North Dakota Books

i think this book is a really good book and i think that they have a problem with money and that they are really bad at that and i am to and my mom like tells me the same thing and it is cool just to have something that relates to my life and my mom tells me no don't spend all your money and stuff like that and that means i have a TEXT TO SELF and i love to read and it is cool. thats all i wanted to say. p.s. i love the bereanstain bear books they are so cool and i just love them and they are so cool i wish i could be a good writter just like you but you are a really good writter and if i could be like you i would but i am glad i am diffrent than everybody i love your books.

the illustrations are what got me interested in this book when I got it from a book club as a kid. It teaches a good lesson about money and how to not act spoiled, and the idea that money should not make you greedy

I like this book because it showed me not to spend all the money i receive for special occassions on things that i may not need but i want very badly. It showed me that i need to be very careful with money and that spending it on everything isn't always a good choice.
Alyssa Seifferly

This is an excellent book it really helps kids learn about money. The illustrations are perfect for my four year old

The book is of the finest quality in printing and binding. The content is very educational and the reproductrion of JD's paintings is superb.

Descriptive words of Ghost Dancing, joined with the timeless wisdom contained in the words of Native America. Couple this with the paintings of JD Challenger and you have an opportunity to not read about but really feel. This is not a book just narrating the past but speaks volumes to the future. This book called to me from the library shelf and I have ordered to place in a prominent place on my shelf. This is a book to share with others and come back to often.

The text of this book is extremely informative on the Ghost Dance Religion of Native Americans. It covers the origins of the religion, its climax and the results thereof. Adding to this educational context is the Beautifully compelling work of artist JD Challenger. His riviting paintings jump from the pages virtually reaching out from the book and pulling you in. I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in learning more about Native Americans and most assuredly to anyone who loves art that emits emtional impact. I constantly go back to this book as a source of inspiration and to gain understanding of Native American's plight.

JD challengers work was the first original art that I have purchased. When I saw his work in a gallery in Santa Fe, I was mesmorized by the character of his subjects. Ghost Dancing provides a good overview of many of his prints that are available.

Kirsten on the Trail continues the story of a nine-year-old Swedish girl who's family has come to live on the frontier in 1854. Kirsten has a secret Indian friend, Singing Bird. But while they are visiting, her little brother Peter sees them. Peter promises not to tell anyone, but blurts it out to Kirsten's mother. Kirsten is forbidden to play with Singing Bird. But Peter runs off and gets lost. When Singing Bird saves Peter by helping Kirsten find him, Kirsten's mother agrees that Singing Bird is a good friend.

This is another in the American Girls Short Stories series about Kirsten Larson, a nine-year-old girl from Sweden, whose family has moved to frontier Minnesota of 1854. In this book, Kirsten's American Indian friend, Singing Bird, returns. Almost immediately disaster strikes, when Kirsten's secret friendship is discovered, and her mother orders Kirsten to never see Singing Bird again. However, when Kirsten's brother Peter gets lost in the woods, Kirsten turns to a friend who can help when others can't. It proves a chance for the whole family to learn a lesson.

As an added bonus, this book contains a chapter on the Sioux Indians, and instructions on making a charm bag. I never ceased to be amazed at the quality of the American Girls books. With wonderful illustration, the book tells a great story that teaches a valuable lesson. I strongly recommend this book to anyone with a young daughter. My daughter and I both love these books!

[For those parents interested in reading historical fiction about Swedish immigrants, please consider reading The Emigrants series by Vilhelm Moberg.]

Kirsten on the Trail is a good story for early readers and children who can hold their attention to a twenty minute story.

This is the tale of frontier life and the interaction of a pioneer girl and her indian friend of the same age. Theirs is a secrete relationship -- history has told their parents to be wary of each other and they are forbidden to play together.

The disappearance of Kirsten's younger brother and his rescue by Kirsten's indian friend allows the parents of the pioneer girl to accept the the innate goodness of a child from a different culture. This book introduces pioneer life, the clash of indian and pioneer cultures and the acceptance of difference to young readers. Its a story my kids like.

