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Starfish: A Novel
Lionel barely remembers the old days, before he and his sister, Beatrice, came to the boarding school on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation. His life is peaceful, as long as he follows the rules. So he can't understand why Beatrice won' why she refuses to cut her hair and insists on honoring the Blackfeet traditions. When the appearance of a frozen corpse triggers an irreversible chain of events, the siblings find themselves on a stolen horse fleeing for their lives. Somewhere in the mountains lies their grandfather's homestead -- if only they can survive long enough to find him . . . Suspenseful and beautifully-written, this novel takes readers on an unforgettable journey through the wilderness of Montana in the early 1900s.
227 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 20, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
January 29, 2022
Orphaned at a young age, nine-year-old Lionel and his older sister Beatrice have lived at the Chalk Bluff boarding school on the Blackfeet Indian reservation for six years. Beatrice defiantly holds on to the traditions of her people, which causes growing tensions between her, the priests, and the officers who live in the nearby military outpost. When Beatrice is finally pushed to the brink, she steals the captain’s prized horse and escapes with Lionel into the wilderness in search of their grandfather. Grandfather will know how to help them, but first they must survive the harshness of the Montana winter.
James Crowley’s Starfish is packed with action and adventure and provides readers with a powerful female protagonist who is fearless, principled, and wise beyond her twelve years. The writing is detailed and the chapters are short, which add to the tale’s rapid and charged pace. Readers share in Beatrice and Lionel’s struggle to survive the elements and hunger; cheer their ability to outrun and outwit bounty hunters (they are understandably considered horse thieves); and support their loyalty to their customs and beliefs. Crowley creates a suspenseful story through wonderful storytelling that is a love letter to nature and Native American culture. Although the novel is littered with mild profanity (it’s nothing that younger audiences wouldn’t hear in a standard Marvel movie) and contains a few instances of violence, these shouldn’t discourage the targeted age range of 8-12 from reading it.
I loved the insights into Blackfeet tradition and I’m a total pushover for stories that highlight strong sibling relationships; however, the only thing that held back a five-star rating was the ending. It felt abrupt and awkward and didn’t match the same feel and flow of the rest of the book. I am not one that demands a happy ending in order to fully enjoy a story, but I do need an ending that is thoughtful and provides adequate closure. Because Crowley spent so much time and care giving readers such a well-developed story, it felt as if he ran out of steam at the end.
I find that with nearly every book, the last few pages will either make or break a story for me and in this case, those last pages of Starfish just felt incomplete and hollow. Unlike the ravens and eagle that soared high in the Montana sky, this story doesn’t reach the heights that I hoped it would, but it still manages to lift the spirits and take us on an unforgettable journey.
James Crowley’s Starfish is packed with action and adventure and provides readers with a powerful female protagonist who is fearless, principled, and wise beyond her twelve years. The writing is detailed and the chapters are short, which add to the tale’s rapid and charged pace. Readers share in Beatrice and Lionel’s struggle to survive the elements and hunger; cheer their ability to outrun and outwit bounty hunters (they are understandably considered horse thieves); and support their loyalty to their customs and beliefs. Crowley creates a suspenseful story through wonderful storytelling that is a love letter to nature and Native American culture. Although the novel is littered with mild profanity (it’s nothing that younger audiences wouldn’t hear in a standard Marvel movie) and contains a few instances of violence, these shouldn’t discourage the targeted age range of 8-12 from reading it.
I loved the insights into Blackfeet tradition and I’m a total pushover for stories that highlight strong sibling relationships; however, the only thing that held back a five-star rating was the ending. It felt abrupt and awkward and didn’t match the same feel and flow of the rest of the book. I am not one that demands a happy ending in order to fully enjoy a story, but I do need an ending that is thoughtful and provides adequate closure. Because Crowley spent so much time and care giving readers such a well-developed story, it felt as if he ran out of steam at the end.
