Sequoyah: Inventor of Written Cherokee

Sequoyah: Inventor of Written Cherokee

Written by: Roberta Basel

"The United States was growing at a rapid pace. For the settlers who were pushing west to the frontier and the Native Americans who were protecting their lands, life was filled with danger and difficulties. People who wove their way into history overcame their challenges with a courage that defined an era and shaped a nation. Sequoyah, a Cherokee Indian, is best known for inventing a system of writing for the Cherokee language. In 1821, after more than a decade of work, he succeeded in creating a set of symbols to represent the sounds of spoken Cherokee. The new written language was easy to learn and helped boost ethnic pride. Sequoyah won the respect of his people and was soon operating as a delegate in Cherokee dealings with the United States. He died in 1843 on a mission to unify the Cherokee people. "

Publishers Synopsis

Online Resources:
http://www.manataka.org/page81.html
http://thomaslegion.net/sequoyah.html

In the Shadow of the Wind

In the Shadow of the Wind

Written by: Luke Wallin

"This novel describes the cultural conflict in Alabama in the 1830s between members of the Creek Nation and white settlers in the area. Brown Hawk wants to stop fighting and cooperate with the settlers’ requests, but others, such as Least Coyote, disagree. Caleb McElroy and his grandfather appreciate the Indians. Regardless, Caleb is forced to kill Least Coyote as the Creek attempts to scalp Mrs. McElroy. Caleb eventually resolves the conflict within himself about the values of each culture by becoming Creek."

Social Studies Center (SSC)

Online Resources:
http://www.perdidobaytribe.org/saga.html

Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee: An Indian History of the American West

Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee: An Indian History of the American West

Written by: Dee Brown

"Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee is Dee Brown's classic, eloquent, meticulously documented account of the systematic destruction of the American Indian during the second half of the nineteenth century. A national bestseller in hardcover for more than a year after its initial publication, it has sold over four million copies in multiple editions and has been translated into seventeen languages.

Using council records, autobiographies, and firsthand descriptions, Brown allows great chiefs and warriors of the Dakota, Ute, Sioux, Cheyenne, and other tribes to tell us in their own words of the series of battles, massacres, and broken treaties that finally left them and their people demoralized and decimated. A unique and disturbing narrative told with force and clarity, Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee changed forever our vision of how the West was won, and lost. It tells a story that should not be forgotten, and so must be retold from time to time."

Publishers Description

Online Resources:
http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/knee.htm
http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Wounded_Knee,_South_Dakota

Only the Names Remain: The Cherokees and the Trail of Tears

Only the Names Remain: The Cherokees and the Trail of Tears

Written by: Alex W. Bealer

"From 1837 to 1838, thousands of Cherokee Indians were marched from their homelands in Georgia to exile in Arkansas by the same white men they has once befriended. The Cherokees journeyed through bitter cold and blazing heat, with little food or water. One out of every four died and with them died a culture that had existed for hundreds of years, a civilization that had existed for hundred of years, a civilization that had embraced the white man's ways only to perish through his betrayal. Today, only the names remain of this once great nation."

Publishers Synopsis

Online Resources:
http://www.pbs.org/indiancountry/history/trail.html
http://www.cherokeebyblood.com/trailtears.htm

How We Crossed The West: The Adventures Of Lewis And Clark

How We Crossed The West: The Adventures Of Lewis And Clark

Written by: Rosalyn Schanzer

Easy Readability

"A simplified version of the diaries of Lewis and Clark; in an introduction, Schanzer explains how she condensed much of the excitement and adventure of the 40 volumes into this one. The book follows the route mapped out on the end papers, beginning with President Jefferson's request that the two explore the west, and ending when Lewis and Clark return two years later to St. Charles (near St. Louis), long after everyone thought they'd died. In that time the two men discovered many new animals and plants, met with Indian tribes, and created new maps of the uncharted territories. Schanzer often breaks up the page into a series of vignettes with captions, effectively covering many of their experiences in a small space. Her drawings include portraits of the members of the expedition and other details that make an already authentic text all the richer."