If you or your child has already read the American Girls book "Kirsten Learns a Lesson", you know that Kirsten has befriended an Indian girl named Singing Bird. In that story, Kirsten was ordered not to play with Singing bird any longer. Singing Bird leaves. In this new short story, which forst appeared in American Girl magazine, Singing Bird is back. Kirsten wants to see her, but cannot break her rules. Can she and Singing Bird meet again and keep their friendship a secret or will everything fall apart? Kirsten learns another lesson in this great book for little girls.

Not only the most throughout chronicle of the sweat lodge ritual, but also one of the best books on contemporary Lakhota religion. Good work!

This book was a wonderful source of information for me to learn more about a ceremony that I'd been through countless times. The Sweatlodge is a powerful ritual on many different levels & this book sheds some light on that, especially for those of us not brought up in the Lakota culture.

This book was very well done. Many people who are looking for information on what to expect from sweatlodges in general will benefit from this book. The author gives a good amount of information about the history and the many different styles of the inipi ceremony. I personally have been in many different inipi (sweatlodge) ceremonies and found that there are different styles but there are a lot of common things as well. This book is well written and well worth the read. The author sticks to just the plains indians style of lodges and does not go to compare with the many different styles of sweatlodges around the country and around the world. I liked that he kept his information consistant and from the people who wanted to share it first hand. There were quite a few people who shared information that might take a lifetime of looking to find.

I read through this book in one day. I couldn't put the book down except to make a coffee. Excellent reading.

I was so impressed with this book - it struck so close to home - that I could not read it all at once. Like Mohatt, I lived with these people, I Sundanced with Joe Eagle Elk's father, ceremonied, got drunk, into trouble & rose again to help people. Mohatt's text is so close to the actual truth of the conditions on the reservation it literally scared me. That's why I had to stop reading from time to time. The Price of a Gift is the equal of Lame Deer, Seeker of Visions, which is one of the great books about Lakota spirituality.

This is a remarkable work that honors the true voice of a Lakota medicine man and the voices of his people. Mohatt's labor is not to analyze or interpret so much as present an experience which can only begin to be appreciated or understood when the suffering, missteps, fears, and clowning of the healer are shown along with their transcendence. Eagle Elk was an ordinary man who resisted but finally gave himself over to his calling. There are many books that romanticize tokens of Native cultures or presume to make use of them; this is not that sort of book. Like Fadiman's, The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down, this is a work of great reverence.

The story of Joseph Eagle Elk, Lakota Healer (1931-91), as told to Gerald Mohatt, cross-cultural psychologist, is simply and beautifully told.The effect of many mirrors of the gift of Joseph Eagle Elk derives in part from testimonials by people who he knew and helped to heal themselves. The sacrifice, persecution, and exhausting , demanding life of the traditional Lakota healer are fully portrayed. But the beauty that sings through in Price of a Gift is undeniable. Just to read such a book, just to know such a person lived and touched others, is profound and impacting in itself. An awareness of the core value of our lives radiates through the stories of the life of Eagle Elk. It is impossible to avoid the basic message of this book, with all its humble compassion. Without distortion, greed, evil, or pettiness, the matter of spiritual healing both as duty and joy is its glorious burden. Black Elk's vision included an awareness that the Lakota legacy would include an intrument of healing. The Price Of A Gift is evidence of that legacy. What a gift it is, to us all.

Nancy Lorraine, Reviewer

This is a must-read for everyone interested in healthcare, healing, mental health and/or Lakota culture and spirituality. It's a biography of the late Joseph Eagle Elk, which is riveting and remarkable. And as an extra bonus, the last chapter consists of a lively, multicultural discourse on the spiritual aspects of health and healing. I wish it were required reading for all healthcare professionals in the U.S.! As a Lakota, I found the book accurate and very moving. It's also one of the few books about Indigenous Tribal People written by a European-American that is truly and deeply respectful. The author conveys the complexity of Lakota culture without being patronizing or pseudo-mystical. Thank you, Mr. Mohatt, for this beautiful book.