I find that with nearly every book, the last few pages will either make or break a story for me and in this case, those last pages of Starfish just felt incomplete and hollow. Unlike the ravens and eagle that soared high in the Montana sky, this story doesn’t reach the heights that I hoped it would, but it still manages to lift the spirits and take us on an unforgettable journey.
September 19, 2012
I'd be generous if I gave this book two stars. Let me put it plain and simple for you...this book was extremely boring.
That's all you really need to know but I feel like a need to give a more detailed review. Like I said this book is boring, it really had potential to be good, two Native American children on their own for the first time, on the run from the government, living off the land. But really it was boring. There was no plot, because there was no problem. They ran away from their government school and then they were posed with the problem of "Now what? How will we survive and find shelter?" But wait, you may say, didn't you just say this book didn't have a problem? Why yes, indeed I did, and I will now clarify. The problem of "Now what?" lasted for no more than a few chapters. After a few chapters they found were their grandfather lived and the three of them went off to live in the forest. Honestly, the story could have ended there, but Crowley felt the need to drag it out and continue the story with no plot. The majority of the book was what they did in their everyday life, if that is what I wanted I could have read someones journal. Occasionally a new friend would turn up, but it would do little to create interest.
That brings me to my next point, friends they meet in the forest, one group in particular. One night the two children left there shelter in the woods only to discover another band of children who ran away from school temporarily to celebrate some sort of Native american holiday, I just forget what it was. Long story short this party included alcohol in the possession of children. Not teenagers, but children, all had to be under the age of at least 12. These kids drank to such an excess that they passed out drunk and had hangovers the next day. This book is written for children and published by Disney Hyperion. Well done Disney, the symbol of innocence and childhood, for publishing a book with drunk children.
Another thing that made this book almost unbearable to read was the narrator, Lionel. He was the younger one of the two children who escaped from the boarding school. He was hopelessly dependent upon his older sister, Beatrice, and I mean like she was his master and she was his whole life. It almost seemed like he wasn't able to function with out her. He would always wonder what she would do, and only do it if he was told to. And he also seemed to have a creepy was of knowing what she was thinking at some points. Take for example this excerpt:
"'He used to steal things too,' Barney said...Lionel noticed that Beatrice didn't like the way Barney emphasized the word steal."
How the eff would Lionel know that. Maybe he saw a look on Beatrice's face that maybe told she didn't like what Barney said and could just maybe make a guess that it had something to do with the word "steal". But there is no possible way he could know that for sure. Or maybe Lionel is a psychopath and he himself didn't like the way Barney said "steal", but since Lionel is so attached to Beatrice, he reasoned that if he didn't like the use of the word "steal" it must only be because Beatrice sent him some silent telepathic message telling she didn't like it.
Anyways on top of all this plot and character nonsense, I have read some things about this book not being historically accurate or true to Native American customs. I don't know if this is true or not because I'm not an expert o the subject, but if it does happen to be true, that alone should be enough to give this book one star.
This is probably the longest review I have written and if you made it to the end I thank you.
That's all you really need to know but I feel like a need to give a more detailed review. Like I said this book is boring, it really had potential to be good, two Native American children on their own for the first time, on the run from the government, living off the land. But really it was boring. There was no plot, because there was no problem. They ran away from their government school and then they were posed with the problem of "Now what? How will we survive and find shelter?" But wait, you may say, didn't you just say this book didn't have a problem? Why yes, indeed I did, and I will now clarify. The problem of "Now what?" lasted for no more than a few chapters. After a few chapters they found were their grandfather lived and the three of them went off to live in the forest. Honestly, the story could have ended there, but Crowley felt the need to drag it out and continue the story with no plot. The majority of the book was what they did in their everyday life, if that is what I wanted I could have read someones journal. Occasionally a new friend would turn up, but it would do little to create interest.
That brings me to my next point, friends they meet in the forest, one group in particular. One night the two children left there shelter in the woods only to discover another band of children who ran away from school temporarily to celebrate some sort of Native american holiday, I just forget what it was. Long story short this party included alcohol in the possession of children. Not teenagers, but children, all had to be under the age of at least 12. These kids drank to such an excess that they passed out drunk and had hangovers the next day. This book is written for children and published by Disney Hyperion. Well done Disney, the symbol of innocence and childhood, for publishing a book with drunk children.
