What do you think?
Rate this book
Amazing Indian Children
Naya Nuki: Shoshoni Girl Who Ran
After being taken prisoner by an enemy tribe, a Shoshoni girl escapes and makes a thousand-mile journey through the wilderness to find her own people
175 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1983
47 people are currently reading
988 people want to read
About the author
Kenneth Thomasma
29 books61 followersKenneth Thomasma is a professional storyteller and writing workshop leader who lives in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 249 reviews
December 16, 2018
Naya Nuki: Shoshoni Girl Who Ran is the best children's book ever, especially for little girls.
****
But before delving into the review and exploring just why Kenneth Thomasma's Naya Nuki is on of the best books you can give young readers, let's talk some logistics:
If you're buying a copy of Naya Nuki—hey, I sent a signed copy to my kindergarten teacher last year for Christmas—please do it right, especially if this book brought you joy as a kid:
Buy it from the author himself so Amazon and Scholastic don't ding him with some bullshit fee.
The store page on his site is down right now, so I've linked you to his contact page.
Send a message, Thomasma will get back to you right away, and your brand-new, super cheap, (signed, if you request it) copy of the best children's book ever will be on your doorstep just as fast as it would with Amazon.
Now, on with the review.
***
Naya Nuki: Shoshoni Girl Who Ran is the best children's book ever—especially for girls, although boys love it, too. While it's officially recommended for children ages 9 and up, judging from the reviews on goodreads, most of us were introduced to Naya Nuki by our kindergarten teachers.
It was the same for me. On the first day of kindergarten, when my teacher began reading Naya Nuki after recess, the entire class went from exhausted to enrapt. I couldn't possibly wait for the next day of school to find out what happened next, so I begged my parents to get me my own copy of the book, and I read the entire thing before the week was up.
I reread Naya Nuki every year after that—and whenever the book ended up lost in those pre-Internet days, trying to get a new copy was a massive project: none of the bookstores had the title or the author's name on file. It always ended with a frantic call to my former kindergarten teacher, begging her to remind me who wrote Naya Nuki: Shoshoni Girl Who Ran, then getting the bookstore to order it, and waiting for what seemed like forever for it to show up.
I still reread this book ever year—crazy, considering I'm now a few years shy of 40—and I read it with my son and nieces, too.
But pure love for a book, the phenomenon it became in your life, and the sentimental memories of your childhood that it sparks aren't the makings of a great novel—those things just mean you liked it a hell of a lot.
So why my claim that Naya Nuki: Shoshoni Girl Who Ran is the best children's book ever, especially for little girls?
Hell, I've read it enough times. Let me go break it down for you.
Naya Nuki: Shoshoni Girl Who Ran, loosely based on the true story of the 1801 capture of several Shoshoni (including Naya Nuki and her friend Sacagawea) by a hostile tribe, covers Naya Nuki's daring escape and her dangerous solo-trip, on foot, back to her tribe.
You'd think kids would be bored by a book about a little girl walking thousands of miles by herself—and you’d be totally wrong.
Remember, we’re not dealing with contemporaries of the same genre here: this isn’t the overwritten snore-fest of Island of the Blue Dolphins, or the goddamn never-ending tragedy of Julie of the Wolves.
With very little dialogue and zero room for fluff, Naya Nuki is a plot-driven novel that describes everything from nature, danger, life, and death in an equal, matter-of-fact simplicity—and kids love it.
For children—especially 5 and 6 year-old readers going through the "Cowboys and Indians" phase (yeah, probably not P.C. to say - I don't care, don't email me about it), there's nothing not to love about a fast-paced, action-packed adventure story about a Native American girl kidnapped by an enemy tribe, escaping, and dodging all kinds of danger to make it back home. This is a book that holds kids' attention, teaches them Native American history, and makes for some bitchin' playtime at recess.
But as fun as this book may be for young readers, it takes an adult reader to pick up on just how much is going on beneath the surface story. The layers of subtext running rampant throughout the novel are what make this the best children's book ever—again, especially for little girls.
The novel's underlying themes and messaging—independence, endurance, mental and physical strength, pragmatism, determination, courage, et. al.—which center around an 11 year-old female protagonist are what make Naya Nuki the best book for little girls.
The themes in Naya Nuki are no different than those at the very crux of almost every novel written for boys, from Hatchet to The Hardy Boys and everything in between. But in the book targeting boys, those themes reflect heroic ideals of masculinity—they represent societal expectations for men, which are constantly reinforced in books, television, movies, and society.
But what about Naya Nuki, where those traditionally masculine themes and messages are woven into the story of a little girl?
Hell, the kids don’t care. Naya Nuki is the great equalizer like that: all kids love it.
But unlike boys' novels, the same themes in Naya Nuki are outliers—they're an exception to femininity, and not a reflection of society's expectations.
Even so, for little girls—though they may not realize it at the time—the novel’s underlying message is unique, hard to come by in other books, and has a long-lasting, positive impact. It's just enough to provide a solid foundation arming them against a lifetime of Barbie, Bratz dolls, beauty magazines, the Kardashians, and every other twisted message about what it means to be female.
Not convinced?
Let's break down some of these themes.
-Courage:
I mean...Jesus. An 11 year-old girl crossing "nearly half of North Dakota and almost half of Montana" on her own, on foot, in just over a month? (Someone bitchslap me the next time I cry during a trail marathon). Enough said.
-Outsmarting the enemy:
Naya Nuki embodies the idea that if you want something badly enough, you can achieve it.
The girl wants to go home, and she's not screwing around.
From the second she's kidnapped, Naya Nuki is already plotting her escape—and she uses resourcefulness, a strategic mindset, and careful planning to outsmart the enemy and make it happen.
She watches for landmarks, estimates time and distance, memorizes the layout of her captors' camp, and observes the enemy tribe's habits. She quickly earns her captors' trust so they'll never suspect her of stealing food and other supplies essential to her journey.
-Self-reliance:
The whole book is about self-reliance, but the passages that stand out the most are those in which Naya Nuki realizes that she'll be going it alone.
These moments are so profound because, even though she'll be on her own, she remains undeterred: she quickly overcomes any fear of independence, accepts that she can only rely on herself, and emerges more determined than ever:
"Naya Nuki was saddened by Sacajawea's words. Naya Nuki felt lonely and abandoned. [But] if Sacajawea did not want to escape, Naya Nuki would go alone...She could travel swiftly alone...She could find her own food. She could do it alone. She would do it alone if no one else would go."
"She would escape, even if she had to do it alone. As she thought about it, the word alone rang in her mind. It filled her with fear at first. But the more she thought about escaping alone, the more she got used to the idea."
And again, again, and again:
"She would escape even if she had to do it alone."
"She was alone. There would be no one to help her."
