life there and the heartache of his wife’s death. Sometimes, it seemed to Trae, his father would like to forget him, too.
Trae had been told by some of his teachers that he was “crazy.” He had never believed them and told himself they just didn’t understand him and were too lazy to get to know him. After coming face to face with Ela, one of the Little People of legend, Trae starts to believe maybe he is as crazy as they had always accused him of being. As Trae’s friendship with Ela grows, his imagination becomes plagued by visions of burning rivers and a decaying world.
Is it an active imagination trying to come to grips with the death of his mother? Madness? Or an ancient prophecy coming to life?
166 pages, Paperback
First published July 16, 2021
1 person is currently reading
2 people want to read
About the author
Steve Prentice
2 books10 followersSteve Prentice is a social worker, artist, photographer, and the author of Seventh Generation.
Steve’s work with troubled children and youth from diverse backgrounds has given him a sense of the many ways they find to deal with trauma. He has an appreciation for their underlying desire to know that they are okay and that things will work out and can be better. He has seen the impact that family can have and the importance of seeing yourself as connected and part of something bigger. While working with youth and adults, he has seen firsthand the desire to hide from that which is painful. Seventh Generation addresses these concerns through the eyes of a young teenager in a way that is relatable for readers of all ages.
Steve has a Bachelor of Science in Sociology and a Master of Social Work. While pursuing these degrees, he was introduced to Carl Jung, a psychiatrist, and Joseph Campbell, a mythologist. Seventh Generation shows how their work on the power of mythology and symbolism have influenced Steve’s understanding of the world and our desire to find our place within it. They have also taught him that understanding the interconnectedness of the world can help heal trauma.
During his 30 years as a social worker, Steve has worked with children, teens, young adults, adults, and the elderly. This has taught him that regardless of any factors that may seem to divide us, we all have the same need for love and support.
When not writing, Steve enjoys working on art projects, taking photographs of nature or industrial settings, listening to music, or playing video games.
He lives with his wife, their daughter, and the two cats who claim the family as their own.
Steve can be found online at (Instagram), (Twitter), and (Facebook).
Steve’s work with troubled children and youth from diverse backgrounds has given him a sense of the many ways they find to deal with trauma. He has an appreciation for their underlying desire to know that they are okay and that things will work out and can be better. He has seen the impact that family can have and the importance of seeing yourself as connected and part of something bigger. While working with youth and adults, he has seen firsthand the desire to hide from that which is painful. Seventh Generation addresses these concerns through the eyes of a young teenager in a way that is relatable for readers of all ages.
Steve has a Bachelor of Science in Sociology and a Master of Social Work. While pursuing these degrees, he was introduced to Carl Jung, a psychiatrist, and Joseph Campbell, a mythologist. Seventh Generation shows how their work on the power of mythology and symbolism have influenced Steve’s understanding of the world and our desire to find our place within it. They have also taught him that understanding the interconnectedness of the world can help heal trauma.
During his 30 years as a social worker, Steve has worked with children, teens, young adults, adults, and the elderly. This has taught him that regardless of any factors that may seem to divide us, we all have the same need for love and support.
When not writing, Steve enjoys working on art projects, taking photographs of nature or industrial settings, listening to music, or playing video games.
He lives with his wife, their daughter, and the two cats who claim the family as their own.
Steve can be found online at (Instagram), (Twitter), and (Facebook).
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
October 29, 2022
I was so excited to read the story when i got it.
First of all, I respect that the author came up with a story and tried to make it as good as he can with his non writing skills.
The reasons I gave the book 1 start are:
One: i didn’t feel that there was characters arc, each character was all over the place and I didn’t know who is good and who is not and who care and who doesn’t.
Two: the dialogue was not what i wanted to be, it felt as this is the rough draft and it could’ve been rewritten before it was published, I don’t know if the author was rushed to publish or didn’t have editors to help them.
Three: why did you use Native American stories and didn’t connect them to our story?
Four: I didn’t feel the plot, i am sorry if I sound defensive but I feel that the story could have been slower so i can understand each character and it’s own story and feel for them.
The book could’ve been better if the strings were connected and each story was written with depth.
First of all, I respect that the author came up with a story and tried to make it as good as he can with his non writing skills.
The reasons I gave the book 1 start are:
One: i didn’t feel that there was characters arc, each character was all over the place and I didn’t know who is good and who is not and who care and who doesn’t.
Two: the dialogue was not what i wanted to be, it felt as this is the rough draft and it could’ve been rewritten before it was published, I don’t know if the author was rushed to publish or didn’t have editors to help them.