As a student of Natural Spirituality I had acquired many books on Native Traditions which were lost (stolen) to me. This text was the first on my list to be replaced. Powers, himself calls his work a beginers lexicon of the Lakota language which makes it worthy in itself. His work extends beyond that with excellent insight into the song (music) which is a vital ingredient to the sacred traditions of the Lakota. He has an academic's passion for varification with other sourses which will provide a viable list of sources for future studies for those who appitite is only wetted with this volume. He is more of an academic than student,so be aware that it isn't light reading nor is it a 'how to guide to indian religion'. It is a well documented guide to basic belief system of the Lakota through his comprehension. While not complete, he has a sound basic understanding of 'the Sacred' to share with his readers

This is not for someone just trying to get a grasp of the general ideas of Lakota spirituality. This is a very detailed scholarly work about Lakota language as is it used by spiritual leaders and the meanings implied. If you are looking for something spiritual or emotional this probably isn't it, if you're looking for something more cerebral and you are a serious student of the Lakota then this is a must read.

I found this book to be excellent. It was informing and inspiring. It provided a lot of clarity about past experiences of participation in American Indian ceremony. I was especially amazed at the information about chanting, rattles, and drums. Although less interested in the subject, I was impressed by the clarity of differientiating between shaman and priest. Much of the information is very useful, in practical application for anyone who even marginally participates in the American Indian spiritual path. I am deeply grateful for this book.

This excellent discourse was produced by a man who lived with and learned from the old learned men of the Lakota, the "wicasa wakan", the "spiritual men".

Not for the casual reader, this book is great scholarly reading for those who strive to understand the very essense of religious thought.

"Standing in the Light: A Lakota Way of Seeing" is a print version of conversations between R.D. Theisz, a college professor, and Severt Young Bear, a Lakota singer, historian, and cultural traditionalist. "Standing in the Light" is a cornucopia of cultural information about the Lakota people. The book begins with a discussion about Severt Young Bear's relatives and ancestors, followed by a very brief history of the Sioux people. Unfortunately, the book went to press about the time Severt Young Bear died, in 1993.

"Standing in the Light" has four parts. The first section deals with names in Indian culture. According to Severt, names are of central importance in Lakota culture. Young Bear explains how the people received their names and what names mean in Lakota (his own Lakota name is Hehaka Luzahan, or Swift Elk). Agency officials anglicized Lakota names in the 1880's for a census on the reservation and then applied these names to descendents in perpetuity. This bothers Severt because it means descendents in his family do not earn their name, an important part of the Lakota life process. "Young Bear" comes from Severt's grandfather, who received the name to reflect his accomplishments in battle; he was a fearless warrior who fought like a bear when cornered. The name "Severt" comes from his father's war experience, when Severt's father befriended a Swede and promised the man to name his son after him.

The second part of the book discusses oral traditions in Lakota culture. There are some great stories in this section, like the story about Sio Paha (translated as the Medicine Hill). This place received the name Medicine Hill because in prereservation days it was the site of a test between powerful medicine men. The medicine men would practice their magic on each other in order to discover who had the most powerful medicine. Whenever a man was felled by magic, he was out of the contest. Severt discusses one contest where a heyoka (a sacred clown, or someone whose role in the tribe was to make fun of everyone else) won by practicing medicine he learned from the bumblebee. There are more stories in this section, all of which are fascinating and informative.

The third section covers Severt's career as a musician and his days as a member of the Porcupine Singers, a Lakota drum group who toured powwows and other important Indian gatherings. There are all types of songs in the Lakota world, from honoring songs to dancing and social songs. Many of the social songs helped Indians get together back in the days when the government frowned on Indian gatherings. The Rabbit dance is a good example of a social song. Rabbit songs are quite simple lyrically, but young people used to gather in someone's house to dance to these songs. Of course, all these musical gatherings required musicians, and this is where Severt brings in the importance of the drum and its role in creating and expressing the music. He also discusses how life on the road for the successful Indian musician is just as stressful as it is for any type of musician: egos get large, cars break down, and arguments over money usually ensue.

The final section of the book is Severt's examination of what is wrong with Lakota society. Young Bear turns out to be quite conservative as he discusses the problems of the reservation world. His arguments for a return to personal responsibility, a healthy diet, respect for the elders, and responsible childrearing not only have lessons for Lakotas, but also are important for all cultures. Severt's involvement in the American Indian Movement (AIM) and its stand at Wounded Knee in the 1970's, covered in some depth in the book, further highlights his concern for cultural issues.