"She could only rely on herself."
"Every decision was hers alone."
-Believe in yourself. Ignore the naysayers:
Sigh. I don't care if it's a novel: Sacagawea's attitude in this book is so irritating. Why is she on a coin again?
"For the first time Sacagawea talked about the impossibility of escape. She talked about how far they would have to travel to get back to the mountains. She wondered if they would even be able to get back.... Naya Nuki could see that Sacagawea might not want to escape at all."
“ 'When the right day comes, we shall escape. I know we can do it. We must do it, you and I,' whispered Naya Nuki.
'Escape is impossible now...If we did escape, they would be sure to follow us on horses and death would come to us. Great bears, wolves, or other enemy warriors could find us before we got to the mountains,' answered Sacajawea softly.”
(Oh, for chrissakes).
-Never settle:
Naya Nuki's escape is driven by her desire to see her mother again, and her refusal to settle for anything less—especially not a life of slavery.
So, while Naya Nuki is busy stealing supplies and plotting her escape plan, Sacajawea settles, not once but twice. (Argh!!):
“ 'Now [in captivity] we have plenty of food and are safe from harm,' “Sacajawea comments, the first time she gives up on escape and settles for an ‘unpleasantly comfortable’ situation.
The second is when she excitedly tells Naya Nuki: “ ‘I have been sold to a [white man]. I will do his work, eat his food, and he will give me beads and wonderful things the white man has. He will take me to the big village of the white man called Saint Louis.’ "
Well. Maybe making the best of things is the right idea when you've been kidnapped, enslaved, sold into a non-consensual marriage at the age of 13... Fine. I won't judge.
-Determination:
While Sacajawea is off making the most of her life as a slave, Naya Nuki isn't taking any bullshit:
"Yes, Naya Nuki would plan her escape, and she would carry it out successfully. She would return to those she loved. No enemy, no wild animal, and no hardship could hold her back.... No, nothing would stop Naya Nuki from escaping. She would return home or die trying."
"Somehow she would find her people. She was sure of it now. Nothing would stop her."
-Focus
There are countless times that Naya Nuki has to focus on what's directly in front of her—after all, observing of her surroundings is key to her survival. And of course, her focus on the big picture—getting back home to her people—is unwavering throughout the story.
But what strikes me as particularly important is that Naya Nuki maintains mental focus as well. She remains in the present by staying in control of her mind, quickly stopping any thought that could distract her from her immediate and long-term goals.
"On that fourth night, Naya Nuki really felt alone....if only Sacajawea could have come with her...I must not waste time wishing for what can never be, she thought. I must think only of survival."
"Her great desire to get home must not cause her to take unnecessary chances. She must think clearly."
-Physical strength and mental strength
Similar to above, Naya Nuki's physical strength only increases her mental strength.
"As Naya Nuki ran, she was so busy paying attention to her efforts that she forgot her fears."
"All her senses were needed to help her stay on her feet and keep running. She ran for hours before she even thought of how tired she was getting."
"She forgot her tired, aching muscles and ran on and on into the stormy night."
-Trust your instincts
It's more than spidey-sense. Listening to her gut and trusting her instincts saves Naya Nuki's life on more than one occasion.
-It can be done
This whole book is about a little girl who wants something so badly that she gets it.
Sure, She has to walk a thousand miles, escape grizzly bears, hide from enemy tribes, wait out snowstorms, avoid being trampled by stampeding buffalo—no one said it would be easy—but, against all odds and through sheer force of will, she achieves what she set out to do.
The point is, Naya Nuki wants what everyone else believes is impossible—and she gets it.
Naya Nuki's entire story serves as a reminder that it can be done. It might suck, it might be terrifying—but you can still get there, one step at a time.
****
Um. So. Hi.
This is why I keep saying that Naya Nuki is the best children's book for little girls: this is the messaging that we already inundate little boys with, but it's exactly what we should be teaching girls from the get-go, too.
That author Kenneth Thomasma is able to impart so many valuable lessons through just one character—an 11 year-old Native American girl, no less—is nothing short of incredible.
And the fact that he wrote a novel about female empowerment, through a character who represents the most marginalized and forgotten group in this country?
In 1983?
A good 40 years before "girl power" was a "thing" and feminism became cool again?
JFC.
I mean, really. Is there some reason why this book hasn't been made into a movie?
Every year there's some boring but wildly successful film about a grown man wandering around the wilderness on his own (I'm looking at you, Sean Penn and Leonardo DiCaprio).
Why can't we get the same thing for our kids, with a strong female lead?
I mean, how hard is it?
I get that Disney needs to make back its $8 billion from those little Star Wars and Marvel purchases, but how many more times are they going to subject us to a new spin on the stupid Death Star, or keep saturating theaters with dumb superhero movies?
Hi, Disney? It seems like making movie out of one the best children's books ever written would be win-win—especially when it's the true story of a courageous Native American girl. It might even erase that whole Pocahontas snafu we'd all like to forget.
Whatever. I'm meandering.
Anyway. Screw Pocahontas, Cinderella, and all the princess stories, too.
Just do your daughters, nieces, and other young women in your life a favor, and buy them a copy of Naya Nuki instead.
I know. A positive review from me, about a book I actuallylike love.
Shocking.
You know I only gush for the ones that really deserve it.
And after 30+ years of reading Naya Nuki: Shoshoni Girl Who Ran, this book more than deserves it.
KICKED ASS.
***
And just for the hell of it...
Those long-lasting, positive effects on little girls that I mention above?
I used to think I was born independent and naturally fearless—it never occurred to me to be afraid to move across the country, then across the world multiple times, totally alone.
But now, I don't think I was born with anything at all. Courage, independence, and determination were something I learned...probably at a very young age, and in the pages of a certain book I read in kindergarten...
I also used to think Chris McDougall's Born to Run was the reason I've been distance racing through mountains and forests every summer for the last 8 years.
It makes sense. I didn't try trail racing until I read McDougall's book. But reading Naya Nuki to my son a few years ago had me seeing things differently.
These races begin as a group of several hundred people, but you inevitably end up running for several hours completely alone; races in the middle of nowhere, so remote that you can't quit, because there's nowhere to "quit to" —your only way out is to keep going until you reach the finish line; races where pain, exhaustion, and fear are replaced by an intense focus on staying on your feet; running through rivers and mud, up mountainsides, enduring intense downpours or oppressive heat, ignoring the scratches from poison oak and stings from swarming wasps and bees—where you just keep going no matter what, because there is no room for negative thoughts, and the only thing propelling you forward is your determination, and knowing that you'll make it through; and that indescribable feeling of freedom of running through all of that pain and rough terrain, with only moccasins for shoes... :)
McDougall's book was excellent.