Three: why did you use Native American stories and didn’t connect them to our story?
Four: I didn’t feel the plot, i am sorry if I sound defensive but I feel that the story could have been slower so i can understand each character and it’s own story and feel for them.
The book could’ve been better if the strings were connected and each story was written with depth.
October 29, 2022
I respect any author who puts themselves out there and publishes a book, especially one that is centered around a people’s culture. The legends and stories that were told were interesting. There is something here. A good idea, but a lot of missed opportunity to go more in depth to develop the characters and make us feel connected to the story. I feel like with a good editor and a rewrite, it could be an amazing book.
October 23, 2025
Truly well-written books are a reprieve for me, and this is one of the best!
This book succeeded in being an escape for me of the best kind. Every night I forced myself to only read one chapter, despite always wanting to know what was going to happen next. And, yes, it's full of twists and turns, and I'm making sure that this review doesn't contain any spoilers so that other readers also have the opportunity to enjoy this highly Interesting ride.
I enjoy YA because I work with kids and also because I have a kid in me despite being a middle-aged adult. I love a book like this one that keeps me intrigued but doesn't exhaust my brain - a quality of great YA literature like this book. You will find yourself picturing everything going on in the stories within the big story being told in this book. I could easily see this being made into a great movie.
Towards the beginning of the book Prentice writes: "Dad had gone into his room, but I could still hear him talking. 'I don't know, I try but I can't seem to get through to him. He lives in his own strange little world.' The door swung closed and then all I could hear was mumble, mumble." I not only work with kids who this rings true for in regard to their life experience, but I also relate to it myself. If you also read these words and relate, you will more than love this book.
Early on Prentice writes about the Forever Boy who never wanted to grow up. Yet again this hit home for me. What does it mean to go from young with the opportunity to be wildly angry, creative, and playful to being an adult with an expectation of conducting oneself with control, meeting responsibilities, and contributing to the world constructively? And how while crossing this bridge from young to old do we keep the elements of youth that bring beauty to adulthood? These are the questions I found myself musing on as a I followed the always unexpected twists and turns of this amazing book.
Often children who don't fit in, who are not the honor students, and who come from "broken" homes are cast aside and seen as damaged. This book gives such a child dignity no matter where they are on their journey. I also appreciated the side characters - each of them came to life, and I looked forward to witnessing even their small interactions with Trae. It made me think about how whenever we come into contact with a child we influence them and they us.
This is a book that kept me entertained but also was meaningful and stayed with me. I'm looking forward to reading more from this author, who really knows how to research as well as tap into a character's mind, all the zig zags, confusion, frustration and joy.
This book succeeded in being an escape for me of the best kind. Every night I forced myself to only read one chapter, despite always wanting to know what was going to happen next. And, yes, it's full of twists and turns, and I'm making sure that this review doesn't contain any spoilers so that other readers also have the opportunity to enjoy this highly Interesting ride.
I enjoy YA because I work with kids and also because I have a kid in me despite being a middle-aged adult. I love a book like this one that keeps me intrigued but doesn't exhaust my brain - a quality of great YA literature like this book. You will find yourself picturing everything going on in the stories within the big story being told in this book. I could easily see this being made into a great movie.
Towards the beginning of the book Prentice writes: "Dad had gone into his room, but I could still hear him talking. 'I don't know, I try but I can't seem to get through to him. He lives in his own strange little world.' The door swung closed and then all I could hear was mumble, mumble." I not only work with kids who this rings true for in regard to their life experience, but I also relate to it myself. If you also read these words and relate, you will more than love this book.
Early on Prentice writes about the Forever Boy who never wanted to grow up. Yet again this hit home for me. What does it mean to go from young with the opportunity to be wildly angry, creative, and playful to being an adult with an expectation of conducting oneself with control, meeting responsibilities, and contributing to the world constructively? And how while crossing this bridge from young to old do we keep the elements of youth that bring beauty to adulthood? These are the questions I found myself musing on as a I followed the always unexpected twists and turns of this amazing book.
Often children who don't fit in, who are not the honor students, and who come from "broken" homes are cast aside and seen as damaged. This book gives such a child dignity no matter where they are on their journey. I also appreciated the side characters - each of them came to life, and I looked forward to witnessing even their small interactions with Trae. It made me think about how whenever we come into contact with a child we influence them and they us.
This is a book that kept me entertained but also was meaningful and stayed with me. I'm looking forward to reading more from this author, who really knows how to research as well as tap into a character's mind, all the zig zags, confusion, frustration and joy.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews