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Moccasin Thunder: American Indian Stories for Today
The ten stories that make up this collection are raw, original, and fresh. Although they are all about American Indians, they are as different from one another as they are from anything you've read before. A supermarket checkout line, a rowboat on a freezing lake at dawn, a drunken dance in the gym, an ice hockey game on public-access TV. These are some of the backgrounds against which ten outstanding authors have created their memorable characters. Their work -- both poignant and funny, sarcastic and serious -- reminds us that the American Indian story is far from over -- it's being written every day.
176 pages, Library Binding
First published January 1, 2005
3 people are currently reading
151 people want to read
About the author
Lori Marie Carlson
21 books8 followersLori Marie Carlson was born in Jamestown, New York. She went to college at Indiana University, earning a MA in Hispanic Literature. She has taught at several universities.
Carlson has written several books for children and young adults, including Cool Salsa and Sol a Sol. The Sunday Tertulia is her first novel for adults.
Carlson has written several books for children and young adults, including Cool Salsa and Sol a Sol. The Sunday Tertulia is her first novel for adults.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
February 4, 2008
Ten stories by ten different American Indian authors are brought together in this book, bringing to life the modern struggles of a culture trying to maintain its identity and find its place in today’s society. Some of the plot lines include: an ice-hockey game being broadcast on public access television, a girl trying to save a “magic” pony from the slaughter house, a boat on a lake as it freezes over, and a father with an extreme connection to Jimi Hendrix’s rendition of “The Star Spangled Banner.”
The slipcover of the book states that the audience is 12 years and up. I feel that the age should be raised to 14 or 15 years old. The stories touch on very real and scary subjects like rape, incest, pornography, alcoholism, drugs, extreme poverty, underage drinking, and violence. Younger students may not be ready to handle these topics, or if they have experienced them themselves, ready to face them again. Still, most of the language is simple enough for later middle school readers, though a teacher would be needed to help with popular language slang referring to drugs and similar topics.
The slipcover of the book states that the audience is 12 years and up. I feel that the age should be raised to 14 or 15 years old. The stories touch on very real and scary subjects like rape, incest, pornography, alcoholism, drugs, extreme poverty, underage drinking, and violence. Younger students may not be ready to handle these topics, or if they have experienced them themselves, ready to face them again. Still, most of the language is simple enough for later middle school readers, though a teacher would be needed to help with popular language slang referring to drugs and similar topics.
October 29, 2023
Beautiful and heartbreaking. Fantastic writing about coming of age and the trials that come with it.
November 21, 2019
This anthology earns four stars based on its novelty alone - a compilation of 10 stories about Native teens that offer characters and perspectives rarely seen in YA.
How to Get to the Planet Venus by Joy Harjo 3.5 stars Set at an American Indian boarding school. Addresses alcoholism, domestic violence, and features a gay secondary character.
Because My Father Always Said He Was the Only Indian Who Saw Jimi Hendrix Play “The Star-Spangled Banner” at Woodstock by Sherman Alexie 4 stars I know we’re not supposed to like Alexie now, but there’s no denying he is a good writer. This tale of a father son relationship is heartbreaking and realistic.
A Real-Live Blond Cherokee and His Equally Annoyed Soul Mate by Cynthia Leitich Smith 3.5 I’m simply not a huge fan of Smith’s writing, but appreciate this short tale that looks at microaggressions and diversity within the Native community.
The Last Snow of the Virgin Mary by Richard Van Camp 3 stars This story of a dealer trying unsuccessfully to change his life was not a winner for me. There was a lot of slang language that I had difficulty picking up on and several paragraphs of drug measurements that were completely unnecessary.
Crow by Linda Hogan 3.5 stars Lonely tale of forsaking your elders and being consumed with material things, though it does remind readers of the sweet companionship sometimes offered by earth’s creatures. Trigger warning for animal cruelty.