Another thing that made this book almost unbearable to read was the narrator, Lionel. He was the younger one of the two children who escaped from the boarding school. He was hopelessly dependent upon his older sister, Beatrice, and I mean like she was his master and she was his whole life. It almost seemed like he wasn't able to function with out her. He would always wonder what she would do, and only do it if he was told to. And he also seemed to have a creepy was of knowing what she was thinking at some points. Take for example this excerpt:
"'He used to steal things too,' Barney said...Lionel noticed that Beatrice didn't like the way Barney emphasized the word steal."
How the eff would Lionel know that. Maybe he saw a look on Beatrice's face that maybe told she didn't like what Barney said and could just maybe make a guess that it had something to do with the word "steal". But there is no possible way he could know that for sure. Or maybe Lionel is a psychopath and he himself didn't like the way Barney said "steal", but since Lionel is so attached to Beatrice, he reasoned that if he didn't like the use of the word "steal" it must only be because Beatrice sent him some silent telepathic message telling she didn't like it.
Anyways on top of all this plot and character nonsense, I have read some things about this book not being historically accurate or true to Native American customs. I don't know if this is true or not because I'm not an expert o the subject, but if it does happen to be true, that alone should be enough to give this book one star.
This is probably the longest review I have written and if you made it to the end I thank you.
September 26, 2010
This is one of those books that I want to give a no-star rating to because it is so flawed!
It opens with a drunk Indian man who freezes to death in an unlikely physical position. I doubt most readers would pause at that, because in that position, the corpse holds out a bear claw necklace... And in holding out that necklace, the book is framed in that mystical-Indian-story that way too many Americans like to read...
There's a lot wrong with the book. I've given it a close read, and make extensive notes that I'm sharing with you (readers). It's all on my site, American Indians in Children's Literature. Go here: http://t.co/sKhClGD
It opens with a drunk Indian man who freezes to death in an unlikely physical position. I doubt most readers would pause at that, because in that position, the corpse holds out a bear claw necklace... And in holding out that necklace, the book is framed in that mystical-Indian-story that way too many Americans like to read...
There's a lot wrong with the book. I've given it a close read, and make extensive notes that I'm sharing with you (readers). It's all on my site, American Indians in Children's Literature. Go here: http://t.co/sKhClGD
December 1, 2016
This was one of those books I had an immediate connection to when I saw it in the store, even without reading the synopsis. I was surprised to see that it's ratings aren't the greatest. Many people said it's historically inaccurate. Maybe I am unlearned in the area of native Americans and that's why I didn't notice those particular flaws. I absolutely loved this book. I fell in love with the characters and their story and sympathized with their cruel situation. This book has a great lesson and deep meaning to it and I'm so glad I picked it up. This one will stay dear to my heart.
February 4, 2011
Reviewing this book is a tricky task. The novel reads well and is very engaging. It is best directed toward the tween audience. The problem lies in the fact that the Blackfoot traditions don't appear to be accurately portrayed. So, I am not sure how to rate the book.
I am not a Blackfoot Indian, and my tribe is very different from theirs, so I won't speak directly toward traditions. But, we can start with the name of the tribe. One of my friends is 100% Blackfoot (and grew up on the reservation), and he has made it very clear to me that white people call them Blackfeet (and the official tribal name, denoted by white people, is Blackfeet), but the correct name is Blackfoot. Basically, the name came from the black moccasins they used to wear, and white people pluralized it to Blackfeet. So the book started off a bit shaky for me. There are other issues that I have, particularly that it would be really odd for a person to freeze in the position that the corpse is in. The drunken Indian stereotype is also annoying and overdone in literature.
It is always tricky when a white person decides to write from the perspective of an Indian because there is no way he/she can understand the traditions of a tribe, even if he/she visits the reservation. I have a feeling that many Blackfoot Indians would take offense to this book.
