A Boy Becomes a Man at Wounded Knee - Hardcover

Grade 3-6-- In December 1890, Big Foot's band of Lakota Indians was surrounded by the Seventh Cavalry at Wounded Knee Creek on the Pine Ridge Reservation. On their way to take shelter with Red Cloud in bitterly cold weather, these 350 old men, women, and children had little food, no horses, and few weapons. A shot rang out, and the soldiers opened fire, killing over 300 of the people. One hundred years later, some of the survivors' descendants re-enacted Big Foot's 150 mile walk. Eight-year-old Wanbli Numpa Afraid of Hawk, whose great-grandfather was one of the survivors, joined 300 other Lakota and white riders on the Si Tanka Wokiksuye (Big Foot Memorial Ride). He tells his own story in this extraordinary account of the six-day journey on horseback through sub-zero weather. Illustrated with full-color photographs of the boy and his relatives on their journey through South Dakota, Wanbli Numpa recounts his fears, his pride in his people, and his determination to complete the grueling ride, thus honoring his ancestors and receiving his first eagle feather. Extremely well conceived and clearly presented, this is an essential title for public, school, and tribal libraries. It brings the story in Dances with Wolves full circle. --Lisa Mitten, University of Pittsburgh, PA
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

In order to heal the wounds inflicted on them by the 1890 massacre of Chief Big Foot and 350 other Lakota Indians, contemporary Lakotas undertake a grueling 150-mile ride on its 100th anniversary. After preparing with his father for months, eight-year-old Wanbli joins them. Through the boy's voice and feelings the reader, too, is lashed by the subfreezing winds, thrown from Wanbli's spooked horse and reminded of the futility of war as the group passes nuclear missile sites. The book's first-rate prose--which nonetheless retains an eight-year-old's voice and sensibilities--emits stylistic elegance, and pride in this youngster's achievement. The color photographs, unfortunately, are small in size and scope, and fail to capture the majesty of the voyagers' route. Still, this singular story offers a gratifying blend of exciting, in-depth reading and learning rarely found in photo essays. All ages.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.