North America Books

Connie Lapallo's fiction seem so real, as if I was there with those courageous women who came with their families to build a new life in Virginia. Many of them lost so much, material things, husband, brothers, fathers, children, and then, their own life. The description of their voyage on the ship that from England to Virginia, made me feel like I was in the lower bowels of the ship with them. Even the horses had it better on the ship.
Upon their arrival in Jamestown, was unwelcome, they found out that there were no provisions made to accomadate the women and children was heart-sickening, no food, no homes, nothing....
But, the most
Soul Haunting part of the story was the Starving Time. I can't imagine living off of ground acorns, small rodents, tree bark, whatever could found to be edible. Ms. Lapallo really made you feel what the main character was experiencing, when her best friend died, the one who kept every one's spirit alive, seeing good in all things.
The ending seemed a little rushed however, if there is a second book the time between trying to return to England and the main character recounting her life in Jamestown would be a great first half of the second book.
I recommend this story to all teenage girls and their moms to read and discuss. Maybe it will help young girls with the "You owe it to me" thinking to reconsider their attitude.

As a young student, I did not appreciate my History classes. You know why? They were too BORING! Too many names, dates, and disjointed facts that had to be regurgitated in an exact fashion in order to boost up my GPA.
I wish all History books were written like Ms. Lapallo's book. The historical facts are beautifully woven into the mostly historical story. And because of the story format I found myself living, grieving, and surviving with these colonists.
There were so many tidbits that made the story real for me. Because of the rich detail, I felt as if I had been on those ships, being hurled about the ocean during a hurricane. And I felt genuine grief at the thought of all these women mourning for the missing ship. Grief, as SO many men and women perished from disease, hunger, or Indian attack.
This is also a very well researched book. There is a section at the end of the book that explains what is fact, and what is fiction, with charts that tell what happened to each Jamestown survivor. Other pages detailed the main character's ancestry, going from the mid 1500's to present day, and including Ms. Lapallo's own children.
What did I like best about this book? ... I loved that I learned more about Jamestown and the colonial period by reading this book, than I did in all my formal educational experience! So why can't more books be written this way?

This book was a perfect read for me. My family, the Kingsmills, arrived in James Towne around 1613, so this story really helped me connect with what they saw when they got here and the sacrifices so many made to establish this great country of ours. Thank you for taking the time to research all of this so carefully and for conveying it in such an interesting and realistic manner.

Steven E. Bishop
UVa. College of Arts and Sciences 2006
UVa. School of Medicine 2010

Normally, I am not a great reader of historical fiction books. I usually read the typical suspense thriller or popular romance books; however, I must say I was very pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed this book. Shamefully, living near Jamestown in Virginia most of my life, I never quite understood until I read this book the great hardships the early settlers suffered. This book made you feel the waves of the ocean when the main character Joan was in the cargo department of the ship traveling from England to Jamestown, you felt her fear of losing her family, especially leaving a daughter behind, and her hunger during the starving times of Jamestown. The writing and information provided in this wonderful book left you aching for more, my hope is that the author will hurry with a sequel. I think it would also make a wonderful movie.

Connie Lapallo's book is a wonderful read. Not many people outside of Virginia are familiar with the Jamestown story much less the details of what the women and children went through. The story is woven through the eyes of Connie Lapallo's ancestor who survived the starving time. For anyone interested in geneology or Jamestown history this is a must read!

I am always careful about books written by journalists from back East, especially when they deal with Montana's vigilantes. Frederick Allen, however, has made a worthwhile contribution to a controversial field.

I gave him five stars, although I do not entirely agree with some of his conclusions. It seems to surprise him, for example, when Plummer and some of his contemporaries started bouncing off the walls mentally after shooting somebody.

My experience in law enforcement has been that such behavior is normal. There are some sociopaths out there who just like to kill and don't feel any emotion about it, but they are few and far between despite what Hollywood scriptwriters would like you to believe.

This is a well written book, but it didn't change my opinion that the vigilantes cleaned up a situation that had spun out of control at a time when nobody else would, or could. The country was, after all, engaged in a bloody Civil War and the struggling miners in Montana's goldfields needed something to restore order in their isolated, vulnerable communities. Vigilante justice proved to be better than no justice at all.