But I no longer think McDougall's book is what led me to spending my summers racing through the wilderness—rather, McDougall's book awoke a dormant desire in me to do so...one that had been there since, oh, if I had to guess...the first day of kindergarten, 1984, right after recess, when the teacher started reading us the story of a little girl who ran... :)
****
But before delving into the review and exploring just why Kenneth Thomasma's Naya Nuki is on of the best books you can give young readers, let's talk some logistics:
If you're buying a copy of Naya Nuki—hey, I sent a signed copy to my kindergarten teacher last year for Christmas—please do it right, especially if this book brought you joy as a kid:
Buy it from the author himself so Amazon and Scholastic don't ding him with some bullshit fee.
The store page on his site is down right now, so I've linked you to his contact page.
Send a message, Thomasma will get back to you right away, and your brand-new, super cheap, (signed, if you request it) copy of the best children's book ever will be on your doorstep just as fast as it would with Amazon.
Now, on with the review.
***
Naya Nuki: Shoshoni Girl Who Ran is the best children's book ever—especially for girls, although boys love it, too. While it's officially recommended for children ages 9 and up, judging from the reviews on goodreads, most of us were introduced to Naya Nuki by our kindergarten teachers.
It was the same for me. On the first day of kindergarten, when my teacher began reading Naya Nuki after recess, the entire class went from exhausted to enrapt. I couldn't possibly wait for the next day of school to find out what happened next, so I begged my parents to get me my own copy of the book, and I read the entire thing before the week was up.
I reread Naya Nuki every year after that—and whenever the book ended up lost in those pre-Internet days, trying to get a new copy was a massive project: none of the bookstores had the title or the author's name on file. It always ended with a frantic call to my former kindergarten teacher, begging her to remind me who wrote Naya Nuki: Shoshoni Girl Who Ran, then getting the bookstore to order it, and waiting for what seemed like forever for it to show up.
I still reread this book ever year—crazy, considering I'm now a few years shy of 40—and I read it with my son and nieces, too.
But pure love for a book, the phenomenon it became in your life, and the sentimental memories of your childhood that it sparks aren't the makings of a great novel—those things just mean you liked it a hell of a lot.
So why my claim that Naya Nuki: Shoshoni Girl Who Ran is the best children's book ever, especially for little girls?
Hell, I've read it enough times. Let me go break it down for you.
Naya Nuki: Shoshoni Girl Who Ran, loosely based on the true story of the 1801 capture of several Shoshoni (including Naya Nuki and her friend Sacagawea) by a hostile tribe, covers Naya Nuki's daring escape and her dangerous solo-trip, on foot, back to her tribe.
You'd think kids would be bored by a book about a little girl walking thousands of miles by herself—and you’d be totally wrong.
Remember, we’re not dealing with contemporaries of the same genre here: this isn’t the overwritten snore-fest of Island of the Blue Dolphins, or the goddamn never-ending tragedy of Julie of the Wolves.
With very little dialogue and zero room for fluff, Naya Nuki is a plot-driven novel that describes everything from nature, danger, life, and death in an equal, matter-of-fact simplicity—and kids love it.
For children—especially 5 and 6 year-old readers going through the "Cowboys and Indians" phase (yeah, probably not P.C. to say - I don't care, don't email me about it), there's nothing not to love about a fast-paced, action-packed adventure story about a Native American girl kidnapped by an enemy tribe, escaping, and dodging all kinds of danger to make it back home. This is a book that holds kids' attention, teaches them Native American history, and makes for some bitchin' playtime at recess.
But as fun as this book may be for young readers, it takes an adult reader to pick up on just how much is going on beneath the surface story. The layers of subtext running rampant throughout the novel are what make this the best children's book ever—again, especially for little girls.
The novel's underlying themes and messaging—independence, endurance, mental and physical strength, pragmatism, determination, courage, et. al.—which center around an 11 year-old female protagonist are what make Naya Nuki the best book for little girls.
The themes in Naya Nuki are no different than those at the very crux of almost every novel written for boys, from Hatchet to The Hardy Boys and everything in between. But in the book targeting boys, those themes reflect heroic ideals of masculinity—they represent societal expectations for men, which are constantly reinforced in books, television, movies, and society.
But what about Naya Nuki, where those traditionally masculine themes and messages are woven into the story of a little girl?
Hell, the kids don’t care. Naya Nuki is the great equalizer like that: all kids love it.
But unlike boys' novels, the same themes in Naya Nuki are outliers—they're an exception to femininity, and not a reflection of society's expectations.
Even so, for little girls—though they may not realize it at the time—the novel’s underlying message is unique, hard to come by in other books, and has a long-lasting, positive impact. It's just enough to provide a solid foundation arming them against a lifetime of Barbie, Bratz dolls, beauty magazines, the Kardashians, and every other twisted message about what it means to be female.
Not convinced?
Let's break down some of these themes.
-Courage:
I mean...Jesus. An 11 year-old girl crossing "nearly half of North Dakota and almost half of Montana" on her own, on foot, in just over a month? (Someone bitchslap me the next time I cry during a trail marathon). Enough said.
-Outsmarting the enemy:
Naya Nuki embodies the idea that if you want something badly enough, you can achieve it.
The girl wants to go home, and she's not screwing around.
From the second she's kidnapped, Naya Nuki is already plotting her escape—and she uses resourcefulness, a strategic mindset, and careful planning to outsmart the enemy and make it happen.
She watches for landmarks, estimates time and distance, memorizes the layout of her captors' camp, and observes the enemy tribe's habits. She quickly earns her captors' trust so they'll never suspect her of stealing food and other supplies essential to her journey.
-Self-reliance:
The whole book is about self-reliance, but the passages that stand out the most are those in which Naya Nuki realizes that she'll be going it alone.
These moments are so profound because, even though she'll be on her own, she remains undeterred: she quickly overcomes any fear of independence, accepts that she can only rely on herself, and emerges more determined than ever:
"Naya Nuki was saddened by Sacajawea's words. Naya Nuki felt lonely and abandoned. [But] if Sacajawea did not want to escape, Naya Nuki would go alone...She could travel swiftly alone...She could find her own food. She could do it alone. She would do it alone if no one else would go."
"She would escape, even if she had to do it alone. As she thought about it, the word alone rang in her mind. It filled her with fear at first. But the more she thought about escaping alone, the more she got used to the idea."
And again, again, and again:
"She would escape even if she had to do it alone."
"She was alone. There would be no one to help her."
"She could only rely on herself."
"Every decision was hers alone."
-Believe in yourself. Ignore the naysayers:
Sigh. I don't care if it's a novel: Sacagawea's attitude in this book is so irritating. Why is she on a coin again?
