I picked up this book because of the author,well-known (in some circles)leftist/feminist, and because of the distinctive artwork by Robert Desjarlait, of whom I had never heard.
My son enjoyed the tale. We matched locales with places we've visited. I appreciated this enlivement of the final years of the Sac at their Illinois/Wisconsin home. I liked how Sparrow Hawk's thoughts created songs (shown as poetic stanzas) to match his mood as he traveled.
What I had difficulty with was the implication that native peoples were unable to figure out seed selection to improve the corn plant without the aid of white know-how. Sparrow Hawk's friend Huck provides this knowledge. I see I have to do some research to verify the claim that prior to this early 1800 date the ears of corn were short and not well filled. I don't believe it. ( )