I am not a Blackfoot Indian, and my tribe is very different from theirs, so I won't speak directly toward traditions. But, we can start with the name of the tribe. One of my friends is 100% Blackfoot (and grew up on the reservation), and he has made it very clear to me that white people call them Blackfeet (and the official tribal name, denoted by white people, is Blackfeet), but the correct name is Blackfoot. Basically, the name came from the black moccasins they used to wear, and white people pluralized it to Blackfeet. So the book started off a bit shaky for me. There are other issues that I have, particularly that it would be really odd for a person to freeze in the position that the corpse is in. The drunken Indian stereotype is also annoying and overdone in literature.
It is always tricky when a white person decides to write from the perspective of an Indian because there is no way he/she can understand the traditions of a tribe, even if he/she visits the reservation. I have a feeling that many Blackfoot Indians would take offense to this book.
February 1, 2020
*edit* I later discovered that this book was written by a white man. 🙄 Don't even bother and don't get me started. There are plenty of other Own Voices portrayals of residential school worth reading, and read them you should.
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This book holds so much potential but is hella hella flawed. I would not recommend this book to anyone who doesn’t already have a clear understanding of residential schools and the role they played in First Nations genocide, lest they get the wrong idea.
For those who do: the story still holds valuable insights reflecting on self discovery via culture and tradition. It does fall short in many areas still— it’s not a story that can be simplified, despite the author’s clear efforts to do so.
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This book holds so much potential but is hella hella flawed. I would not recommend this book to anyone who doesn’t already have a clear understanding of residential schools and the role they played in First Nations genocide, lest they get the wrong idea.
For those who do: the story still holds valuable insights reflecting on self discovery via culture and tradition. It does fall short in many areas still— it’s not a story that can be simplified, despite the author’s clear efforts to do so.
September 5, 2018
This book bothered me -- a lot. First, I'm pretty sure the tribe is called "Blackfoot"; I have never heard or seen the tribe referred to as "Blackfeet". Second, this book romanticizes both the tribe and the soldiers far too much.
Usually, when I don't especially like a book, I will give it two stars. I reserve my one-star ratings for the books that I think desseminate dangerously inaccurate information. Please don't accept any of this book as being close to historically accurate.
Usually, when I don't especially like a book, I will give it two stars. I reserve my one-star ratings for the books that I think desseminate dangerously inaccurate information. Please don't accept any of this book as being close to historically accurate.
February 9, 2018
Amazing! I loved how many details it provided you. Even though the book left some gaps in places, they were easy to fill in. Overall, this book is a different cultural learning experience and has a legitimate, thoughtful, story.
October 29, 2024
I happened upon an ARC copy of this in my neighborhood little free library and devoured it in a single day. Great story about a boy and his sister in a residential school for Natives who escape and flee, trying to find their family again. Introduces readers to the Blackfeet tribe and to life in the woods on the mountain. The main character wonders about many things and grows up over the year they are traveling. There is some violence but nothing your average 9-10 year old cannot handle.
I liked it very much and am eager to find a pbulisghed copy with artwork inside.
SPOILER ALERT
trigger warning: someone special dies in this book.
I liked it very much and am eager to find a pbulisghed copy with artwork inside.
SPOILER ALERT
trigger warning: someone special dies in this book.
August 16, 2017
A wonderful story of the struggles of two young Native Americans as they trek through the ups and downs of adventure, a fantastic book for young adults, I will be on the lookout for more of James Crowley's work!
December 12, 2017
This children's book is an interesting story which explores the lives to two Blackfoot Indian children who run away from the boarding school where they are forced to give up their traditions and assimilate into white culture. The ending was most disappointing.
October 5, 2020
Entertaining children's tale that doesn't glamourise the era or cover up the way the indigenous people were treated.
September 5, 2023
Such a good book. I couldn't put this one down. I want my daughter to read this, perfect book for middle school or high school reading project.