Ice by Joseph Bruchac 3.5 stars This story follows a young Native boy who dreams of being a writer and is helping his uncle to bring the ice needed for a major tourist attraction. The narrator and his family have made their livelihood in part by being a source of entertainment. His current stories follow a time-traveling Indian who uses his powers to travel back to “the places where bad things happen to Indians” and stop them. That’s a science fiction series I would love to read.
Wild Geese (1934) by Louise Erdrich 3 stars So-so tale of a coming of age moment in the life of a Native teen boy. Well-written but not really enjoyable.
The Magic Pony by Greg Sarris 4 stars I enjoyed this sad tale of a family stuffed with desperate women.
Summer Wind by Lee Francis 3.75 stars Recounts what I assume is an ancient Native legend about creation and the spider through a young boy’s experience listening to a storyteller.
Drum Kiss by Susan Power 4 stars Enjoyable story about learning to fit in, loss, and vengeful spirits.
How to Get to the Planet Venus by Joy Harjo 3.5 stars Set at an American Indian boarding school. Addresses alcoholism, domestic violence, and features a gay secondary character.
Because My Father Always Said He Was the Only Indian Who Saw Jimi Hendrix Play “The Star-Spangled Banner” at Woodstock by Sherman Alexie 4 stars I know we’re not supposed to like Alexie now, but there’s no denying he is a good writer. This tale of a father son relationship is heartbreaking and realistic.
A Real-Live Blond Cherokee and His Equally Annoyed Soul Mate by Cynthia Leitich Smith 3.5 I’m simply not a huge fan of Smith’s writing, but appreciate this short tale that looks at microaggressions and diversity within the Native community.
The Last Snow of the Virgin Mary by Richard Van Camp 3 stars This story of a dealer trying unsuccessfully to change his life was not a winner for me. There was a lot of slang language that I had difficulty picking up on and several paragraphs of drug measurements that were completely unnecessary.
Crow by Linda Hogan 3.5 stars Lonely tale of forsaking your elders and being consumed with material things, though it does remind readers of the sweet companionship sometimes offered by earth’s creatures. Trigger warning for animal cruelty.
Ice by Joseph Bruchac 3.5 stars This story follows a young Native boy who dreams of being a writer and is helping his uncle to bring the ice needed for a major tourist attraction. The narrator and his family have made their livelihood in part by being a source of entertainment. His current stories follow a time-traveling Indian who uses his powers to travel back to “the places where bad things happen to Indians” and stop them. That’s a science fiction series I would love to read.
Wild Geese (1934) by Louise Erdrich 3 stars So-so tale of a coming of age moment in the life of a Native teen boy. Well-written but not really enjoyable.
The Magic Pony by Greg Sarris 4 stars I enjoyed this sad tale of a family stuffed with desperate women.
Summer Wind by Lee Francis 3.75 stars Recounts what I assume is an ancient Native legend about creation and the spider through a young boy’s experience listening to a storyteller.
Drum Kiss by Susan Power 4 stars Enjoyable story about learning to fit in, loss, and vengeful spirits.
November 15, 2020
Some of the stories and characters just about broke my heart, but I was also comforted by depictions of adults whose missions were to protect their charges and/or prepare them for the cruelties the world would throw at them:
Joy Harjo's adolescent girl has been abandoned by her father. Now at Indian boarding school, she is called to the office and shown a letter written by her stepfather:
"Dear Mrs. Wilhelm,
I am writing to you because I think there are some things you need to know about our daughter who is now a student at your school. We had quite a problem with her when she was in our home and could not control her. Watch out for her. She will lie to you and she will steal. She is not to be trusted.
I was not his daughter, he had never called me daughter, nor had I lied to him or stolen anything. Tears threatened, but I refused to give him that satisfaction, even six hundred miles away. My face blushed, stung by betrayal. He was the liar. He was the one who had stolen; he had stolen my mother's life and was attempting to steal my reputation. I stuttered, but nothing came out.