"For the first time Sacagawea talked about the impossibility of escape. She talked about how far they would have to travel to get back to the mountains. She wondered if they would even be able to get back.... Naya Nuki could see that Sacagawea might not want to escape at all."
“ 'When the right day comes, we shall escape. I know we can do it. We must do it, you and I,' whispered Naya Nuki.
'Escape is impossible now...If we did escape, they would be sure to follow us on horses and death would come to us. Great bears, wolves, or other enemy warriors could find us before we got to the mountains,' answered Sacajawea softly.”
(Oh, for chrissakes).
-Never settle:
Naya Nuki's escape is driven by her desire to see her mother again, and her refusal to settle for anything less—especially not a life of slavery.
So, while Naya Nuki is busy stealing supplies and plotting her escape plan, Sacajawea settles, not once but twice. (Argh!!):
“ 'Now [in captivity] we have plenty of food and are safe from harm,' “Sacajawea comments, the first time she gives up on escape and settles for an ‘unpleasantly comfortable’ situation.
The second is when she excitedly tells Naya Nuki: “ ‘I have been sold to a [white man]. I will do his work, eat his food, and he will give me beads and wonderful things the white man has. He will take me to the big village of the white man called Saint Louis.’ "
Well. Maybe making the best of things is the right idea when you've been kidnapped, enslaved, sold into a non-consensual marriage at the age of 13... Fine. I won't judge.
-Determination:
While Sacajawea is off making the most of her life as a slave, Naya Nuki isn't taking any bullshit:
"Yes, Naya Nuki would plan her escape, and she would carry it out successfully. She would return to those she loved. No enemy, no wild animal, and no hardship could hold her back.... No, nothing would stop Naya Nuki from escaping. She would return home or die trying."
"Somehow she would find her people. She was sure of it now. Nothing would stop her."
-Focus
There are countless times that Naya Nuki has to focus on what's directly in front of her—after all, observing of her surroundings is key to her survival. And of course, her focus on the big picture—getting back home to her people—is unwavering throughout the story.
But what strikes me as particularly important is that Naya Nuki maintains mental focus as well. She remains in the present by staying in control of her mind, quickly stopping any thought that could distract her from her immediate and long-term goals.
"On that fourth night, Naya Nuki really felt alone....if only Sacajawea could have come with her...I must not waste time wishing for what can never be, she thought. I must think only of survival."
"Her great desire to get home must not cause her to take unnecessary chances. She must think clearly."
-Physical strength and mental strength
Similar to above, Naya Nuki's physical strength only increases her mental strength.
"As Naya Nuki ran, she was so busy paying attention to her efforts that she forgot her fears."
"All her senses were needed to help her stay on her feet and keep running. She ran for hours before she even thought of how tired she was getting."
"She forgot her tired, aching muscles and ran on and on into the stormy night."
-Trust your instincts
It's more than spidey-sense. Listening to her gut and trusting her instincts saves Naya Nuki's life on more than one occasion.
-It can be done
This whole book is about a little girl who wants something so badly that she gets it.
Sure, She has to walk a thousand miles, escape grizzly bears, hide from enemy tribes, wait out snowstorms, avoid being trampled by stampeding buffalo—no one said it would be easy—but, against all odds and through sheer force of will, she achieves what she set out to do.
The point is, Naya Nuki wants what everyone else believes is impossible—and she gets it.
Naya Nuki's entire story serves as a reminder that it can be done. It might suck, it might be terrifying—but you can still get there, one step at a time.
****
Um. So. Hi.
This is why I keep saying that Naya Nuki is the best children's book for little girls: this is the messaging that we already inundate little boys with, but it's exactly what we should be teaching girls from the get-go, too.
That author Kenneth Thomasma is able to impart so many valuable lessons through just one character—an 11 year-old Native American girl, no less—is nothing short of incredible.
And the fact that he wrote a novel about female empowerment, through a character who represents the most marginalized and forgotten group in this country?
In 1983?
A good 40 years before "girl power" was a "thing" and feminism became cool again?
JFC.
I mean, really. Is there some reason why this book hasn't been made into a movie?
Every year there's some boring but wildly successful film about a grown man wandering around the wilderness on his own (I'm looking at you, Sean Penn and Leonardo DiCaprio).
Why can't we get the same thing for our kids, with a strong female lead?
I mean, how hard is it?
I get that Disney needs to make back its $8 billion from those little Star Wars and Marvel purchases, but how many more times are they going to subject us to a new spin on the stupid Death Star, or keep saturating theaters with dumb superhero movies?
Hi, Disney? It seems like making movie out of one the best children's books ever written would be win-win—especially when it's the true story of a courageous Native American girl. It might even erase that whole Pocahontas snafu we'd all like to forget.
Whatever. I'm meandering.
Anyway. Screw Pocahontas, Cinderella, and all the princess stories, too.
Just do your daughters, nieces, and other young women in your life a favor, and buy them a copy of Naya Nuki instead.
I know. A positive review from me, about a book I actually
Shocking.
You know I only gush for the ones that really deserve it.
And after 30+ years of reading Naya Nuki: Shoshoni Girl Who Ran, this book more than deserves it.
KICKED ASS.
***
And just for the hell of it...
Those long-lasting, positive effects on little girls that I mention above?
I used to think I was born independent and naturally fearless—it never occurred to me to be afraid to move across the country, then across the world multiple times, totally alone.
But now, I don't think I was born with anything at all. Courage, independence, and determination were something I learned...probably at a very young age, and in the pages of a certain book I read in kindergarten...
I also used to think Chris McDougall's Born to Run was the reason I've been distance racing through mountains and forests every summer for the last 8 years.
It makes sense. I didn't try trail racing until I read McDougall's book. But reading Naya Nuki to my son a few years ago had me seeing things differently.
These races begin as a group of several hundred people, but you inevitably end up running for several hours completely alone; races in the middle of nowhere, so remote that you can't quit, because there's nowhere to "quit to" —your only way out is to keep going until you reach the finish line; races where pain, exhaustion, and fear are replaced by an intense focus on staying on your feet; running through rivers and mud, up mountainsides, enduring intense downpours or oppressive heat, ignoring the scratches from poison oak and stings from swarming wasps and bees—where you just keep going no matter what, because there is no room for negative thoughts, and the only thing propelling you forward is your determination, and knowing that you'll make it through; and that indescribable feeling of freedom of running through all of that pain and rough terrain, with only moccasins for shoes... :)
McDougall's book was excellent.