September 9, 2024
Seemed problematic for many reasons while I was reading. Makes me wonder what/whose recommendation I took years ago when I ordered it.... Will not be adding to my classroom library.
February 26, 2025
Really moving book!
September 19, 2014
Orphaned Blackfeet Indian siblings Lionel and Beatrice are on the run, forced to leave their oppressive boarding school behind after an unfortunate turn of events. With only a stolen horse and their very basic knowledge of survival skills, the children ride straight into the cold Montana wilderness to escape the men who are after them.
Proud defiant Beatrice can move through the trees like a silent shadow, protecting her little brother as best as she can as they make the trek to their grandfather’s settlement. Her bravery doesn’t change the fact that she and Lionel, as Native Americans and horse thieves, are persons non grata in the 20th century world that they ran from. Friends and enemies crop up in equal amounts as they make their way.
Seasons change and Lionel’s hair soon grows long enough to braid in the old tradition of his people. Reunited all-too-briefly with their grandfather, the children are on their own for long periods, trying to find happiness and fellowship wherever and whenever they can, hooking up with a pair of fugitives and a pack of runaways. Still, the threat of the school and government officials coming after them is ever present, particularly as the winter gives way to spring. What will become of the intrepid siblings as their enemies close in on them? A wonderfully rich story of tradition and family and history, Starfish will tug at older readers’ heartstrings as it follows
Lionel and Beatrice’s journey.
This review originally appeared on abookandahug.com.
Proud defiant Beatrice can move through the trees like a silent shadow, protecting her little brother as best as she can as they make the trek to their grandfather’s settlement. Her bravery doesn’t change the fact that she and Lionel, as Native Americans and horse thieves, are persons non grata in the 20th century world that they ran from. Friends and enemies crop up in equal amounts as they make their way.
Seasons change and Lionel’s hair soon grows long enough to braid in the old tradition of his people. Reunited all-too-briefly with their grandfather, the children are on their own for long periods, trying to find happiness and fellowship wherever and whenever they can, hooking up with a pair of fugitives and a pack of runaways. Still, the threat of the school and government officials coming after them is ever present, particularly as the winter gives way to spring. What will become of the intrepid siblings as their enemies close in on them? A wonderfully rich story of tradition and family and history, Starfish will tug at older readers’ heartstrings as it follows
Lionel and Beatrice’s journey.
This review originally appeared on abookandahug.com.
December 3, 2010
I found reading the novel to be a great reading experience. It is a beautiful story about a brother and sister that led me to keep referencing and thinking about my relationships with my own younger siblings as I was reading it. James Crowley's words jump off the page to provide a vivid landscape that is so detailed it comes right to life in the mind's eye. The story shows the importance of things such as family, friendship, nature, and remembering where you come from. I would recommend this novel to anyone interested in reading a beautiful coming of age tale about a brother and sister that go on an exciting journey that helps them get in touch with who they are.
March 23, 2011
I liked the characters of Lionel and his sister, Beatrice. I loved the scenes when they escape and live on their own in the wilderness - what kid hasn't dreamed of that at one time or another? The opening scenes of the story were difficult to read - for the arrogance and the violence that is portrayed. The ending seemed surreal - as if it all had to be wrapped up quickly.
I don't know enough about Native American cultures to comment on the historical accuracy of this story, but here's a link to someone who does and her take :http://americanindiansinchildrenslite...
I don't know enough about Native American cultures to comment on the historical accuracy of this story, but here's a link to someone who does and her take :http://americanindiansinchildrenslite...
February 10, 2014
This is a historical novel, set in the early 1900s at a Blackfeet Indian Reservation boarding school. This was not a good time to be an Indian. Following an altercation, Lionel and his sister Beatrice steal a prized horse and run away from the school. They manage to eke out a living for several months before the past catches up with them. I was expecting a much sadder ending. This book reminded me of "When My Name was Keoko"� and "Someone Named Eva,"� books set in completely different times and places, but in which the victors of war were trying to mold the children of losers into their own image, all the while despising them.