Mrs. Wilhelm told me, 'this is what I think about this letter,' and she tore it up into pieces and threw it in the trash can. It had never occurred to me that it was possible to be trusted over the word of a white man who belonged to the Elks Club. As I left her office, I promised myself that I would not drink again. She had believed in me, had given me another chance."
This demonstration of trust empowers her to help another student, who has been molested by her own father since the age of ten. Again, in the school office:
"'Were you with Lupita tonight?' Mrs. Wilhelm sternly asked me.
What Mrs. Wilhelm was asking was whether or not I had been drinking with Lupita...The truth became a path clearer than anything else, a shining luminescent bridge past all human failures...
I confessed. 'Yes, I was with Lupita,' and I knew terribly that I was most likely dooming myself back to the house of my stepfather.
'Go take care of Lupita,' Mrs. Wilhelm said. 'I will talk to the two of you tomorrow when you are sober.' Then she slapped us each with a month of restriction. 'I need you here, so I can keep a closer eye on you,' she said."
Sherman Alexie's character says of his parents:
"'Your father was always half crazy,' my mother told me more than once. 'And the other half was on medication.'"
Also: "I stood back and watched my parents argue. I was used to these battles. When an Indian marriage starts to fall apart, it's even more destructive and painful than usual. A hundred years ago, an Indian marriage was broken easily. The woman or man just packed up all their possessions and left the tipi. There were no arguments, no discussions. Now, Indians fight their way to the end, holding onto the last good thing, because our whole lives have to do with survival."
Also: "On a reservation, Indian men who abandon their children are treated worse than white fathers who do the same thing. It's because white men have been doing that forever and Indian men have just learned how. That's how assimilation can work."
Lee Francis' character hears the insult "Damn Injuns" muttered by a frustrated cashier:
"When I told Granma what the cashier had said, she looked real sad. She said the cashier was a pathetic soul and explained that people who do name-calling don't have any self esteem."
---How apropos to this year's politics!
Other stories, however, left me in the dark, hence my three star rating of the collection.
Joy Harjo's adolescent girl has been abandoned by her father. Now at Indian boarding school, she is called to the office and shown a letter written by her stepfather:
"Dear Mrs. Wilhelm,
I am writing to you because I think there are some things you need to know about our daughter who is now a student at your school. We had quite a problem with her when she was in our home and could not control her. Watch out for her. She will lie to you and she will steal. She is not to be trusted.
I was not his daughter, he had never called me daughter, nor had I lied to him or stolen anything. Tears threatened, but I refused to give him that satisfaction, even six hundred miles away. My face blushed, stung by betrayal. He was the liar. He was the one who had stolen; he had stolen my mother's life and was attempting to steal my reputation. I stuttered, but nothing came out.
Mrs. Wilhelm told me, 'this is what I think about this letter,' and she tore it up into pieces and threw it in the trash can. It had never occurred to me that it was possible to be trusted over the word of a white man who belonged to the Elks Club. As I left her office, I promised myself that I would not drink again. She had believed in me, had given me another chance."
This demonstration of trust empowers her to help another student, who has been molested by her own father since the age of ten. Again, in the school office:
"'Were you with Lupita tonight?' Mrs. Wilhelm sternly asked me.
What Mrs. Wilhelm was asking was whether or not I had been drinking with Lupita...The truth became a path clearer than anything else, a shining luminescent bridge past all human failures...
I confessed. 'Yes, I was with Lupita,' and I knew terribly that I was most likely dooming myself back to the house of my stepfather.
'Go take care of Lupita,' Mrs. Wilhelm said. 'I will talk to the two of you tomorrow when you are sober.' Then she slapped us each with a month of restriction. 'I need you here, so I can keep a closer eye on you,' she said."
Sherman Alexie's character says of his parents:
"'Your father was always half crazy,' my mother told me more than once. 'And the other half was on medication.'"
