Star, a young survivor of the Sand Creek Massacre in 1864, is sent to Fort Marion Prison Castle where he is made to learn English and be a Christian by his prison guard Richard Henry Pratt, they set out to eradicate every bit of Native history, culture and identity from him. Star’s son Charles is sent to the school created by Pratt, and he’s brutalised by him. At the school he meets Opal Viola and they envisage a future away from the school.
In 2018, Orvil Red Feather, a young Cherokee man, is dealing with the aftermath of being shot at a PowWow. He’s become reliant on opioids as he likes the high he gets from them. Orvil is the nephew of Opal Viola Victoria Bear Shield.
The first part of the book was a wee bit confusing, but I managed to keep the storylines straight. However, it was all worth it in the end. This was an excellent read!
Read for the 52 Book Club Reading Challenge 2024.
Prompt 46: Featuring Indigenous culture.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