One tends to associate the dark legacy of lynching almost exclusively with the South of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, but in point of fact the most extensive episode of vigilante justice in American history actually took place in the Montana territories in the 1860s. The Montana vigilantes have long been hailed as heroes in Montana (Montana Highway Patrolmen, for example, still bear a patch honoring these men and their cause), men who took upon themselves the obligation to rid their community of dangerous individuals. In this thrilling historical account, however, Frederick Allen pries open the chinks in the vigilante movement's historical armor to show that their brand of frontier justice eventually descended into something much darker and much less defensible.

In the early 1860s, Montana was a wild country overrun by thousands of men clamoring for the new-found gold in its rivers and streams. Even as gold camps began appearing overnight, there was no government of any sort to oversee justice - just miners' courts to settle disputes over claims and the like. The nearest outpost of territorial authority lay hundreds of miles west of the Montana frontier. Thus, it is easy to see how lawlessness could prevail under such conditions; it manifested itself most particularly in the form of stagecoach robberies on the paths leading away from town. A man could lose a whole season's worth of gold dust in the blink of an eye, and such hold-ups could turn deadly on occasion. What could the settlers do to secure their safety and safe passage back to the States or elsewhere? There was no legal system in place in the territory, there were no cells to hold prisoners, and there were no courts or judges to adjudicate cases. There was a sheriff, however, a fascinating man named Henry Plummer - and he really stands at the core of the entire drama. He came to be suspected of complicity in the robberies and murders in the area, and this growing sense of doubt in their sheriff served as the final impetus for the leading men of Bannack and Virginia City to take the law into their own hands. Plummer was among the 21 men hanged during the first six weeks of 1864. There will always be a level of debate as to Plummer's guilt or innocence, and Allen examines this fascinating man's life in great detail. The real question is how a man twice convicted of murder could have become a sheriff in the first place, but this speaks to the true remoteness of the Montana territory in those days.

In all, 51 men were killed by the vigilantes over a six-year period. Allen agrees with the consensus opinion that the early stage of the movement was justified, as there is evidence that all 21 of the men lynched in the first six weeks of 1864 were guilty, dangerous men - including Henry Plummer. Were the story to stop there, the Montana vigilantes would deserve nothing but admiration for bringing order and security to their local community. They did not stop, however, and their activities inevitably devolved into acts of personal vengeance and the very perversion of justice. In that first crucial period of early 1864, accused men were given trials of a sort, their fates usually decided by the entire community. Hangings took place in broad daylight, and the identities of the vigilantes were in no way kept secret. As time went on, however, men were summarily executed by individuals acting upon little more than their own authority. With no hope or manner of defending themselves, it is very likely that some innocent men were hanged - and there can be little doubt that many of the guilty had not committed crimes serious enough to warrant death.

As is always the case in history, the most fascinating aspect of this whole story is the lives of the men involved. Allen identifies the vigilantes as leading citizens of the area, an unusual amalgamation of men both for and against the battle for Southern independence being waged during that chaotic time. Politics came to play a significant role in the whole saga, as the appointed leaders of the newly-established Montana Territorial government did themselves no favors by immediately alienating the significant number of Democrats among the local populace. This new government was ineffective at best, with the executive and judicial branches nullifying each other's authority - and this provided the pretext for the vigilantes to continue their operations.

A Decent, Orderly Lynching really is a fascinating book. Allen brings to life the mining camps of gold-rush Montana, recreating all aspects of society there on the remote frontier. He offers penetrating assessments of the men at the heart of this story, those on both sides of the hanging rope, drawing a sharp distinction between the early, honorable activities of brave men determined to establish order in their lawless region and the excesses of those who continued to pursue vigilante justice after Montana's new territorial government had been established. Through it all, he maintains an objective air, making his own judgments based on the evidence in hand - and his research efforts were impressive, to say the least. The story of the Montana vigilantes is a most telling part of the history of America, and Allen has done a superb job telling that story to those of us unfamiliar with it.

This amazing book works on three different levels. It is first of all a compelling, action-packed narrative of Montana's vigilante period - carefully researched, engagingly written, and peppered with memorable characters and dramatic action. Western fans will love it. But Allen does not stop there. His brilliant examination of Henry Plummer, the mysterious and elusive sheriff-protagonist, adds deeper and darker shadings to the story. This is less a black-and-white tale of heroes and villains than one about how power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. The author does not trade in the romanticism surrounding the vigilantes. Finally, and most remarkably, Allen's book can be read as an allegory about the uses and misuses of all governmental power. In the nineteenth century, Montana's besieged citizens cried out for help against their version of terrorists -- only to discover belatedly that the response by unchecked governmental authorities could be equally lawless. Who would have thought that the Vigilante Trail led to Abu Ghraib?