But I no longer think McDougall's book is what led me to spending my summers racing through the wilderness—rather, McDougall's book awoke a dormant desire in me to do so...one that had been there since, oh, if I had to guess...the first day of kindergarten, 1984, right after recess, when the teacher started reading us the story of a little girl who ran... :)
October 28, 2019
In the fourth grade my elementary school had Kenneth Thomasma come to our school to do a talk on his new book: Naya Nuki. I remember being enthralled by his speech (I was also incredibly into Native Americans at the time) and my sweet mother must've given me money to buy the book that day, because my copy is signed by the author and it says "To Corinne 3/25/87". I bet I read it a half dozen times while in elementary school.
I was digging through my box of old books recently and when I found my copy, I thought my kids would love it. I was absolutely right.
Naya Nuki is a Shoshoni who is captured, along with her friend Sacajawea, and taken a thousand miles from home. When she realizes that she will be a slave and possibly sold to the white men, Naya Nuki decides to escape and somehow rejoin her own people.
Never will you meet a more resourceful 11 year old. When I asked my daughter about this book, she told me she liked it because Naya Nuki was "courageous." I couldn't agree more - she's an excellent example for modern day kids, making her own shoes, killing and skinning animals, creating shelters, knowing what food is safe to eat and escaping from all kinds of danger. It's quite a lesson in Native American abilities and culture, as well as an nearly extinct way of life. My kids ate it up.
The thing is, the writing is really just marginal, which is a shame. If the book was written to engage adults, it probably would've gotten three stars. While the story itself is inspiring, the author is unbelievably repetitive and things dragged on (to me, my kids didn't seem to mind). I feel like Naya Nuki could've been a beautifully illustrated picture book and I would've gotten as much out of it. I think, however, for Thomasma's intended audience, this book can expand kid's horizons and introduce them to an incredibly heroic character from real life.
I was digging through my box of old books recently and when I found my copy, I thought my kids would love it. I was absolutely right.
Naya Nuki is a Shoshoni who is captured, along with her friend Sacajawea, and taken a thousand miles from home. When she realizes that she will be a slave and possibly sold to the white men, Naya Nuki decides to escape and somehow rejoin her own people.
Never will you meet a more resourceful 11 year old. When I asked my daughter about this book, she told me she liked it because Naya Nuki was "courageous." I couldn't agree more - she's an excellent example for modern day kids, making her own shoes, killing and skinning animals, creating shelters, knowing what food is safe to eat and escaping from all kinds of danger. It's quite a lesson in Native American abilities and culture, as well as an nearly extinct way of life. My kids ate it up.
The thing is, the writing is really just marginal, which is a shame. If the book was written to engage adults, it probably would've gotten three stars. While the story itself is inspiring, the author is unbelievably repetitive and things dragged on (to me, my kids didn't seem to mind). I feel like Naya Nuki could've been a beautifully illustrated picture book and I would've gotten as much out of it. I think, however, for Thomasma's intended audience, this book can expand kid's horizons and introduce them to an incredibly heroic character from real life.
September 3, 2022
I had this book packed away and I opened the cover and found my first book review!! I wrote "I got this book on 6-25-93. I am 11 1/2 years old and I read this book in 5 days and it is one of my favorite books. This book took place in some of Yellowstone."
I haven't re-read this book as an adult yet but I have to give it 5 stars based on my review at 11 years old. :) I got this book on one of our vacations to Yellowstone National Park.
I haven't re-read this book as an adult yet but I have to give it 5 stars based on my review at 11 years old. :) I got this book on one of our vacations to Yellowstone National Park.
January 21, 2022
I remember seeing this book as a child and was always fascinated by the cover, but never got around to reading it. As an adult, I was excepting the story to be somewhat mediocre, but I was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed it. There are parts that seem implausible and some outdated terminology, but I enjoyed the survival story and couldn't put it down.
July 25, 2009
My absolute favorite book in 4th grade. I must have checked it out from the library at least fifteen times, and the result of this is that I still remember the plot of the story almost perfectly.
Eleven-year-old Naya Nuki and her friend Sacajawea (10-year-old Madeline: OMG LIKE THE REAL PERSON!) get kidnapped by an enemy tribe and sold into slavery. Naya decides that's not cool, and after her friend gets sold to French traders she starts making plans to blow that popsicle stand and find her tribe again. She steals supplies, hides them, and waits for a stormy night so she can get away without being tracked. Over the course of her journey she kills stuff, evades enemy scouts, escapes a bear attack, cures herself when she gets sick...I could go on. Honestly, there is not one thing this girl does that isn't unbelievably badass.
I sort of worshipped this book as a kid. In case that wasn't clear.
Eleven-year-old Naya Nuki and her friend Sacajawea (10-year-old Madeline: OMG LIKE THE REAL PERSON!) get kidnapped by an enemy tribe and sold into slavery. Naya decides that's not cool, and after her friend gets sold to French traders she starts making plans to blow that popsicle stand and find her tribe again. She steals supplies, hides them, and waits for a stormy night so she can get away without being tracked. Over the course of her journey she kills stuff, evades enemy scouts, escapes a bear attack, cures herself when she gets sick...I could go on. Honestly, there is not one thing this girl does that isn't unbelievably badass.
I sort of worshipped this book as a kid. In case that wasn't clear.
November 2, 2021
I enjoyed this heroic survival tale and probably would have loved it had I read it as a kid.
June 25, 2009
I forgot all about this book! Kenneth Thomasma came to my school in the second grade with a giant buffalo skin. When he asked for volunteers to come get wrapped up in it, somehow I ended up on stage. He gave me an autographed copy for my troubles; wouldn't you know it, but I can't remember what he wrote. Years later, I took it to show & tell at my Catholic middle school (note the emphasis) and someone stole it. Now every time a copy comes my way at work, I check the inside to see if it's mine. No luck yet! but seriously, if you find this book & it says "To Melissa something something" on the flyleaf, it belongs to me.
September 29, 2017
I read this aloud to my daughters as this book had been one of my favorites in fourth grade.
For the information and journey this book get five stars. Detailed survival and planning tactics for how Naya Nuki survived her capture, life as a slave, escape, and return home make this an invaluable book to read aloud to the 8-10 age group.
The writing is not as compelling as I remember it being, but the pace is still pleasant. We read a chapter or two a day over several weeks and it was easy to remember what had happened previously even if we had missed a day or four.
So four stars to bridge the gap between the two ends of my response to the book. The illustrations are suited to the style of the book and the character of Naya Nuki. Beautifully done.
I asked my daughters what they enjoyed the most and was told, “probably how she knew how to make everything she needed when she was eleven.”
“I remember that she told her friend that she might escape and return back to her people and I also remember that she went in a river and she cut herself with a knife (to lance an infected leg).”
A resourceful and successful young role model was why I chose this book, and from the responses, I think it served us well.
For the information and journey this book get five stars. Detailed survival and planning tactics for how Naya Nuki survived her capture, life as a slave, escape, and return home make this an invaluable book to read aloud to the 8-10 age group.