Also: "I stood back and watched my parents argue. I was used to these battles. When an Indian marriage starts to fall apart, it's even more destructive and painful than usual. A hundred years ago, an Indian marriage was broken easily. The woman or man just packed up all their possessions and left the tipi. There were no arguments, no discussions. Now, Indians fight their way to the end, holding onto the last good thing, because our whole lives have to do with survival."
Also: "On a reservation, Indian men who abandon their children are treated worse than white fathers who do the same thing. It's because white men have been doing that forever and Indian men have just learned how. That's how assimilation can work."
Lee Francis' character hears the insult "Damn Injuns" muttered by a frustrated cashier:
"When I told Granma what the cashier had said, she looked real sad. She said the cashier was a pathetic soul and explained that people who do name-calling don't have any self esteem."
---How apropos to this year's politics!
Other stories, however, left me in the dark, hence my three star rating of the collection.
December 9, 2021
I really liked the book Moccasin Thunder by Lori Marie Carlson. It was about 10 different stories from different people and their experiences. The author went around and gathered people together and questioned them to asked them about their experiences with other people and how they thought of them. All the stories are different from one another which makes them very interesting because not a single one of them are alike or the same. The people in the book are not all from the same place, they are all over the United States and even from Canada. I chose this book because i am Native American and i thought it was going to be cool to read about other people from different tribes. I feel like this is a very good book to read because you get to know and learn about people's personal stories and it connects you with them in a way. Some of the stories are sad and you can really feel that while reading this book, it makes you feel like you are connected to them in a way.
December 12, 2024
The spewing, vitriolic hatred of women by several of the authors ruined it for me.
A guy - the author - liked a girl but she liked someone else so he (being Native American) faked having prophetic dreams about the Other Guy beating her, smashing her teeth out, etc. and told everyone over a loudspeaker at a hockey game, forcing the audience to into a false dichotomy of either A. believing him because he called on the Native American religion or B. looking like you don’t believe the religion because you disbelieve this LIAR, which is spiritually abusive.
He publicly humiliated her to punish her for not liking him back.
Another guy - another author - stalked a girl.
Male abusers romanticizing their abuse against women - the TRUE STORIES of their abuse against women. They’re confessing crimes.
Trigger warnings: rape, incest, physical abuse, animal abuse, child abuse, stalking, drug dealing, domestic violence, murder, masturbation, watching porn, making porn, etc.
A guy - the author - liked a girl but she liked someone else so he (being Native American) faked having prophetic dreams about the Other Guy beating her, smashing her teeth out, etc. and told everyone over a loudspeaker at a hockey game, forcing the audience to into a false dichotomy of either A. believing him because he called on the Native American religion or B. looking like you don’t believe the religion because you disbelieve this LIAR, which is spiritually abusive.
He publicly humiliated her to punish her for not liking him back.
Another guy - another author - stalked a girl.
Male abusers romanticizing their abuse against women - the TRUE STORIES of their abuse against women. They’re confessing crimes.
Trigger warnings: rape, incest, physical abuse, animal abuse, child abuse, stalking, drug dealing, domestic violence, murder, masturbation, watching porn, making porn, etc.
November 30, 2022
Some good short stories in here. I read it in hopes of finding literature to use in my classroom, but I didn't find a lot that would be appropriate for 9th graders.