People who hate "High Noon" have been known to cite the goings-on in Idaho Territory of the 1860s as proof that an enraged citizenry would never back down from outlaws. According to "eyewitness accounts," a locally formed vigilance committee rounded-up Sheriff Henry Plummer and his bloodthirsty compatriots and, with the aid of lots of rope, soon put an end to the rampant murder and robbery in the gold camps.

While this account made for excellent melodrama, it was a bit too pat to stand the test of time, and of late, had become the center of some arguing and fist shaking in the vicinity of Alder Gulch. Frederick Allen painstakingly examines the players and their times. His conclusions will not please the revisionists nor the vigilante apologists. While the vigilantes started out with the best of intentions and went after the worst of the thugs, their focus was lost in the chaos and power struggles of their era. Like many mavericks, they went from being heroes to embarassments.

But Allen confirms that Henry Plummer, George Ives & Co. were not martyrs of misdirected justice. It's too bad the vigilantes didn't have the forsight to stop while they were ahead.

This is the type of book that gives University Presses a good name. The author is a former political editor and columnist with the Atlanta Constitution and commentator for CNN. He has managed to write a scholarly yet reader friendly book that challenges some standard accounts of the famous Montana Vigilantes and their sometimes extra-legal activities. In what was the deadliest chapter of vigilante justice in American history, from 1864-1870, in excess of 50 men were hanged in Montana. The majority were inocent of capital crimes and a disturbing numer were innocent. This is a riveting book that will, in addition to bringing the reader up to date on a significant chapter in western history, cause one to ponder the significance of the Vigilantes on our current political debate over the war on terrorism. This is first rate scholarship in a reader friendly format. Highly recommended.

We just wanted a book to teach us the basics about Hummingbirds & help us to learn one type from the next. This book is working out very well for us so far. Already we have learned that what appeared to be a 'baby' hummingbird with the naked eye, was actually a moth via binoculars and the moth was shown in the book~! The book is well made, very nice pictures, small enough to leave on a kitchen counter or drawer for easy access and user friendly. I recommend this book for anyone looking to learn about Hummingbirds.

Great book for learning about these little birds and identifying them. The photographs are nice and help in the identification process along with the wealth of additional information. This book helped me identify more species south of Tucson when I went to photograph and videotape the 10 different varieties near the Mexican border.

Great book to teach us how to correctly identify hummingbird species. I can now identify several species easily & that's fun with about 30 some birds being fed by me in my garden. Great source of information.

Excellent Guide to Hummingbirds! I bought the book for my sister's birthday. She loves it!

As stated, it is difficult to go wrong with and of the Peterson Field Guides. This work is certainly no exception. Do be warned though, if you are a beginning birder, that NO field guide can meet all needs. This guide, like others, must be supplemented with as many different guides as possible. In this case, I might recommend Howell's wonderful work.

That being said, you certainly need to add this one to your collection. This work covers the thirty or so species found in the U.S. along with several that may or may not be seen. The range maps are great, but again, another warning to the newcomer to this wonderful pastime. The range of many of birds found in the U.S. in changing, almost at a yearly rate. We can go on forever as to why this is occurring, but it never-the-less is. As the natural habitat of these amazing creatures is shrinking, so are the bird populations.

The photographs in this book are a bit small and the quality is not what I would like, but the photographs are quite adequate, particularly if they are supplemented with other guides. The information found in the text is quite informative and accurate, as are the range maps, as far as we know (see above paragraph). There is much good information in this book concerning behavior, nesting habits and feeding patterns. This is certainly a book I would not want to be without when out in the field specifically looking for this particular family of birds. Recommend this one highly.

This is a beautiful book. It is interesting to read and helps explain the culture of the Southwest. My only hesitation in recommending it is that the recipes tend to be impractical for northern urbanites. I love the idea of having two kinds of Indian cuisine on our list of recipes we make regularly; sadly to say, nothing from this book made it.

What's most fun about this book is that even if you only wind up cooking a handful of recipes (like me), it's still a lot of fun to read. Some of the recipes are too involved for a neophyte like me but southwestern cooking (i.e., using all the spices native to that area) is clearly one of the most underrated culinary experiences around. A good chile paste or even chile powder has a flavor that can't be matched by the "usual culprits" - oregano, thyme, sage, etc.