Kirkus Reviews

Online Resources:
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/lewisandclark/

On the Trail of Sacagawea

On the Trail of Sacagawea

Written by: Peter Lourie

"In this handsome book, archaeologist and researcher Lourie chronicles a trip he took with his family along the path of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, beginning where Sacagawea joined the explorers and hoping to compare what exists now with what she might have seen. The family traveled through Native American land where historic sites remain untouched and the people practice traditional customs, fishing in the streams that the explorers fished in, swimming in the same hot springs, and eventually arriving at a reconstructed Fort Clatsop, where the river meets the ocean. Throughout, Lourie intersperses his family's adventures with the history of the Corps of Discovery in a comparison that conveys the rugged beauty and harsh terrain that the explorers must have experienced. The book is illustrated with the author's striking color photographs, as well as paintings and archival photos. An epilogue offers different theories of what became of Sacagawea."

Booklist Review

Online Resources:
http://www.peterlourie.com/journeys/sacagawea/

Gold Rush Women

Gold Rush Women

Written by: Claire Rudolf Murphy

"The women who joined the gold rushes in the Yukon and Alaska between the late 1880s and the early 1900s get scant attention in the history books. This collective biography draws on primary sources to tell their stories, with fascinating historical photographs and portraits on every page. Some women went with men, some went alone. They panned for gold, ran boardinghouses and grub tents, worked as dance-hall girls and prostitutes. Ethel Berry was one of the first Klondike millionaires. Klondike Kate, a Tagish native, never got any money from the gold she helped discover. One whole section is devoted to the important roles played by Native American women in the region. Martha Louise Block, a wealthy Chicago matron, said of her adventure: "What I wanted was not shelter and safety, but liberty and opportunity." Lots of sidebars provide general information, including one newspaper article telling women what to pack and what to leave behind. With its handsome, browsable design, this will be welcome for classroom reports and for personal reading."

Booklist Review

Online Resources:
http://www.goldrush.com/~joann/
http://www.sierrafoothillmagazine.com/women.html
http://www.postalmuseum.si.edu/gold/women.html
http://www.clairerudolfmurphy.com/Gold_Rush_Women.html

Children of the Gold Rush

Children of the Gold Rush

Written by: Jane G Haigh & Claire Rudolf Murphy

"This excellent, well-researched book offers a rare peek into a fascinating culture, history, and people, in portraits of eight intrepid children and their families during the Alaskan/Yukon Territory gold rush. Murphy and Haigh give voices to children who tell of dangerous journeys to Alaskan mining camps, the brutal, cold winters, building small towns in rough terrain, and the disintegration of many families due to gold fever. The children adapted to a whole new way of life, prospected, entertained miners, and felt the effects of sudden fortune or bleak poverty. Fascinating sidebars address other children of the gold rush or other facets of that life, from schooling and the use of sled dogs, to panning for gold. Although the hardships are never glossed over, the design of the book has an antique charm, with photographs, ticket stubs, old handbills, maps, and journal excerpts, glossary, and further reading."

Kirkus Reviews

Online Resources:
http://www.clairerudolfmurphy.com/Children_of_the_Gold_Rush.html
http://pbskids.org/wayback/goldrush/goldfever.html
http://www.malakoff.com/goldcountry/history.htm

Children of the Wild West

Children of the Wild West

Written by: Russell Freedman

Easy Readability

"In an engaging, accessible tone, Newbery Medalist Russell Freedman gives today's young readers an insight into the lives of kids growing up in the American West in the late 19th century. He describes the experience of traveling west by wagon train, exploring the reactions of pioneer children to life on the road, school days, holidays, and their encounters — both good and bad — with Native Americans. He also looks at the unique experiences of the Native American children, growing up at a time when the influx of white settlers was turning their world upside-down. Whatever their circumstances, the resourceful children of the West demonstrated the infinite adaptability of children everywhere."