February 12, 2013
*don't you hate when you type up a whole, detailed review, and then you hit the wrong button right before finishing it, and the whole thing just disappears?*
This book is difficult for me to review. I run the risk of sounding ignorant and condescending whether I praise these stories for being gritty and realistic (my ignorance on the topic of modern Native American life and culture was a primary motivation for me reading this book.) or I complain about them being so depressing and dark. (I have to say; I'm not sure that the editor has much more connection to these stories than I do, though...odd that all the authors are Natives, but the editor is not...) So I will just say that the stories seemed realistic, based on what I know of people, especially people living tough lives in hard situations. I can't say I enjoyed a lot of the stories, precisely because they were dark and sometimes tragic and hopeless. But they were well written and interesting, and I'm not sorry I read them.
by author:
Joy Harjo--a very sad story, with vividly depicted characters. I was horrified at how casually they referred to sexual abuse and assualt, not to make it less horrible, but simply because it was so common in their lives. I enjoyed the story, though, appreciated the underlying notes of hope, and found myself hoping against hope the teens could break free from the cycle and make something more of their lives than what they'd been given.
Sherman Alexie--He's the one author with a name I easily recognized, and based on this story, I see why. I found the juxtaposition of his father's hippie adventures and link to music as interesting as his alcoholism and life choices were sad. beautifully told, even if sad, and at least there was an underlying core of love in this story.
Cynthia Leitich Smith--a brief but interesting story from the perspective of a Native American who doesn't look the part, and the aggravations and frustrations of that fact. It was a pleasant little story.
Richard Van Camp--I hated this story precisely because it was so well written (and seemed so realistic and believable). Also because it reminded me of a friend I have who continues to make poor choices and ends up paying for them. This story was incredibly vivid, with a skillfully drawn main character, leaving me feeling the resolution to the story all the more keenly.
Linda Hogan--I felt like Crow himself was a metaphor for the entire family depicted in this story. bittersweet: love struggling to overcome the odds, and not always winning.
Joseph Bruchac--One of my favorite of these stories, less depressing, more subtle and magical and hopeful. I loved the imagery once I understood what was going on.
Louise Erdrich--I really liked this story at first. The characters were interesting, vivid even with minimal description, and so was the setting. I especially found the inter-relationship of the Catholic church with the protagonists interesting. but then the story took a turn that I found gross and creepy, if I understood it correctly, and I lost all enjoyment of the story. Weird and gross, despite a promising start.
Greg Sarris--Another very vivid story, all the more so because of the tragic and seemingly inescapable world the main character and her family seem caught in. So sad, all the more so because I have a friend who is a Native American from this exact town, and it gives me a little more insight into her past and perhaps why she makes some of the choices she does. I found myself hoping so very hard, just like with Joy Harjo's story, that the two young girls would find a way out of the vicious cycle and make something better of their lives, not just keep repeating a sad (and poisonous) past. like Harjo's story, there was also an element of escapism/ fantasy for the characters, in almost a delusional creepy way. I guess that's what coping mechanisms can look like, though.
Lee Francis--This story felt younger than the other stories, but no less sweet, charming, and hopeful for it. I also enjoyed the story within the story about Spider. I appreciated that one story, at least, could depict the re-emergence of Native American culture, especially among the youth.
Susan Power--I loved the allusion to the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. I always wanted to find a doorway through my closet too. Although this story also had elements of escapist imagination, the character still managed to be more hopeful than other stories, a smart girl who didn't let other people's opinions weigh her down, with sadness or bitterness, and who was true to herself (and her love of books--a girl after my own heart). There was, of course, the themes common in these stories--loss, struggle, grief--but the main character this time seemed to have more hope in her life, or more determination, or more imagination, or maybe all of the above.
This book is difficult for me to review. I run the risk of sounding ignorant and condescending whether I praise these stories for being gritty and realistic (my ignorance on the topic of modern Native American life and culture was a primary motivation for me reading this book.) or I complain about them being so depressing and dark. (I have to say; I'm not sure that the editor has much more connection to these stories than I do, though...odd that all the authors are Natives, but the editor is not...) So I will just say that the stories seemed realistic, based on what I know of people, especially people living tough lives in hard situations. I can't say I enjoyed a lot of the stories, precisely because they were dark and sometimes tragic and hopeless. But they were well written and interesting, and I'm not sorry I read them.
by author:
Joy Harjo--a very sad story, with vividly depicted characters. I was horrified at how casually they referred to sexual abuse and assualt, not to make it less horrible, but simply because it was so common in their lives. I enjoyed the story, though, appreciated the underlying notes of hope, and found myself hoping against hope the teens could break free from the cycle and make something more of their lives than what they'd been given.