So, yes, this book is a great addition to the kitchen for several reasons, even if you're an amateur.

My two cents.....

From the beautiful cover to the very last page, the vibrant and enticing photographs lure you into cooking each and every delicious recipe. Lois Ellen Frank has made a current masterpiece of an ancient tradition native to our continent. This is truly a fantastic cookbook.

Beautiful in every way. Outstanding and much appreciated photos. Wonderful commentary. Authentic recipes.

The author should be very proud of this fine accomplishment and this book should be in every public library. In fact, I may send a copy to a politician to remind him that we all immigrated here from someone else- except the Native Americans. They should be the only ones who have the right to decide our immigration policy.

This book is practical and beautiful and takes a totally modern approach to historic cooking. One of the finest cookbooks ever published and one of the most beautifully printed books ever done. It is no wonder it got a James Beard award. It is a treasure to own and is a delgihtful gift. I live in the Southwest, I am a cook, and I love this book.

Joralemon and Sharon's work was lacking a female point of view on northern peruvian shamanism. This book delivers that point of view along with a very personal account of the experience.

Other reviewers have described the breadth and depth of Glass-Coffin's study of Northern Peruvian curanderas and have noted how effectively she weaves her personal story through the book. I would like to add my kudos as well. I appreciated the solid historical context and enjoyed reading about her experiences with some of the ancient healing traditions and their modern incarnations. Having traveled through the region myself, I have can concur with her observations about some of the differences between male and female practitioners. It provides much food for thought.

Glass-Coffin's book will provide a great deal of insight for anyone interested in healing traditions or South American history. Although Post-conquest influences have mutated the expression of native spirituality, they did not completely eradicate time honored practices.

We have all enjoyed the charming and entertaining look at sorcery and witchcraft as experienced by the fictional Harry Potter. No less interesting and fascinating is Bonnie Glass-Coffin's realistic look at sorcery and shamanism as they exist in South America today. "The Gift of Life" incorporates Glass-Coffin's extensive research as a talented anthropologist with her own personal healing experiences to produce a highly readable and well-documented book on female shamans (healers) in Northern Peru. She provides a history of sorcery and healing in South America, a contextual explanation and description of the healing practices of five different female shamans she met while in Peru, and an examination of gender and socioeconomic differences in the world of spiritual healing. Academic rigor does not preclude a "good read". Scholars and general readers alike will be pleased with this book. When I loaned the book to a friend who has traveled in Peru, she returned it quickly, noting "This is too good not to have a copy of my own!" I recommend it highly.

Prior to THE GIFT OF LIFE, little had been written about the role women play in healing and shamanism in Northern Peru. Part of the reason for this oversight had to do with the way European colonization brought the concept of "witchcraft" to Peru, and the fact that Peruvian women who practiced traditional healing arts were frequently beaten and tortured until they confessed to standard European-style "witchcraft" practices. Author Bonnie Glass-Coffin was trained as an anthropologist, so she knew that women have historically played a large part in shamanism from looking at the ancient sculptures of the Moche and Chimu, which both portray women involved in healing arts. With the intention to find and interview modern-day women shamans in Peru, Glass-Coffin set out to do exactly that.

Bonnie Glass-Coffin shares the stories from five female curanderas (shamans) she met with between April 1988 and September 1989. Her extraordinary book, THE GIFT OF LIFE, describes the daily life of these female curanderas and the story of how they became healers, and includes black and white photographs of their mesas (curing altars) and healing herbs (plants such as the San Pedro cactus). Glass-Coffin's background in anthropology and her accounts of her experiences living in Peru as she grew up give this book a unique feeling of personal relevance and social perspective.

I was impressed that THE GIFT OF LIFE does not shy away from describing the ways curanderas have used their spiritual powers on some occasions for sorcery. Glass-Coffin describes "dano" as intended harm by sorcery, and tells stories and includes pictures of how Peruvians have discovered and dealt with the harmful magic of others. She also describes some of the differences between male and female healers in Peru -- such as the way female curanderas tend to involve patients more directly in their healing. I was also impressed that Glass-Coffin described her own personal involvement being healed by curanderas, giving this book tremendous warmth. The first-hand accounts of what it feels like to suffer as the recipient of a dano help the reader better understand the way our thoughts and feelings affect one another.

