Booklist Reviews
The predicaments a Tuscarora Indian boy from the res faces while interacting with the white world is achingly read by the author, giving this narration true depth. Lewis' good grades in school have put him in a whites-only classroom, where he meets a boy, George, from a military family, and their love of music brings them together. Both boys keep secrets from each other (Lewis' poverty and shame at the way he lives on the reservation; George knowing that his family is due to be transferred). The Beatles are the recurring musical theme. Cruel taunts and the constant bullying by a sadistic white boy make up a disturbing subplot. Teachers' voices are sometimes condescending, sometimes kind, but mostly ignorant of what Lewis is facing. Gansworth's Native American heritage enables him to speak for each character with authenticity, and his characterization of Lewis' uncle Albert is especially deft in its cadence and complexity. Gansworth's nuanced reading also contrasts two mothers' speech: a German accent (laced with humor) for George's mother, and a gentle, quiet speech in both English and Tuscarora for Lewis' mother. Gansworth's occasional Nyah-wheh (thank you) in Tuscarora laces the speech of several characters, lending authenticity. Grades 7-10. Copyright 2019 Booklist Reviews.
School Library Journal Reviews
Gr 9 Up—The year is 1975. Lewis Blake, a slightly built teen from the Tuscarora Indian Reservation, is enrolled in advanced classes at high school. Lewis suffers racist stereotyping and bullying from students and some teachers. When he meets George Haddonfield, the boys find common interests in music, especially the Beatles, but Lewis is wary of befriending someone off the rez. George, likewise, is reticent because, as a military "brat," he moves frequently from base to base. Reservation life is depicted as having close family ties and social customs inaccessible to outsiders. George wants to break through, but Lewis's shame blockades their attempts at true friendship. Meanwhile, Evan Reininger, a notorious bully, pursues Lewis relentlessly, managing to evade authorities at every instance. The plot crescendos during a massive blizzard, when characters must face their ineluctable realities. Teen popularity and academics serve as a backdrop to the conflicts in this tale of barriers, identities, and trust. The author's narration is authentic, with Paul McCartney and Beatles song titles providing clever chapter headings. Gansworth manages an artful weave of social complexities representing reservation and "white" cultures with subtle humor to ease the tension. A full discography is provided for music fans. A worthy addition to fiction collections.—Robin Levin, Ft. Washakie School/Community Library, WY
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