Sherman Alexie--He's the one author with a name I easily recognized, and based on this story, I see why. I found the juxtaposition of his father's hippie adventures and link to music as interesting as his alcoholism and life choices were sad. beautifully told, even if sad, and at least there was an underlying core of love in this story.
Cynthia Leitich Smith--a brief but interesting story from the perspective of a Native American who doesn't look the part, and the aggravations and frustrations of that fact. It was a pleasant little story.
Richard Van Camp--I hated this story precisely because it was so well written (and seemed so realistic and believable). Also because it reminded me of a friend I have who continues to make poor choices and ends up paying for them. This story was incredibly vivid, with a skillfully drawn main character, leaving me feeling the resolution to the story all the more keenly.
Linda Hogan--I felt like Crow himself was a metaphor for the entire family depicted in this story. bittersweet: love struggling to overcome the odds, and not always winning.
Joseph Bruchac--One of my favorite of these stories, less depressing, more subtle and magical and hopeful. I loved the imagery once I understood what was going on.
Louise Erdrich--I really liked this story at first. The characters were interesting, vivid even with minimal description, and so was the setting. I especially found the inter-relationship of the Catholic church with the protagonists interesting. but then the story took a turn that I found gross and creepy, if I understood it correctly, and I lost all enjoyment of the story. Weird and gross, despite a promising start.
Greg Sarris--Another very vivid story, all the more so because of the tragic and seemingly inescapable world the main character and her family seem caught in. So sad, all the more so because I have a friend who is a Native American from this exact town, and it gives me a little more insight into her past and perhaps why she makes some of the choices she does. I found myself hoping so very hard, just like with Joy Harjo's story, that the two young girls would find a way out of the vicious cycle and make something better of their lives, not just keep repeating a sad (and poisonous) past. like Harjo's story, there was also an element of escapism/ fantasy for the characters, in almost a delusional creepy way. I guess that's what coping mechanisms can look like, though.
Lee Francis--This story felt younger than the other stories, but no less sweet, charming, and hopeful for it. I also enjoyed the story within the story about Spider. I appreciated that one story, at least, could depict the re-emergence of Native American culture, especially among the youth.
Susan Power--I loved the allusion to the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. I always wanted to find a doorway through my closet too. Although this story also had elements of escapist imagination, the character still managed to be more hopeful than other stories, a smart girl who didn't let other people's opinions weigh her down, with sadness or bitterness, and who was true to herself (and her love of books--a girl after my own heart). There was, of course, the themes common in these stories--loss, struggle, grief--but the main character this time seemed to have more hope in her life, or more determination, or more imagination, or maybe all of the above.
November 8, 2012
The next anthology I’d like to review is Moccasin Thunder, which was published by HarperCollins in 2005 and was put out for teachers and readers of American Indian literature in short story form. Sadly, I was the only Canadian in the entire collection! What a shame, and this goes to prove what I’ve been saying for quite some time: we need our own anthologies up here in Canada that are YA and Aboriginal focused.
They called in many big names in American Indian literature for these ten stories.
“How to Get to Planet Venus” by Joy Harjo. This is about residential school in the states. So well done!
“Because My Father Always Said He Was the Only Indian Who Saw Jimi Hendrix Play ‘The Star-Spangled Banner” at Woodstock” by Sherman Alexie. This is about a Native American family and a son’s love for his father. Classic Alexie!
“A Real-Live Blond Cherokee and His Equally Annoyed Soul Mate” by Cynthia Leitich Smith. A classic teen crush story, this time with race and pride on the line!
“The Last Snow of the Virgin Mary” by yours truly. This story is about a small town drug dealer named Kevin Garner who risks it all for love. Wa hoo!