The writing is not as compelling as I remember it being, but the pace is still pleasant. We read a chapter or two a day over several weeks and it was easy to remember what had happened previously even if we had missed a day or four.
So four stars to bridge the gap between the two ends of my response to the book. The illustrations are suited to the style of the book and the character of Naya Nuki. Beautifully done.
I asked my daughters what they enjoyed the most and was told, “probably how she knew how to make everything she needed when she was eleven.”
“I remember that she told her friend that she might escape and return back to her people and I also remember that she went in a river and she cut herself with a knife (to lance an infected leg).”
A resourceful and successful young role model was why I chose this book, and from the responses, I think it served us well.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 31, 2020
All the stars!! This was a companion read for our history unit on Native American tribes. Such a fantastic book! The kids all LOVED it. Even my kiddo that complains about reading time was asking for "one more chapter" each time we read. I love a good book about a strong female character. Naya Nuki definitely delivered. This girl had a lot of grit, smarts, and determination. We loved reading about her adventures. The best part? She was a real person. This story of her brave escape from captivity and 1,000 mile journey to find her people is based on events that actually happened. Can't say enough good things about this book. I look forward to reading it again in a few years when this history unit rolls around again.
September 17, 2019
While this story is based on a true event and girl, the story is created based on what the author believes would have happen to this girl while she was on a trail after her kidnapping and escape. It was really well told and interesting, though I will say, at times the author would say the same sentence in two different ways within the same paragraph or chapter, which was a bit repetitive. I read this to my pre-teen sons who both enjoyed it too.
October 30, 2022
We might ask, in 2022, whether a white man “should” write a children’s book based on a Native American legend, but that is a question for the 2020s, not the 1980s, when this book was written, and anyway Kenneth Thomasma did, and it is not bad. Naya Nuki is a strong character and role model, and Thomasma tells her story with dignity & restraint. I would have recommended the book when I first read it at age 6, and I probably still recommend it today, at age 39.
September 17, 2019
My first novel accurately depicting a native american person. Documenting the struggle of a young girl to escape slavery, it transports you to a time before modernity where white settlers and native tribes clashed for survival.
September 22, 2017
I have a tough time enjoying books that are protagonist against the world. I read this as a kid and loved all his books, and I still liked it. But having only one character leaves a lot of room for stumbling and repeating yourself, which this book suffers from. It also feels like it wasn't long enough and he stuffed pointless paragraphs in here or there. But besides that, it was a fun adventure.
August 17, 2019
Read this old childhood favorite of mine with my 9 year old. We both enjoyed it!
November 14, 2025
My friend who teaches 3rd grade recommended this book for the girls and I to read together. It was fun because it’s different than any book we’ve ever read, and it was so fun to learn about the Shoshone tribe which is pretty close to where we live. We all think Naya Nuki is so very brave and amazing! The book can be a little slow sometimes but it was still worth sharing together.
Also, don’t know if I should be proud or alarmed that my children are pretending to be Naya Nuki and Sacajawea running from the Minnetare tribe. 😳🤷♀️
Also, don’t know if I should be proud or alarmed that my children are pretending to be Naya Nuki and Sacajawea running from the Minnetare tribe. 😳🤷♀️
December 9, 2022
When I was eight I read this book cover to cover over a hundred times, by actual count. I read nothing else for like six months. And you know what? It still slaps
March 21, 2023
This was a good book.
September 30, 2024
A beautiful Native American historical fiction, telling the daring tale of a girl seeking to survive and return to her people from captivity. My girls loved it, and I enjoyed reading it aloud. 4.5 stars
August 14, 2017
This might be the story of the bravest woman ever. Toward the end I started checking google maps to see where she was and found myself in awe of her route. I highly recommend this for anyone who wants to hear how one 11 year old girl found her way back across North Dakota and Montana to her people.
August 23, 2018
I encourage you to read this lengthy review of Kenneth thomasama’s books.
https://americanindiansinchildrenslit...
https://americanindiansinchildrenslit...
December 25, 2025
This was the book that got me into reading!! I love the whole plot and the execution is amazing!! It felt like the monologue inside my head but 10x better! ♥️♥️♥️
September 30, 2008
Even though I read this 20+ years ago, the story is still vivid in my mind. Loved it.
January 12, 2025
Have known about the book for a while. Only recently learned that it was about the Shoshoni tribe during the time of Sacajawea. Since that's what I've been reading, I decided to give this one a try.
It wasn't just Sacajawea that was taken by the Minnetarees in her youth. Another young woman about the same age named Naya Nuki was among those captured. Except Naya Nuki chose to escape from the Minnetaree village in North Dakota and follow the great Missouri River many miles back to her homeland in southwest Montana.
I was most impressed by Naya Nuki's incredible journey! In this book, she braves blinding blizzards sometimes with snowdrifts taller than herself, encounters wild animals like bears and wolves, and ventures through unknown territory perhaps belonging to hostile tribes. If her plan to rejoin her people had failed, she may have been able to take care of herself: Even at such a young age as eleven, presumably from the traditions of her nomadic people, she already knew how to find or make her own food, clothes, and shelter. I thought she might have been able to survive the area's harsh winters alone too, since her month-long trek happened at the start of one, around October or November. I thought it was interesting how she didn't make a fire at all during her trip, to avoid alerting enemies if any were nearby; it sounded like this was not unusual for Shoshonis to do, even eating raw meat during their brief hunting trips when they would come down to the plains from the mountains in which they lived, so they could quickly flee from any danger that might arise.
I think Della Rowland's The Story of Sacajawea, Guide to Lewis and Clark complements this book well. An interesting point from Rowland's book is that Shoshoni people have different names at different times in their lives. Naya Nuki (Shoshoni for Girl Who Ran) was the young woman's name when she returned to her tribe; in contrast, Rowland's book says Sacajawea is the English form of Sakaaka Wiiya, or Bird Woman in the tongue of her captors, the Minnetarees.
The book is written in the style of a travel journal, but in third-person instead of "Today I..." first-person. I don't know how many official resources there'd be for an author writing on this subject to draw from, but this book seems pretty factual anyways. I'd like to read more from Lewis and Clark's notes, because a quote from there is in the epilogue concerning the reunion of Naya Nuki and Sacajawea when the expedition met the Shoshonis. I wondered if another source the book could have used were some of the stories her people told when Naya Nuki's journey became a kind of legend among them.
I had a couple of questions on finishing the book. Was getting the captives back an option for the Shoshonis, especially when Naya Nuki returned with information about where they were being held? I think probably not. There's getting a group together, getting there, then getting the captives (if they were still alive), and then getting back. And I believe the Minnetarees also had firearms when the Shoshoni people did not.