I give this book my highest recommendation to anyone who is interested in ancient traditional ways of healing, wishes to know what is unique about women healers, and is intrigued by reading stories about how our thoughts and feelings affect others.

Prior to THE GIFT OF LIFE, little had been written about the role women play in healing and shamanism in Northern Peru. Part of the reason for this oversight had to do with the way European colonization brought the concept of "witchcraft" to Peru, and the fact that Peruvian women who practiced traditional healing arts were frequently beaten and tortured until they confessed to standard European-style "witchcraft" practices. Author Bonnie Glass-Coffin was trained as an anthropologist, so she knew that women have historically played a large part in shamanism from looking at the ancient sculptures of the Moche and Chimu, which both portray women involved in healing arts. With the intention to find and interview modern-day women shamans in Peru, Glass-Coffin set out to do exactly that.

Bonnie Glass-Coffin shares the stories from five female curanderas (shamans) she met with between April 1988 and September 1989. Her extraordinary book, THE GIFT OF LIFE, describes the daily life of these female curanderas and the story of how they became healers, and includes black and white photographs of their mesas (curing altars) and healing herbs (plants such as the San Pedro cactus). Glass-Coffin's background in anthropology and her accounts of her experiences living in Peru as she grew up give this book a unique feeling of personal relevance and social perspective.

I was impressed that THE GIFT OF LIFE does not shy away from describing the ways curanderas have used their spiritual powers on some occasions for sorcery. Glass-Coffin describes "dano" as intended harm by sorcery, and tells stories and includes pictures of how Peruvians have discovered and dealt with the harmful magic of others. She also describes some of the differences between male and female healers in Peru -- such as the way female curanderas tend to involve patients more directly in their healing. I was also impressed that Glass-Coffin described her own personal involvement being healed by curanderas, giving this book tremendous warmth. The first-hand accounts of what it feels like to suffer as the recipient of a dano help the reader better understand the way our thoughts and feelings affect one another.

I give this book my highest recommendation to anyone who is interested in ancient traditional ways of healing, wishes to know what is unique about women healers, and is intrigued by reading stories about how our thoughts and feelings affect others.

"Indian Shoe" is the book that shows the light at the end of a dark tunnel. There is life and hope after a disaster! This book is a story of a beautiful relationship between a boy "Ray" and his grandfather. The author of this book, artistically, pictures the current lives of Native Americans in the mind of the readers. Although there are complexities in this book, there is a unique simplicity and a calming tone to it which makes it a "good read". The reader will go through different emotions including sadness and humor while reading this book.
The six tales of this book make it an "easy read" as well. As a teacher and a school librarian, I recommend this book to my student. It also makes a great gift from a grandfather.

In this collection of six tales about a boy and his grandfather, Ray Halfmoon goes to live with his Grampa Halfmoon in Chicago after Ray's parents were killed in a tornado. They used to live in Oklahoma, and still visit Uncle Leonard and Aunt Wilhelmina once in a while, but Ray can tell that Grampa Halfmoon is very homesick and would like to go to Oklahoma more often. In the title story of these six tales, their beat-up old pickup truck has finally broken down --- there's no way it will take them to Oklahoma. Ray can't do anything about the truck and he can't afford to buy a bus ticket, so Ray is trying to figure out some way to help ease Grampa's homesickness. Would a new pair of Seminole moccasins help? Does Ray have enough money to buy them?

These short stories are written for younger readers who like rhythms and repetition in what they read. The book is divided into episodes about the lives of Ray and his Grampa Halfmoon. It shows their love for each other, and how they try to do things to help each other. Ray learns the lesson of sticking with things that he starts. And both he and Grampa have to figure out how to help the animals they're taking care of during the Christmas holidays when the electricity goes out. Eventually, Ray learns what the biggest thing in life is --- even bigger than the biggest bass in the lake.

--- Reviewed by Tamara Penny

Indian Shoes is an astonishing achievement that captures, in lyrical and sometimes magical language, the spirit and love that bonds Ray and his Grampa Halfmoon. Divided eloquently into episodes that explores their relationship and how they must bond their hearts and souls in order to retain their trust and faith and love in each other, Indian Shoes, in simple, yet powerful language, is a must read for all ages. From easing Grampa's homesickness, to figuring out how how to save the animals during a Christmas power outtage, these characters are complex-driven, fighting to retain the courage and love they have for each other while still maintaining their spiritual Native American connections. Heartfelt, almost poetic in its language, and full of moments of humor and pathos, Indian Shoes is a perfect read!

