School Library Journal Review
Gr 4-6-An adolescent Chickasaw boy starts down the path to adulthood in this middle grade historical novel. Chula and his tight-knit family are grieving the sudden loss of Chula's father, killed in a surprise attack by neighboring Choctaws. Determined to avenge his father's death, Chula seeks the guidance and support of his Uncle Lheotubby to learn to become a warrior. But with his emotions still raw, and a bullying peer antagonizing him, Chula struggles to attain the level of focus and composure required to join the men on their raid. Will he succeed in laying his father's spirit to rest, and will revenge provide the peace he seeks? Chickasaw author Perry authentically captures the blend of bravado and insecurity common in young teens. The richly drawn 18th-century setting illuminates both daily life in a Chickasaw village as well as the rituals and traditions marking significant events in a year. Throughout, the narrative remains focused on the Indigenous community, with the white settler population only peripherally present. Chula's questions about the qualities that define manhood will resonate with readers and provide scope for discussion. VERDICT Succinct and engaging, this coming-of-age story is a necessary addition to library collections.-Chelsea Couillard-Smith, Hennepin County Library, MN © Copyright 2019. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
A Chickasaw teenager fights a rival tribe after his father's death and finds his own place in the community.In this debut middle-grade novelset in the early 18th centuryChula is a Chickasaw teen busy with perfecting his hunting skills and facing the local bully until his father is killed by Choctaw raiders. Chula's grief turns into a desire for revenge, and he is determined to be among the fighters who attack the Choctaws in retribution. After celebrating the annual Green Corn Ceremony, Chula earns his place in the raiding party. A Chickasaw warrior tells him: "You have proven yourself as a hunter and on the toli field. You have been an honorable brother, son, and nephew in your family. You will learn self-control with time, starting with this raid." But Chula discovers that taking a life is harder than he imagined. He returns to his village to find that he is better suited to a different but equally crucial role in the tribe. The novel's historical aspects are fully researched, and Perry has a keen eye for the specifics that make Chula's world vivid to readers: "The decoys were made from the skin of a deer head and neck that was stretched over lightweight cane hoops. They were so life-like they not only fooled the deer, they sometimes fooled other hunters, which meant we had to be even more aware of our surroundings." The dialogue is sometimes overwrought (" I am not a boy! Not anymore,' I said bitterly. And I will give Aki's spirit rest' "). But the author tells a well-plotted story rooted firmly in the 18th-century Chickasaw experience, full of genuine details (a fishing scene is particularly engaging) and written from an insider's perspective (Perry is Chickasaw, and the work's publisher is affiliated with the Chickasaw Nation). The detailed line drawings by debut illustrator Freeland portray the practices described in the tale, adding to the book's cultural authenticity. Although Chula's sorrow is profound, it does not overtake the narrative, and he and the other characters are fully realized. The solid volume fulfills its educational mission and serves as an enjoyable story, holding the audience's attention while conveying information and depicting a world often presented from the perspective of outsiders. A helpful glossary defines the Chickasaw words used in the text. An engrossing historical novel of Chickasaw life by a member of that nation. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