“Crow” by Linda Hogan. Like Will’s Garden by Lee Maracle or Dream Wheels by Richard Wagamese, this short story is about the power of family and the grace of time.
“Ice” by Joseph Bruchac. What a gorgeous story about a narrator who wants so badly to become a writer and his Uncle Tommy who encourages him by talking about the craft of writing as inherent storytelling. This story is about the majesty of having someone believe in you.
“Wild Geese (1934) by Louse Erdrich. I really wish the editors had asked Louise to write a short story. What we have here is an excerpt from Love Medicine. This was a great opportunity for one of our literary icons to give us a short story that would be read by many people, not a chapter of a larger work. But, be that as it may, this is about residential school in the US and what a sexy make out session that unfolds between two enemies. Woo hoo!
“The Magic Pony” by Greg Sarris. What an unforgettable story about friendship and a crazy aunt—Aunt Faye. I read this story years ago and often catching myself wondering about Aunt Faye and where she came from—all that alchemy, all that sizzling energy. Where did she come from, Greg Sarris!?
“Summer Wind” by Lee Francis. What a lovely story about a youth who is encouraged through mentorship by her grandmother and a storyteller who comes to the community to consider become a storyteller him or herself. I still do not know the sex of the narrator and that’s just fine by me: what a universal story!
“Drum Kiss” by Susan Power. Our 11 year old narrator, Fawn, is quickly discovering her power a storyteller, beginning to garner respect by her peers by sharing a ghost stories at a sleepover.
They called in many big names in American Indian literature for these ten stories.
“How to Get to Planet Venus” by Joy Harjo. This is about residential school in the states. So well done!
“Because My Father Always Said He Was the Only Indian Who Saw Jimi Hendrix Play ‘The Star-Spangled Banner” at Woodstock” by Sherman Alexie. This is about a Native American family and a son’s love for his father. Classic Alexie!
“A Real-Live Blond Cherokee and His Equally Annoyed Soul Mate” by Cynthia Leitich Smith. A classic teen crush story, this time with race and pride on the line!
“The Last Snow of the Virgin Mary” by yours truly. This story is about a small town drug dealer named Kevin Garner who risks it all for love. Wa hoo!
“Crow” by Linda Hogan. Like Will’s Garden by Lee Maracle or Dream Wheels by Richard Wagamese, this short story is about the power of family and the grace of time.
“Ice” by Joseph Bruchac. What a gorgeous story about a narrator who wants so badly to become a writer and his Uncle Tommy who encourages him by talking about the craft of writing as inherent storytelling. This story is about the majesty of having someone believe in you.
“Wild Geese (1934) by Louse Erdrich. I really wish the editors had asked Louise to write a short story. What we have here is an excerpt from Love Medicine. This was a great opportunity for one of our literary icons to give us a short story that would be read by many people, not a chapter of a larger work. But, be that as it may, this is about residential school in the US and what a sexy make out session that unfolds between two enemies. Woo hoo!
“The Magic Pony” by Greg Sarris. What an unforgettable story about friendship and a crazy aunt—Aunt Faye. I read this story years ago and often catching myself wondering about Aunt Faye and where she came from—all that alchemy, all that sizzling energy. Where did she come from, Greg Sarris!?
“Summer Wind” by Lee Francis. What a lovely story about a youth who is encouraged through mentorship by her grandmother and a storyteller who comes to the community to consider become a storyteller him or herself. I still do not know the sex of the narrator and that’s just fine by me: what a universal story!
“Drum Kiss” by Susan Power. Our 11 year old narrator, Fawn, is quickly discovering her power a storyteller, beginning to garner respect by her peers by sharing a ghost stories at a sleepover.
February 18, 2012
Moccasin Thunder contains contemporary ten short stories of American Indian teenagers.