Scholastic.com

Online Resources:
http://edhelper.com/books/Children_of_the_Wild_West.htm
http://www.waldsfe.org/unitstudies/WestwardMovement.htm

The American Civil War in Texas

The American Civil War in Texas

Written by: Johanna Burke

Easy Readability

"With concise and accurate information, these books are good for beginning Texana researchers. Civil War discusses the state's involvement in the war, the Battle of Galveston and the Battle of Sabine Pass, as well as influential leaders. The Alamo follows the chronological events leading up to the battle, but the book's main focus is the leaders. Biographical information on Houston, Bowie, Crockett, and Travis is provided. Missions tells why the Franciscans built missions in Texas from the first one in 1632 to their demise in the early 1800s. The failure to convert the Native Americans led Spain to abandon the concept.

Native Americans covers tribes by area. A few noteworthy leaders such as Geronimo and Quanah Parker are given tribute. Appearance, clothing, food, and shelter are briefly outlined. Large historical and modern photos, illustrations, and maps, most in full color, appear on every page. Captions are detailed and include additional tidbits. Attractive and useful for Texas libraries."

School Library Journal Review

Online Resources:
http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/exhibits/civilwar/index.html

Plains Warrior: Chief Quanah Parker and the Comanches

Plains Warrior: Chief Quanah Parker and the Comanches

Written by: Albert Marrin

"A biography of the legendary Comanche leader profiles the son of a white woman, who fiercely defended tribal lands against those who tried to seize them and who, after being moved with his people to a reservation, fought for the recognition and decent treatment of his tribe."

Publishers Description

Online Resources:
http://www.lone-star.net/mall/texasinfo/quanah.htm
http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/PP/fpa28.html

Where the Broken Heart Still Beats

Where the Broken Heart Still Beats

Written by: Carolyn Meyer

"This book describes the clash between American and Native American cultures in Texas as occurred in the life of Cynthia Ann Parker. Captured from Fort Parker, Cynthia married a Comanche and bore several children prior to her return to white society. She pined away for her Comanche family, which she never saw again. When her daughter died, Cynthia lost the will to live. Students can compare Cynthia Ann Parker’s life to that of her son Quanah’s."

Publishers Description

Online Resources:
http://www.nwhm.org/education-resources/biography/biographies/cynthia-parker/
http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/PP/fpa18.html

Myths of the Cherokee and Sacred Formulas of the Cherokees

Myths of the Cherokee and Sacred Formulas of the Cherokees

Written by: James Mooney

"This text for young adult and adult readers includes information on topics of interest for teachers of Texas history, including: “The Texas Band: 1817-1900,” “The Period of Spanish Exploration,” and numerous myths collected from the Cherokee. Maps show Cherokee locations during different time periods."

Product Description

Online Resources:
http://www.telliquah.com/cherokee.htm
http://www.cherokeebyblood.com/chersociety.htm

Geronimo

Geronimo

Written by: Joseph Bruchac

"Thoroughly researched “memories” of Geronimo and the captivity of the Chiracahua
Apaches are narrated by Geronimo’s fictional adopted grandson. Geronimo is portrayed as
a dignified, caring, resourceful, and humorous leader of his people."

Notable Trade Books for Social Studies

Online Resources:
http://www.let.rug.nl/usa/B/geronimo/geronixx.htm
http://www.biography.com/articles/Geronimo-192835

Stones, Bones, and Petroglyphs: Digging Into the Southwest Archaeology

Stones, Bones, and Petroglyphs: Digging Into the Southwest Archaeology

Written by: Susan Goodman

"A busload of children from Hannibal, Missouri, come to Mesa Verde in the Four Corners region of the American Southwest to help archaeologists with a mystery. What happened to the Pueblo people who inhabited the region until A.D. 1300? What made them leave after 1,000 years? No one knows the answer to this question, though the book makes several guesses based on artifacts and natural evidence."

Publishers Description

Online Resources:
http://www.collectorsguide.com/ab/abfa08.html

A Boy Named Beckoning: The True Story of Dr. Carlos Montezuma, Native American Hero

A Boy Named Beckoning: The True Story of Dr. Carlos Montezuma, Native American Hero

Adapted and Illustrated by: Gina Capaldi

"This story reveals the remarkable life of a Native American boy named Wassaja, or "Beckoning," who was kidnapped from his Yavapai tribe and sold as a slave. Adopted by an Italian photographer in 1871 and renamed Carlos Montezuma, the young boy traveled throughout the Old West, bearing witness to the prejudice against and poor treatment of Native Americans. Carlos eventually became a doctor and leader for his people, calling out for their rights.

