Yvonne Wakim Dennis

This is an interesting overview of the cultures that were in what is now the United States before it was the United States and where they are today, and a kid-appropriate but honest look at the ways in which European explorers, settlers, and traders and later the U.S. government exploited and mistreated native peoples. It's also how my son knew about the history of the Cleveland Indians' name before his Ohio Nana did.

We didn't do any of the activities (we're not very crafty), but they look pretty good.… (mer)

Overall, the text is boring. It is written like a textbook instead of a normal biography and it shows. However, this book is perfect for gaining factual information about the Cherokee Indians. Within the book are maps, chronologies, glossaries and more; so it's very informative. I discovered that Sequoyah was a Cherokee Indian between the late 1700s and 1800s. During this time, the Cherokee lived near the Appalachian Mountains, until they were forced to present-day Oklahoma during the Trail of Tears 1838 - soldiers forced more than 16,000 Indians off their very own land. He is known for creating a written language for his Cherokee people. I thought it was very sad but more interesting that Sequoyah's birthday was unknown and that he was buried in an unmarked grave - how ironic.… (mer)