The Land Grab

May 15, 2022
Grades 4-6 In 1929, 11-year-old Alfred Swallow lives with his mother, younger brother, and grandparents on the Kul Wicasa Lakota Reservation in Iron Nation, South Dakota. The story begins with a water ceremony that reveals rich details about the quotidian life of these Native people and their culture. As part of this, considerable attention is given to Alfred's spirituality, too. Life is good for the family until Jim O'Neil, an avaricious U.S. land agent, shows up with an offer to buy Grandfather's 640 acres of land for a fraction of its worth. When Grandfather refuses the offer, O'Neil threatens to take the land by the power vested in his office, with or without the family's consent. Author Beartrack-Algeo, a member of the Lower Brul� Lakota Nation, gives readers an insider's look at the life of a Lakota family in the 1920s. While the information offered is invaluable, the book can feel a bit didactic, and the dialogue is sometimes stilted. Nevertheless, readers will enjoy this authentic portrait of Native American life and culture.

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February 15, 2022
When his people are treated unfairly, a Lakota boy's determination wins out. In 1929, 11-year-old Alfred Sparrow lives on the Kul Wicasa Lakota Reservation in South Dakota with his mother, younger brother, and grandparents following the disappearance of his father, who left to find work in Wyoming and was never heard from again. The family treasures the tribal allotment land his grandfather has worked so long and hard to sustain. When Mr. O'Neil, the local government agency superintendent, and his cohorts try to swindle Alfred's grandfather and other Lakota landowners out of their land, Alfred looks to his dreams, then shares what he learns with his friends. Together, they come up with a plan to defeat their enemy and save their homes. Lakota culture and traditions are incorporated throughout the story, for example when Alfred dreams of the golden eagle spirit helper. He remembers his grandfather telling him, "Grandchild, a golden eagle came to your mother when you were born. It will surely watch over you throughout your life." Alfred later calls on this helper when he and his dog are attacked by wolves after getting too close to a den of wolf cubs. This series opener by Beartrack-Algeo (Lower Brule Lakota Nation) begins slowly, and the quantity of and dense approach to conveying historical information may deter the intended audience of reluctant readers. Things pick up toward the end of the book with several exciting action-packed scenes. An informative Lakota historical novel heavy on exposition. (author's note) (Historical fiction. 12-18)

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