My other question was: Why were the Minnetarees so far away from their camp? If this series has books on that tribe, I'd definitely check it out! Or if the series has an entry about the tribe(s?) that would spook buffalo herds and trick them into stampeding off cliffs. In any case, I would like to try another book from the Amazing Indian Children series.
It wasn't just Sacajawea that was taken by the Minnetarees in her youth. Another young woman about the same age named Naya Nuki was among those captured. Except Naya Nuki chose to escape from the Minnetaree village in North Dakota and follow the great Missouri River many miles back to her homeland in southwest Montana.
I was most impressed by Naya Nuki's incredible journey! In this book, she braves blinding blizzards sometimes with snowdrifts taller than herself, encounters wild animals like bears and wolves, and ventures through unknown territory perhaps belonging to hostile tribes. If her plan to rejoin her people had failed, she may have been able to take care of herself: Even at such a young age as eleven, presumably from the traditions of her nomadic people, she already knew how to find or make her own food, clothes, and shelter. I thought she might have been able to survive the area's harsh winters alone too, since her month-long trek happened at the start of one, around October or November. I thought it was interesting how she didn't make a fire at all during her trip, to avoid alerting enemies if any were nearby; it sounded like this was not unusual for Shoshonis to do, even eating raw meat during their brief hunting trips when they would come down to the plains from the mountains in which they lived, so they could quickly flee from any danger that might arise.
I think Della Rowland's The Story of Sacajawea, Guide to Lewis and Clark complements this book well. An interesting point from Rowland's book is that Shoshoni people have different names at different times in their lives. Naya Nuki (Shoshoni for Girl Who Ran) was the young woman's name when she returned to her tribe; in contrast, Rowland's book says Sacajawea is the English form of Sakaaka Wiiya, or Bird Woman in the tongue of her captors, the Minnetarees.
The book is written in the style of a travel journal, but in third-person instead of "Today I..." first-person. I don't know how many official resources there'd be for an author writing on this subject to draw from, but this book seems pretty factual anyways. I'd like to read more from Lewis and Clark's notes, because a quote from there is in the epilogue concerning the reunion of Naya Nuki and Sacajawea when the expedition met the Shoshonis. I wondered if another source the book could have used were some of the stories her people told when Naya Nuki's journey became a kind of legend among them.
I had a couple of questions on finishing the book. Was getting the captives back an option for the Shoshonis, especially when Naya Nuki returned with information about where they were being held? I think probably not. There's getting a group together, getting there, then getting the captives (if they were still alive), and then getting back. And I believe the Minnetarees also had firearms when the Shoshoni people did not.
My other question was: Why were the Minnetarees so far away from their camp? If this series has books on that tribe, I'd definitely check it out! Or if the series has an entry about the tribe(s?) that would spook buffalo herds and trick them into stampeding off cliffs. In any case, I would like to try another book from the Amazing Indian Children series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Want to read
October 19, 2022Unfortunately, I do not have time to read this the whole way through. I was asked to read it for work to decide if it was appropriate for our gift shop, or at all.
For a book published in 1983 [and reprinted in 2015], Thomasma was doing something revolutionary. To be blunt, the publishing world was controlled by old white guys. The old white guys wanted new white guys to replace them, so only white guys got published. It didn't matter if you had talent. The rules were different if you were a woman, of color, or a woman of color, in that order. I submit the bold claim that Thomasma packaged information in a way that the world (or at least the rich bit of pop culture that votes with money) was ready to find pallettable. For its time, this information is respectful. However, it did not age well. After 40 years, the world changes.
Amazon and AO3 came in and changed the world of publishing at large. Now I'm not a novelty for being AFAB and a published author. That's something to celebrate!
Native Americans are expected to tell their own stories, because we can finally give them a platform, and the world (again, the part with the buying power) is ready!
These books were produced when a Native American author would've faced more hurdles than I did as a broke white kid in 2016.
I've also got a spot bookmared where I found an example of Thomasma's teaching style that I love.
"'I could eat a whole Buffalo liver. I'm so hungry,'
'I'll take the heart and the tongue. We will eat these parts without cooking and cooking takes too long,'"
And then he goes on for about two paragraphs about how Native Americans would gather food, reiterating, that the parts the girls where talking about were tender and one COULD eat them raw.
These books are older than me, but we loved them as little girls. They were very educational, and Thomasma, meant no harm to the people he was writing about. Looking at my memories of them in 2022, I wanna give him credit for not having white main characters. That's a dime novel I've seen cross my desk a million times. I have seen more "white Indian"s and it makes me sick to my stomach. Yes, there were children that were either adopted or kidnapped by native Americans. That's just history. But the story of the white kid, who grew up with the native Americans, then had to reintegrate into the white man's world is tired. Thomasma wasn't writing for white comfort. Thomasma was writing to educate.
For a book published in 1983 [and reprinted in 2015], Thomasma was doing something revolutionary. To be blunt, the publishing world was controlled by old white guys. The old white guys wanted new white guys to replace them, so only white guys got published. It didn't matter if you had talent. The rules were different if you were a woman, of color, or a woman of color, in that order. I submit the bold claim that Thomasma packaged information in a way that the world (or at least the rich bit of pop culture that votes with money) was ready to find pallettable. For its time, this information is respectful. However, it did not age well. After 40 years, the world changes.
Amazon and AO3 came in and changed the world of publishing at large. Now I'm not a novelty for being AFAB and a published author. That's something to celebrate!
Native Americans are expected to tell their own stories, because we can finally give them a platform, and the world (again, the part with the buying power) is ready!
These books were produced when a Native American author would've faced more hurdles than I did as a broke white kid in 2016.
I've also got a spot bookmared where I found an example of Thomasma's teaching style that I love.
"'I could eat a whole Buffalo liver. I'm so hungry,'
'I'll take the heart and the tongue. We will eat these parts without cooking and cooking takes too long,'"
And then he goes on for about two paragraphs about how Native Americans would gather food, reiterating, that the parts the girls where talking about were tender and one COULD eat them raw.
These books are older than me, but we loved them as little girls. They were very educational, and Thomasma, meant no harm to the people he was writing about. Looking at my memories of them in 2022, I wanna give him credit for not having white main characters. That's a dime novel I've seen cross my desk a million times. I have seen more "white Indian"s and it makes me sick to my stomach. Yes, there were children that were either adopted or kidnapped by native Americans. That's just history. But the story of the white kid, who grew up with the native Americans, then had to reintegrate into the white man's world is tired. Thomasma wasn't writing for white comfort. Thomasma was writing to educate.
