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Cathleen (USA: PA) (2007/01/23):
From Publishers Weekly
The plight of Native Americans during the Revolutionary War is eloquently conveyed in this affecting novel. Coshmoo, the only son of the Delaware Indian leader Queen Esther, describes his village on the banks of the Susquehanna River and his close friendship with Daniel Seibert, the son of nearby white settlers. As war breaks out between the Americans and the British, the Indians are being pressured into taking sides. But no matter who wins, they will lose their homeland, as is lyrically symbolized in Coshmoo's dreams of being pursued by an insatiable bear. The boys venture onto forbidden land in an abortive quest for a fabled tree that will restore peace to their peoples, but they only increase hostilities. Months later, their friendship survives the ultimate test when Daniel is captured by Coshmoo's British-allied Iroquois relatives and forced to run the gauntlet. Keehn (I Am Regina) establishes so clear a sense of foreboding that the reader is almost afraid to reach the ending; at the same time, her story seems so real that the reader will not want to escape its grip. Historical notes and an extensive bibliography add further substance to a deeply moving tale. Ages 10-14.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.From School Library Journal
Grade 7-9?In 1776, white settlers lived peacefully near a Delaware settlement led by Queen Esther near Pennsylvania's Susquehanna River. When the Revolutionary War broke out, the Delawares and other Native Americans were pressured to choose sides in the conflict or face annihilation. This novel, told through the voice of Queen Esther's 12-year-old son Coshmoo, is an account of his friendship with Daniel, a young white settler. Their idyllic life at the story's beginning is already threatened by a chasm of distrust between some of the Native Americans and some white settlers. Coshmoo and Daniel pledge their friendship to one another, and search the sacred land for the bones that would keep peace in their valley. They are unaware that the future will bring a test of their friendship. The narrative, based on a true incident, is well researched and lyrically written. The storyteller, Coshmoo, uses a believable formal tone to reveal his own personality as well as the way of life during the era. The plot is intricate, with flashbacks and dream sequences, and might be confusing at times. Sophisticated readers who love historical fiction will enjoy it.?Marilyn Long Graham, Lee County Library System, Fort Myers, FL
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