Changing Woman: A Novel of the Camp Grant Massacre

by Venetia Hobson Lewis

2023 Laramie Book Award Longlist for Americana Fiction
2023 Goethe Book Award Longlist for Late Historical Fiction

Arizona Territory, 1871. Valeria Obregón and her ambitious husband, Raúl, arrive in the raw frontier town of Tucson hoping to find prosperity. Changing Woman, an Apache spirit who represents the natural order of the world and its cycle of birth, death, and rebirth, welcomes Nest Feather, a twelve-year-old Apache girl, into womanhood in Aravaipa Canyon.

Mexican and Anglo settlers have pushed the Apaches from their lands, and the Apaches carry out raids against them. In turn, the settlers, angered by the failure of the U.S. government and the military to protect them, respond with a murderous raid on an Apache encampment under the protection of the U.S. military at Camp Grant, kidnapping Nest Feather and other Apache children.

In Tucson, while Valeria finds fulfillment in her work as a seamstress, Raúl struggles to hide from her his role in the bloody attack, and Nest Feather, adopted by a Mexican couple there, tries to hold on to her Apache heritage in a culture that rejects her very being. Against the backdrop of the massacre trial, Valeria and Nest Feather’s lives intersect in the church, as Valeria seeks spiritual guidance for the decision she must make and Nest Feather prepares for a Christian baptism.

Genres: Historical Fiction

260 pages, Paperback

Published June 1, 2023

Reviews

[Murray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Changing Woman is a powerful spirit who appears to girls entering womanhood and remains with them. An Apache woman walks with this spirit during the most difficult time in her life - her Apache community is torn apart by Anglo, Mexican and Papago attackers, she is taken captive and given to a husband and wife in Tucson as their servant. In time, as they attempt to steer her into Catholicism, she becomes more of a daughter.

That is one POV stream. The other is that of a young Mexican woman named Valeria. Her husband Raul joins the raiders who attack the Apache community near Tucson but he tells her he did not. When the attackers are put on trial (something Washington insists on) Raul is overlooked and not arrested. Yet he inadvertently drops clues so that over time Valeria comes to realize what we already knew - Raul was there. He murdered. And he raped.

The trial takes up the last third of the novel. The Arizonans are furious about it because they consider the Apache the murderers not the group from Tucson who killed them - they are considered Tucson’s heroes and defenders.

A strong and necessary story well-told. It crackles with tension.

[Chow · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rough writing- poor descriptions and poor emoting. It’s written like a cold, arms length legal pleading with a shock of violence in the middle. This story deserves a better, scene creating writing that savors moments and emotions, layers themes and metaphors, and makes Arizona be described by better words than “beautiful”

[Karen Klink · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been wanting to read "Changing Woman" for some time since it concerns the history of Tucson, where I live. Plus, I've been interested in Native American history and art for over fifty years—since I watched the television show, "Broken Arrow," in the 50s. I believe it was the first, or one of the first, that represented the Native American side of history—in this case, Apaches.

The historical research for this novel is remarkable. I applaud the author's decision to write the story from two women's point of view, since nothing of historical record did so. This enabled the reader to experience how persons involved on both sides were affected by this tragedy, known as the Camp Grant Massacre. This is also why I enjoy historical fiction. History states the facts; historical fiction illustrates how those facts impact people's lives.

[Cassandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was an inportant "read" about a real event in Arizona Territory, 1871, The story is reflected fron 3 poits of view, the women of the town (Mexican), the native Americans who were klled (one young girl who survivies) and the white men who perpertrated the raid.
The author develops her female characters skillfully if subtly; the importance and the point of the book was to raise awareness of the inevitable conflicts between the new white ranchers and the displaced Apaches.

[Janilyn Kocher · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had not heard of the Camp Grant Massacre prior to reading this novel.
The author gets into the nitty gritty details.
She also has a grasp in the culture and predominant attitudes in 1870s Arizona Territory.
Spanish is used a lot and sometimes the translations were later in the paragraph or missing making the reading comprehension difficult at times.

[Mauro Trejo · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a Tucson historian who feels the Apache are grossly underrepresented in the popular narrative of Tucson’s history, this book was an incredible read. The backdrop is historically accurate and the story is told well. Compelling characters, immersive settings and historically accurate made this book was a welcome surprise.

[Diane Mcclaim]

Honestly, Heartbreaking and gorgeous; this story lingers long after the last page. A memorable read.

[Ralph Conley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rich, emotional, and authentic Lewis paints history with such compassion that every page feels alive.

[Alber Hackett · Rating 5 out of 5]

The imagery of the Arizona landscape is gorgeous and integral to the story; a moving, atmospheric read.
Excellent.

[Catherine Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written and emotionally resonant. I wanted more backstory for some secondary characters.