May 20, 2020
This book is really good! I really like the contrast between struggle and success all throughout the book. Naya Nuki is best friends with Sacajawea. This book is a book about struggle and strength. Naya Nuki is a Shoshoni girl who ran. She was captured along with her best friend Sacajawea by bad indians. They were taken as slaves and had to walk hundreds of miles with little to no rest. While being captured she took note of everywhere she went so that one day when she did escape there would be places she knew she could hide and other places that would surely give her away. After a long month or so she finally has a night where it was stormy so she could escape unnoticed. She had been saving up food and knives and extra shoes so she could survive. On that dark and rainy night she ran. She went through many hard trials including being chased by a bear, almost falling off a cliff and almost getting caught. But in the end she was finally reunited with her beloved Shoshoni tribe. Her name was then changed to Naya Nuki as the girl who ran. No one knows what her name was before but she is now remembered as Naya Nuki, the Shoshoni girl who ran. This book I will have to admit is way under my reading level but it was a very fun book to read a book I had read earlier in my years. This book gives inspiration that even an 11 year old girll can do hard incredible things. This book was thrilling and a book I read in under 30 minutes that I couldn't put down. So good!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 9, 2021
This is less of a review of the book and more of a story of why this book is important to me..
'The story impacted me because the main character was only 11 years old. She was captured by a rival tribe and was forced into survival mode. Remembering the trail she traveled, along the way she planned her escape, waiting the perfect moment.'
I forgot about this book for awhile. The summer I was 15/16 I read this book at our family cabin. I bought this book at the visitors center in Glacier National Park, Montana.
I loved her story so much I remember thinking, if I had a daughter I want to name her a variation of the main characters name, which is Naya Nuki. In my mind I read the name as Nya Nuki.
I told my mother, who was pregnant that summer my plan to name my future daughter Nya. Struggling with choosing a name for my new sibling, I shared my own idea.
After trying out some other ideas, Nya kept coming up as a contender. I agreed to let my parents use the name instead. Now 13 years later, I have a sister named Nya.
This book was a great summer read for YA or adults too. I remember not being able to put it down, it was a quick read.
I believe this author has a series of other indigenous stories to look for.
'The story impacted me because the main character was only 11 years old. She was captured by a rival tribe and was forced into survival mode. Remembering the trail she traveled, along the way she planned her escape, waiting the perfect moment.'
I forgot about this book for awhile. The summer I was 15/16 I read this book at our family cabin. I bought this book at the visitors center in Glacier National Park, Montana.
I loved her story so much I remember thinking, if I had a daughter I want to name her a variation of the main characters name, which is Naya Nuki. In my mind I read the name as Nya Nuki.
I told my mother, who was pregnant that summer my plan to name my future daughter Nya. Struggling with choosing a name for my new sibling, I shared my own idea.
After trying out some other ideas, Nya kept coming up as a contender. I agreed to let my parents use the name instead. Now 13 years later, I have a sister named Nya.
This book was a great summer read for YA or adults too. I remember not being able to put it down, it was a quick read.
I believe this author has a series of other indigenous stories to look for.
November 30, 2022
Like most of the other reviewers, I also read this as a child (in my third-grade class) and I thoroughly enjoyed it. To my delight, I found a copy in a box full of used books my dad brought home from a sale. I immediately reread it and kept the book. Fast forward some years later, my daughter needed to read a historical fiction book for her 4th grade class, so I dug my copy out and we read it together. She loved it and wanted me to keep reading whenever I was about to put it down and asked if she could keep the book when we finished. Afterwards, we discussed more historical details. It was a good experience, and I could tell it made an impact on her. I found I recalled quite a bit of the story and think it is memorable.
As for the writing itself, as an adult I found some of the sentencing to be repetitive and might deduct a star for that. As a child I didn't notice or care. The illustrations are a nice touch. Naya Nuki is likeable and shows good character strength and determination. There's plenty of adventure on her journey home to keep you entertained.
As for the writing itself, as an adult I found some of the sentencing to be repetitive and might deduct a star for that. As a child I didn't notice or care. The illustrations are a nice touch. Naya Nuki is likeable and shows good character strength and determination. There's plenty of adventure on her journey home to keep you entertained.
January 28, 2025
From a brief account from the Lewis & Clark expedition concerning an encounter with a Shoshoni woman, Thomasma has built an engaging and inspiring story that is truly a page turner. I read this book to my kids, and it is appropriate for nearly all ages (the reading level may be a bit below teenagers, but I think adults would even enjoy this small book for themselves). As far as I know, the entire story is conjecture, as neither the title character nor anyone in her tribe left a full written record. No matter. Thomasma frames the story around the facts that Lewis shared, and the essentials are probably accurate enough. Boiled down, there are some basic things that a pre-teen girl is going to need to do to escape from an enemy camp and trek 1,000 miles home. Those things are probably the same that are included in this book (steal a buffalo robe, move by night at first, kill a few animals along the run, flee a bear, etc.). Great story, and it makes one think about the true heroes we know so little about, and the ones we must know nothing about.
December 16, 2019
The story of an eleven-year-old Shoshone girl who was captured in the same raid as Sacajawea but who managed to escape her captors. This book gives us a glimpse of her life before the raid then describes how she and others of her tribe were captured by an enemy tribe and marched 1000 miles into slavery. We get a picture of her life as a slave in North Dakota. Then the rest of the book details her amazing solo journey following the Missouri river through most of Montana back to her home and her people.
This story is rich in detail, both historical and geological. It is a wealth of information when it comes to the practices and traditions of Native Americans. The author's respect for and love of America's native peoples and their culture is obvious. I loved this book when I read years ago, and my ten-year-old son was just as enthralled when I read recently it aloud to him. I highly recommend this book!
This story is rich in detail, both historical and geological. It is a wealth of information when it comes to the practices and traditions of Native Americans. The author's respect for and love of America's native peoples and their culture is obvious. I loved this book when I read years ago, and my ten-year-old son was just as enthralled when I read recently it aloud to him. I highly recommend this book!
February 27, 2020
"As a teacher, Thomasma could easily have accessed books by Luther Standing Bear/Ota K’te, Charles Eastman/Ohiyesa, Gertrude Bonnin/Zitkala Sa and others who wrote of their own lives as Indian children in the Nineteenth Century. Instead, he visited historical sites, read accounts by non-Native scholars, spoke with Native elders “to get the details right,” and added his own “speculations and educated guesses.” Does all of this qualify Thomasma to produce a series of children’s books about Indian children? Does it qualify him to interpret another people’s stories? Does it make his books a way of teaching “all kids what it was like to be an Indian child” or make “Indian children proud of their heritage” and restore “self-respect to them”? Can an outsider enter a community, speak with a few people and then understand enough to be the legitimate voice of its children? "
https://americanindiansinchildrenslit...
https://americanindiansinchildrenslit...
Displaying 1 - 30 of 249 reviews