My daughter (age 6) and I loved this book, which is about the relationship between a young boy and his grandfather. What was nice about it was the unexpectedness of it. It was not the usual school or historical stories written for this age group. Rather, they are just quirky unusual tales. I also think it is great that Ms. Leitich Smith presents Native Americans not only as traditional, ritualistic people who sit around telling allegorical stories, but as a living, breathing group. As such, this book is the perfect antidote to the usual "Squanto, Friend of the Pilgrims" fare. My daughter lost her grandfather a few years ago, but Indian Shoes captures the essence of that relationship and is wonderful! We won't soon forget Ray and Grandpa Halfmoon.

Indian Shoes does more than just reflect contemporary Native families, it captures the relationship between grandparents and their children's children regardless of their heritage. If you're looking for a book that grandparents and children can share together you've already found it.

Subtle, funny, catch in your throat poignant, this book is one to own.

I was on a vision quest in my life looking outside and was taught by elders and others to look within and with the help of this Book and Hyemeyohst Storm and other books he wrote I was able to learn more and feel more in touch with the earth medicine of Nature and its often looked over healing power The Power of One "Nature" may we all find our way to a place of peace and serenity within and share it by being.. JG

The Red Road curves through a parallel universe with only tenuous ties to contemporary reality. Storm speaks to the wanna-be warrior in all of us, with humorous vignettes spiked with hidden awareness, as he looks back at the valiant fool he was, beginning his quest before he even knows he was on it, missing all the clues to his personal Grail. (The sign said "Stop", he looked at it, but he couldn't see the message for the word...) Conservative Native Americans shun this guy for letting the cat out of the bag...But for the rest of us waschisus, this is as close to understanding life on the Res as we'll ever get. No matter what your path to personal enlightenment has been, any spritual trekkie will enjoy this guy's experiences. Great read!!!

This is a book about more than the guru-guided personal search for self-understanding of a half-breed, more than a remarkably profound exposé of the life-philosophy (not religion) of the native american peoples. More even than a confirmation of the inner validity of other ancient systems of thought and knowledge to be found in other parts of the world, for example in Scandinavia. This book is exactly what it claims to be: the revelation of A WAY, an approach to life and the problems of identity, balance and peace, second to none, and applicable to everyone, where ever in the world they may live, and whatever religious and cultural tradition they may formally adhere to. Something that if widely spread, and attended to in the right way, might just ... just ... (to coin a heavily misused, but in this context really appropriate phrase)"save the world". In other words, not without subversive, but highly life-enhancing social and political connotations. My advice: Read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest. And then practice, as best ye may. Good luck, and may the Spirit give you strength in the quest for yourSELF.

I found this book over two years ago and I have yet to finish. I can't bring myself to accept that it will end, so i've been doing everything i can to avoid turning that last page. It's that kind of book. There are so many layers of brillance and value to this amazing piece of artwork. Athough it is psychologically complex and methaphysically profound, it is Storm's simple love for the Earth and his masterful, unassuming language that set this book apart. The characters have a fully developed humanity to them that is unparalleled. Truly destined to be an all time classic. This is more than a book.

This book speeks to me about the inner turmoil and multitude of voices that haunt the uninitiated and estranged males in our society. To not belong, to be cut off from community is a plague on our youth and spirit. The feeling of isolation leads to antisocial behavior, unhappiness, stupidity and violence. Herein is the story of a disenfranchised man and how, with a mentor and female partner, he finds strength in the Self to command and conquer the demons of a disfunctional conformist society. This is a primer on taming the destructive, finding peace and living with beauty. Great insights for all!

Yahoooo! Finally, the last book in the Lyon Saga series is out! It's been a long wait but well worth it. I can't tell you how much I enjoyed this final story, completing the events of Jess's life from that of a fourteen year old to a mature woman with three grown children.

Oh yes, sending them from Croatoan Island made me very sad but it was the only thing she could do, and it continues the saga to its logical conclusion. Known facts are cleverly interwoven within the story. It is so believable, you can almost imagine you're there, meeting Robert Ashbury again and his carping wife, falling in love with Walter Ashbury, riding the outskirts of the settlement with Suzanne and Walter, breaking your heart over George, who longs to return to Croatoan. And learning what has happened over the past 25 years to Jess, her Akaiyan and all her dear friends.