At the end of the book, Severt sums up his reasons for agreeing to create this book. Severt believes every powwow or gathering of Indians has four circles. The first circle is the one in which Indians are dancing and taking part in their culture. As the circles move outwards, one finds Indians who are not as aware of the cultural activities going on in the first circle. The last circle, the circle on the farthest reaches of the gathering, holds the lost Indians, those who are afraid of learning about their culture and so lose themselves in drugs, loose sex, or alcohol. Severt wants to bring all of the other circles into the first circle, into the "light," so all the Lakotas may partake in their culture.

"Standing in the Light" is a powerful statement. For those who wish to learn about Indian culture, look no further than this book. I am surprised there are not more reviews of this amazing survey of Lakota cultural ideas.

There is a joke that one often hears when traveling within Native circles. The joke asks what is the average size of a Native Family? The answer is five, a father, a mother, a son and daughter and one anthropologist. It has been written that Native Americans are the most studied but least understood people on the Earth. Native author Michael Dorris states this thought in a more direct way. He writes that Native Americans are the most lied about people on the face of the planet. Much of this discontent with the written record about Native Peoples is due to the fact that much of this record has been recorded by Non-Native people and thus passed through a cultural filter that distorts the reality of Native experience and tradition. "Standing in the Light, a Lakota Way of Seeing," is a collaborative effort by the authors Severt Young Bear Sr. and Dr. Ronnie Theisz to record an account of the world view of the Lakota people that was written from the viewpoint and understanding of a person that has lived his life within the traditional culture of the Lakota People. Severt Young Bear Sr. was born on the Pine Ridge Reservation in 1934 and lived his life in the traditional community of Porcupine, SD. In his life he was a rancher, a ranger, a tribal councilman, a singer with and drum keeper of the acclaimed Porcupine Singers that appeared in the movies "Dances With Wolves, " and "Thunderheart," an instructor at Oglala Lakota College, and founder of International Brotherhood Days, a cross cultural forum that is held the second week of July each year at the Young Bear dance grounds just outside Porcupine, SD.. This book is a rare look from the inside of Lakota culture from one that lived within that context. The work touches on the past of the Lakota People, and focusses on the importance of traditions of the culture to the survival and identity of the Lakota Nation. As a self-styled student of Lakota culture I value this book as one of the most relavant books in my collection. Highly recommended. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Beyond feathers and bells, "Standing in the Light" gives non-Native people a glimpse some of the real culture and values of the Lakota people. What values are held in high esteem, and how do they work in the everyday life of the people, are just a few of the answers given. Long overdue for those seeking to learn the culture beyond the feathers and bells of a Powwow.

I am enchanted with this book, one of the most exquisite books I have seen in a long time. The Lakota way is a simple but universal way of living. It is a book I want to share with many.
I was blessed to share so many lakota traditions and even though I don't practice those traditions any more I have them in my heart.
This book just brought so many memories.

Lee's masterful account draws you in like a spy novel, even though you already know the ending! His book provides the clear reasoning behind why allied leadership made decisions that, until this book was written, looked like blunders. As the reader learns how Marshall and his generals applied the information gained from the routine interception and decryption of high-level enemy communication, his understanding of the grand strategy of WWII will be greatly enhanced. A stunning achievement, this book will become a "must read" for WWII historians and buffs alike. Everyone who has read this book on my recommendation has been equally impressed.

It further provides clear information which soundly debunks the convoluted rationalizations of those "politically correct" Smithsonian historians and their fellow travelers who have been so eager to portray the allied side (or at least America) as the "bad guys" in the war.

Read it. It takes away the schroud of politics into the reality of a very difficult world situation, with life and death decisions, troubling potential alliances, and knowledge available to only those who could be counted on by the fingers of one hand. A must read.

Marching Orders reveals for the first time what the Allies knew about Axis plans and strategies during WW II . The combined information revealed to them by Ultra and Japanese codes is staggering. Throw everything you know about WW II out the window, for this book will teach why events unfolded as they did. Direct quotes from Axis leaders read by the Allies in real time. An amazing fountain of information that must be savored! You will never view Allied generals in the same light again!

