good - Michael

I liked this book for two reasons. First, I thoroughly enjoyed this book because of the strong female main character. She does many untraditionally feminine things such as when she “jumped off [her] horse and took a careful aim with [her] rifle at the pan Jason Upright’s wife held in her hands”(5). I am currently reading this book to a few fifth graders and they all thought the main character was a boy based on the character’s actions. It was refreshing to see such strong female portrayal in books that are accessible to children. The second reason I enjoyed this book was because of the language. I enjoy how this book explains the surroundings and weather in a way so that the readers can get a better vision for the environment. For example, “The wind swirled high in the treetops” (13). The language is very simple and easy to understand which makes it a perfect read for my students as many of them are still struggling with comprehension. The main message of this book is to explain the horrific events of the past in hopes that it will not repeat in the future as well as educating readers on the events that followed after white settlers forced their way into the Indian tribe’s homeland. ( )

It is the spring of 1877 when 14-year-old Sound of Running Feet, daughter of Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce, sees white people panning gold in the little creek that feeds the Wallowa River, and brings word of them to her father.

In the late nineteenth century, the young daughter of Nimipu chief Joseph relates how her people were driven off their land by the U. S. Army and forced to retreat north until their eventual surrender.
Lexile: 680

I loved this book! I thought it gave an interesting historical view. I really liked that the book put a lot of detail into the native american culture. i also liked this book because from growing up in the Northwest I could identify places in the book, for example my parents used to take us camping at Wallowa Lake in Oregon, wich is where Sound of Running Feet's tribe's original home was. This is a book I would recommend to children in upper elementary school ( )