Cherokee Legends and the Trail of Tears

by Thomas Bryan Underwood

Now in its 20th printing, this little book contains a fascinating, firsthand account of the "Trail of Tears" by a U.S. soldier who was there. Also includes classic legends like "How the Earth was Made" and "Why the Possum's Tail is Bare." Over 300,000 sold!

Genres: History, Nonfiction

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

Reviews

[Oscar Ward · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cool stories and legends with amazing illustrations but the facinating but challenging first hand account of an early genocide is as rare as it is valuable. Every one should take the time to read this very short piece.

[Rose Klix · Rating 4 out of 5]

This provides some legends and a very interesting letter from a soldier explaining his observations during the Removal.

[zooey glass · Rating 4 out of 5]

super accessible book, jon guy got this for me to read for future trips in pisgah nat forest, where we just finished a section of the art loeb trail- all the land we walked is part of Cherokee Nation. This is a great book for children and people wanting to learn more about Cherokee. I really enjoyed the legends (can’t wait to share them with others) and illustrations- there was a section in the late back of the book where a first hand account from a soldier during the trail of tears- i think it is very appropriate for children and young adults to read and i encourage this book to be accessible in classroom libraries

[Elisabeth Ensor · Rating 4 out of 5]

An older book from 1956, emphasizing the legends passed down through the Cherokee indians. I enjoyed the personal story of John Burnett and his story of the trial of tears. It's so heart breaking to hear how terrible the indians were treated and how the greed of the american settlers pushed them off their land to Oklahoma! This book has a map of the journey and it's a first hand account of a soldier who tried to defend the treatment of the native americans

[Lois Dunahoo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this book would be great to have in a classroom library. I think it told lots of valuable information. It would be good to read during a unit on Indians.