Simply wonderful! The heroine, Hallie, is a spunky, honest young woman who (thinks) she knows what she wants, and isn't afraid to go after it. Cooper is sexy, hard-working, and a true gentleman. Their differences seem to be too much to overcome, but love truly conquers all, as Hallie and Cooper find out. Ms. St. John brings the setting alive, and her characters are always so well done that I truly feel as if I know them. The sexual tension is sizzling - I couldn't put this one down!

but Hallie Wainwright wants more than an apron and some man's wedding ring. She's a reporter and is just looking for an opportunity to prove herself. Cooper DeWitt thinks he's found a woman who can make it in the untamed west as well as a woman who can find a place in his heart. Cooper and Hallie find that the path to their Happily-Ever-After is a bumpy trail indeed in Badlands Bride.

As always, Cheryl St. John captivated me on the first page and pulled me along until the very last.

Hallie Wainwright was upset, as a lot of women of her era, that wanted recognition for their brains and abilities. She did not want to be valued for her marriagability and femeninity.
She wanted to be considered equal - not realizing the dangers she has been protected from.
When she decided to go west [again to prove her ability to her father and brothers] she had to go under the protection of Cooper DeWitt. Neither wanting marriage at first.

She was surprised and astounded, at first, when she realized that Cooper had been raised by the Sioux. Hallie was dismayed when she heard of the custom of taking a dead brother's wife as his own.
Then she met Last Horse who wanted to trade for her. Oh,boy!
Chumani, Cooper's brothers wife, and her son was under his protection. She taught Hallie many house-wifely, frontier methods of survival in her hut.
Then came the story of Hallie's stone - the meaning, use and belief were great.

Hallie gained a reputation for bloodying the outlaw's nose and shooting a bear - while she collected the stories of the mail-order brides and how they were surviving.
Cooper would not give in to the strong attraction he felt for this white woman, she could not survive in this wild country.
He was astounded at what she did survive while under his care.
He was going to see that she got back safely to Boston. Yup! Uh-ha!
Great love story -- definitely a keeper
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED - worth reading again. No PMS until -----

Only Walter Wangerin, Jr. could've written a novel of such vast scope. This beautiful (and often frightening) tale of the lives of the Lakota tribe is woven with such mysticism, power and amazing imagery that it stands as one of Wangerin's most effective works to date. I've always been a huge fan of the author, but this book sat on my shelves for over a year. Not being at all knowledgeable about Indian lore and beliefs, I quite possibly assumed that I might not be as interested in this book as in other more "accessible" works by Wangerin. But at the end of the book, I truly felt...well...honored...that I had been allowed to have spent that time learning about such a culture..even in a work of fiction. There is so much dignity, beauty, and transcendent truth about the Lakota people in these pages, that I was overwhelmed. And Wangerin's lengthy and extraordinary "afterward" section where he details his own experiences attending a "Fire Dance" over a period of a few days is as moving as the novel itself. From a reader who has had nothing but the highest praise for many of Wangerin's other works, "The Crying For A Vision" stands as one of his masterworks.

This book weaves a wonderful web of a Lakota oral tradition along side a capivating hero. It was so absorbing that I felt as if I faced the characters obstacles along side him.

This powerful novel makes you feel like you are in a different culture. I'm no Lakota, and cannot speak to the authenticity of culture portrayed by this Lutheran pastor. All the characters, including the "villain", are multi-dimensional. It made me think about the meaning of success, relationships, loyalty, and societal change, among other things. Maybe the Lutheran/Lakota thing is why this novel (right word?) has not been more successful. I'm glad for the new edition, with a lengthy addition about Wangerin attending a Sun Dance. My son, a reader of integrity, liked it too, said it was now on his Top 5 List, if he had one.

The Amazon listing recommends this for ages 9-12. That's a bad idea. As a former 5th grade teacher, I can tell you that few middle graders will enjoy this book. Adults, do not be chased off by this inexplicable recommendation. Not that there's anything really R-rated or anything in it, but this book is a terrific choice for adults or mature older teens.