These stories are raw and sometimes heart breaking. More than once I felt for the characters in these stories, knowing that these are just fictional characters, but wishing I could help them all the same.
Some stories it seems there is no hope, that bad things are just apart of life and there is nothing you can do to change that.
Some of the stories I didn't like as much as others, but all were well-written.
Some of my favorites in this book are Ice, Crow, A Real-Live Blond Cherokee and His Equally Annoyed Soul Mate and Drum Kiss.
Although these stories aren't exactly full of hope, I think they are important because in their own way they can help one understand how some American Indian teenagers (or just teenagers in general) feel.
Overall, it wasn't a bad book. Not all the stories were amazing, but there were definitely some very good ones.
These stories are raw and sometimes heart breaking. More than once I felt for the characters in these stories, knowing that these are just fictional characters, but wishing I could help them all the same.
Some stories it seems there is no hope, that bad things are just apart of life and there is nothing you can do to change that.
Some of the stories I didn't like as much as others, but all were well-written.
Some of my favorites in this book are Ice, Crow, A Real-Live Blond Cherokee and His Equally Annoyed Soul Mate and Drum Kiss.
Although these stories aren't exactly full of hope, I think they are important because in their own way they can help one understand how some American Indian teenagers (or just teenagers in general) feel.
Overall, it wasn't a bad book. Not all the stories were amazing, but there were definitely some very good ones.
August 20, 2009
Primarily aimed at YA, this collection of short stories by native american authors is a great intro to not only some wonderful indian writers, but also the struggles of modern indian teens dealing with alcohol and drugs, traditional culture vs assimilation, poverty, and the internal coming of age issues. Love the stories chosen, and the author bios, but was so upset to see there was no citation of source- isn't the intention to encourage further reading? Wish i could easily go to the larger collections and read more.
December 8, 2015
This collection of short stories is compelling, and has made for good reading over the months. I really enjoy how with short stories I can read one or a few, put it down, and come back to it later.
As others have mentioned, some of the topics may be rough for some readers. Still, each one is handled in a way to make the reader think, and examine the subjects at hand.
I give it the rating I do of 3 stars simply because while I really enjoyed the stories while reading them, none of them were ones that I felt /compelled/ to keep going on, or stuck strongly in my mind weeks after reading.
As others have mentioned, some of the topics may be rough for some readers. Still, each one is handled in a way to make the reader think, and examine the subjects at hand.
I give it the rating I do of 3 stars simply because while I really enjoyed the stories while reading them, none of them were ones that I felt /compelled/ to keep going on, or stuck strongly in my mind weeks after reading.
May 14, 2009
This book had some ok stories in it. The only real reason I rated it down is because I was looking for stories that took place on a reservation, where that was a central part of the plot and none of the stories in here really fit that. I probably liked Sherman Alexie's story the best but some of the other ones were alright, too.
Read
January 24, 2011Read:
Ice by Joseph Bruchac - I think the title and cover of this collection of stories are pretty uninspired. That lowered my expectations of the stories, but I was wrong. This story was amazing. He created an entire community and experience that I feel like I saw.
Wild Geese by Louise Erdrich - This story was confusing.
Ice by Joseph Bruchac - I think the title and cover of this collection of stories are pretty uninspired. That lowered my expectations of the stories, but I was wrong. This story was amazing. He created an entire community and experience that I feel like I saw.
Wild Geese by Louise Erdrich - This story was confusing.
October 3, 2016
This was a good little collection of modern native american short stories. Each of the authors had a distinct and interesting style and voice. Some had a good mix of old and new story elements as well. All in all good storytelling and easy to relate to.
October 3, 2009
Many of the stories in this book were great, I enjoyed it immensely.
July 14, 2010
Collection of ten short stories written by Native American authors, appropriate for grades 9-12.
February 26, 2012
Pretty good set of short stories for teens.
Want to read
November 19, 2016Top 10: Best Native American Young Adult Books
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