October 15, 2015
I can't say enough good things about this book. It follows the struggle for cultural survival during the early 1900's, when the U.S. Government enforced assimilation policies, with the intention of extinguishing Native American culture, specifically, the internment of the Blackfeet people. We get to follow two brave children who escape their Christian boarding school to live in tradition among the Rocky Mountains.
It's an excellent book for young readers, and adults alike; it gives an eloquent glimpse and understanding of the internment of the Blackfeet, and an understanding of the U.S.'s history of racial and cultural inequality.
It's an excellent book for young readers, and adults alike; it gives an eloquent glimpse and understanding of the internment of the Blackfeet, and an understanding of the U.S.'s history of racial and cultural inequality.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 19, 2010
Starfish is a novel about a pair of siblings from the Blackfoot tribe and reservation. They have run away from the boarding school that tells them their culture and religion is wrong. Lionel and Beatrice are on the journey to find their grandfather and who they are in the world. With this story rich with Blackfoot culture, adventure and danger you are taken on an amazing journey with Beatrice the fearless warrior at heart and Lionel who is trying to figure out exactly who he is. A journey like this is taken atleast once in every life time, this is Beatrice and Lionel's.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 5, 2011
I usually pick up a children's book now and then to see what is new and exciting in children's literature. I was disappointed with this one. It starts with the stereo-typed drucken indian, I thought we were past this. There ia a story line about a government school for homeless indians and how the children escape to find their grandfather. I was hoping for more of a historical fiction type book, but it never made it. In today's world, having a child read is hard enough, but their needs to be better content in a book to hold anyone's interest.
August 15, 2015
This wasn't a bad book, honestly, I probably could have finished it if I'd have pushed myself. I liked Beatrice and the general concept of the book was solid. However, the narration of the book fell flat. It was third person limited, but at a certain point, it went from third person limited to feeling detached all together. He didn't feel like he was apart of the action even though he was. It made it really hard for me to want to back the novel as a whole. That being said, this one is going to go with the others I haven't finished.
November 30, 2010
I thought this was a great little piece of work. I recently went to Montana, and took this book with me. I had no idea what it was about, and was quite intrigued by the writing skill. It helped being in a part of America close to the Native American place of interest in the book. I really enjoyed this book, and I'm 41 years old! Look forward to more from this young author. --Rod Winters in Buffalo, New York
January 19, 2016
Overall I liked the book. There were a few spots that I felt like were...hmm...not right. There were points where I felt like something was missing or was handled wrong, but I couldn't think exactly why...probably some inner instinctive biases or something. :)
The storyline is nice and it's a lovely gentle introduction into some Blackfoot traditions. I'm planning on passing the book along to my nieces and nephews to see if they'd enjoy reading it.
The storyline is nice and it's a lovely gentle introduction into some Blackfoot traditions. I'm planning on passing the book along to my nieces and nephews to see if they'd enjoy reading it.
November 30, 2010
I read this book after seeing the author speak at the Texas Book Festival. It is a page turner, and as someone who doesn't love historical fiction (except for The Killer Angels), I was captivated by the children and their coming of age story.
March 10, 2011
The book follows Lionel and his sister Beatrice as they escape from the government run school in the early 1900s. A great book for readers who are ready to tackle longer works but still need simple prose.
August 6, 2016
Native American brother and sister flee the school on their reservation when horrible living conditions and treatment push them past the point of tolerance.
Great story about siblings, grandparents, Blackfeet Indians, and so much more.
Great story about siblings, grandparents, Blackfeet Indians, and so much more.
June 22, 2013
A captivating story of two native children escaping from the government-enforced boarding school and trying to survive on their own in the wilds of Montana. Some pacing issues and what felt like abrupt ending kept it from being a much better story.
May 28, 2015
James Crowley takes the reader on a journey of self-discovery and shows what it means to be true to one's culture in the face of others trying to wipe it out. I felt that the book effectively tackled some very difficult issues and is a great read for older kids and young teens.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews