Swim The River

Author:  Stephy Smith
Published By: Astraea Press
Age Recommend:  Adult
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Raven Rating:  4
Blog Review For:  Great Minds Think Aloud

Review:

"Swim the River" by Stephy Smith was a good read.  I enjoyed how this author was able to mix a story with whites'  and Indians.... showing how the hatred of some whites toward the Indians were horrible.  I didn't think I was going to like this novel however,  after completely
finishing it .... I found this a good read.

"Swim the River" told  the story of a woman (Bright Eyes)being rescued from the river... due to the hatred of the white man(Harvey Morgan)....she survived...due to the help of Silver Hawk....after a marriage to Rising Wolf... (Amelia) Falcon Woman saves her husband...by swimming the river... after he was.... well I really don't want to tell you this... You will have to just pick up this read..."Swim the River" to find out what happened to the bear.

This novel was of survival of the  Cheyenne Indians that were not treated well on the
reservations.  Several families were able to move out of the Pine Ridge Reservation  area to Colorado  with(Falcon Womans') family to now be able to live their lifes to the fullest...Rising Wolf would now be able to hunt buffalo.... being able to teach the boys  and (Snow Bird)  the girls their ways of their ancestors ... now being proud to carry on the Cheyenne tradition... most important teaching them love..."if they picked their battles wisely, this could help educate the ones left on the reservation."

The novel really brought out the meanness and hatred of people  ....if they(Indian) hunted for  food...they were shot....if they owned weapons...they were imprisoned or killed..  they
were given rotten meat to eat.....Wow!

The author  characters were really something in this novel  and I loved their Indian names.... Falcon Woman, Rising Wolf, Silver Hawk, Bright Eyes, Woman with Small Voice, Red
Eagle and  Snow Bird.  Now you will have to read this good novel to see what  were
their American names.

"Swim the River" was a  very interesting Indian novel  and if you are in for a good read this one is  for you.