Gina Capaldi's exquisite paintings bring to life excerpts from Dr. Carlos Montezuma's own letters describing his childhood experiences. The culminating portrait provides an inventive look back into history through the eyes of a Native American hero."

Publishers Synopsis

Web Resources:
http://www.beckoning-carlosmontezuma.com/

The Birchbark House

The Birchbark House

Written by: Louise Erdrich

"The sole survivor of a smallpox epidemic on Spirit Island, Omakayas, then only a baby girl, was rescued by a fearless woman named Tallow and welcomed into an Ojibwa family on Lake Superior's Madeline Island, the Island of the Golden-Breasted Woodpecker. We follow Omakayas and her adopted family through a cycle of four seasons in 1847, including the winter, when a historically documented outbreak of smallpox overtook the island.

Readers will be riveted by the daily life of this Native American family, in which tanning moose hides, picking berries, and scaring crows from the cornfield are as commonplace as encounters with bear cubs and fireside ghost stories. Erdrich--a member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Ojibwa--spoke to Ojibwa elders about the spirit and significance of Madeline Island, read letters from travelers, and even spent time with her own children on the island, observing their reactions to woods, stones, crayfish, bear, and deer. The author's softly hewn pencil drawings infuse life and authenticity to her poetic, exquisitely wrought narrative. Omakayas is an intense, strong, likable character to whom young readers will fully relate--from her mixed emotions about her siblings, to her discovery of her unique talents, to her devotion to her pet crow Andeg, to her budding understanding of death, life, and her role in the natural world."

Amazon.com Review

Web Resources:
http://www.carolhurst.com/titles/birchbarkhouse.html
http://www.trumpetclub.com/intermediate/activities/birchbark_house.htm

My Land Sings: Stories from the Rio Grande

My Land Sings: Stories from the Rio Grande

Written by: Rudolfo Anaya
Illustrated by: Amy Cordova

"This collection of stories has elements of both Mexican and Native American folklore. Anaya has included five of his own stories and retold and enhanced five traditional tales. Filled with ghosts, devils, and tricksters, these cuentos are suffused with the beliefs of the peoples in the Rio Grande region. Because of the predominating Roman Catholicism of those who settled the area, the pieces have strong elements of that religion in them as well. The tales are divided into categories such as rogues and rascals, enchantment, animals, and riddles; some are humorous, while others teach a lesson. The latter is represented by the author's story "Sipa's Choice," in which a young leader and his people are metamorphosed into golden carp because the young man failed to respect the traditional ways of his father. Anaya champions the reading of a good book or listening to a folktale as an opportunity to insert one's own experiences into the story and, hence, to nurture the imagination. This appealing volume will add diversity to folklore collections."

School Library Journal Review

Online Resources:
http://www.gale.cengage.com/free_resources/chh/bio/anaya_r.htm

Navajo: Visions and Voices Across the Mesa

Navajo: Visions and Voices Across the Mesa

Written by: Shonto Begay

"Begay presents a very personal view of contemporary Navajo life in this picture-book collection for older readers. Pairing 20 of his paintings with original poetry, Begay moves from the spiritual aspects of Navajo life through personal childhood memories into striking present-day images, concluding with an affirmation of continuing life and rebirth. Although his poetry especially speaks to the ongoing struggle of living in a "dual society," his paintings are firmly rooted in the Navajo culture. His work is not angry or sentimental; there is an honesty and straightforwardness that allows his readers/viewers insight into his world-view. The variety of images reflects the complexity of life that many contemporary Navajo face. An excellent addition to poetry and art collections."

Booklist Review

Online Resources:
http://shontogallery.com/
http://www.lessonplanspage.com/SSLANavajoPoetryCulture36.htm