Helpful Score: 2
Just disregard the cover picture. It's so tacky it makes you not want to pick this book up. I can't imagine Cynthia, the book's heroine, striking that pose. And Red Wolf, was not described as skin and bones as he's depicted here. Poor guy. Looks like he starved himself pining for Cynthia. I really loved this book. It's the first historical Native Amercian book I've ever read. Essentially it's the story of a great love affair between a Sioux and a white girl. Just by having sex with her the first time, Red Wolf claims Cynthia as his wife. At first the other women are hostle towards Cynthia but when they see how she is with Red Wolf's grandmother and the children, they treat her like a sister. Though life is harsher than what Cynthia has known, she grows attached to Sioux life and falls deeply in love with Red Wolf. On his part, he has been in love with her when he first set eyes on her. During a skirmish with a cavalry, Cynthia is captured by the soldiers to be brought home. Carrying Red Wolf's child and loving Indian life, she doesn't want to go back to live with whites. The whites are depicted as stuffy or greedy or ignorant or even brutal. But the author makes sure to depict the Sioux's bad side also which is just as brutal as the white man. Yet part of that reason is the white man's method of war - raping and murdering their wives and children - as well as the white mans' greed for gold as they violate treaty after treaty. A great way to learn American history and their subjugation of Native Americans whenever it moved them.
Despite Cynthia and Red Fox's separation they do meet again many years later, wiser and still in love. As you can tell, I highly recommend this book.
Despite Cynthia and Red Fox's separation they do meet again many years later, wiser and still in love. As you can tell, I highly recommend this book.