My one and only complaint - why does it have to end!!!!! Come on, M. L. Stainer, write another story, please.

The Lyon's Crown is the last book in the Lyon Saga series. The story of Jess Archarde and her family rivals that of any new explorers. Their story should be made into a movie for all to see. The bravery of crossing the mighty Atlantic Ocean, establishing a colony from nothing, watching hostile Indians creep closer and closer to their encampment and finally, finding themselves abandoned is certainly the stuff movies are made of.
This is a brilliant series following Jess through 25 years, from age 14 to age 39 with children of her own. In The Lyon's Crown she is forced to send her children north from Croatoan Island, which has been her home for all those years. The story is told from Suzanne's point of view, her daughter and heir to her journals. In these pages are recorded Jess's life story. They are befriended by Robert Ashbury, Jess's one-time suitor for her hand. In extending sanctuary to her children, it is obvious that he still loves Jess. But his shrewish wife makes it difficult for all. Eventually they have to move northward to Jamestown, establishing a new life for themselves in a harsh, unforgiving country.
Little is known of these "lost colonists" and M. L. Stainer has done a remarkable job in bringing them to life. Her understanding of the Native-American culture is nothing short of extraordinary. I did not want the series to end with this last book. That is praise enough! Movie makers, producers, come on and read this series. It should be brought to the world!

"The Lyon's Crown" is the much anticipated final book in The Lyon Saga series. The series covers 25 years in the earliest American history and the lost colony of Roanoke Island. "The Lyon's Crown" completes the tale in the year 1612 and explores how things might have been for those who left Croatoan Island for the settlements of Jamestown and Henrico.

Throughout the series readers have enjoyed the historical fiction that is Jessabel Archarde's life. From her trip across the ocean from England as a 14-year-old girl to her having children of her own, we have come to love Jess and admire her strength. What will become of Jess' children, for they are half English and half Native American? After a smallpox epidemic that nearly devastates their Croatoan Island home Jess decides to send her children to live in Jamestown under the guise of English settlers. Hoping that the promise of Master Robert Ashbury to take in the young adults is still good, the three set off on their own adventure, leaving Jess behind.

Throughout this touching work of fiction are historical elements that lend well to children's understanding of our true history. The settling of Jamestown was no easy task and developing the new world was quite daunting. Relationships between the native peoples and the English settlers are compelling to study and this book certainly opens the eyes to what likely really happened. Historical figures like John Rolf, Sir Thomas Dale, and Matoaka (Pocahontas) give a feel of authenticity, while "seeing" the way the settlements were carved out and the development of the tobacco industry was begun gives the reader a better grasp on history than a social studies book might instill.

"The Lyon's Crown" is a satisfying end to a series that I have much enjoyed. I highly recommend the series for readers aged 10 and up who wish to explore history in a personable and enjoyable way.

Completing the LYON Quintet, which offers alternative theories about the fate of the "lost" colony of Roanoke, CROWN provides an emotionally-satisfying conclusion to the adventures of Jess Archarde. It is the year 1612 when Jess' three half English-half Native American children arrive by ship in the young colony of Jamestown. Suzanne, William and George were sent away by Jess, also known as Little Bird, from peaceful Croatoan Island. This was the desperate act of a mother to protect them from the smallpox epidemic which claimed her beloved husband, Akaiyan. To soften the sudden loss of maternal guidance, Jess enclosed many pages of her journal for her daughter to read and remember, for she had pledged to oversee her younger brothers. (First-time readers to the series will recap Jess' struggles and joys as an English girl, transplanted across the ocean.)

Although safe from the epidemic, Suzanne and her brothers are not joyously welcomed by the harassed and fearful colonists. Master Robert Ashbury, an old admirer of Jess, had promised them hospitality should the need arise, but his shrewish wife is resentful of a household of strangers (which includes a clinging widow with 3 youngsters). Treating them as little more than unwanted and inefficient servants, Mistress Ashbury recognizes something different in Suzanne' features and carriage. Her suspicions increase until she is openly hostile about their Indian heritage, for these colonists live in frank fear of the natives. How will Jess' children fit into this world, where their native heritage is grounds for stoning?

The author has skillfully interwoven authentic colonial history with an interesting story about her fictitious heroine and the second generation. Readers aged 10-15 should enjoy the entire series, for Jess' probeles and Suzanne's dreams can be understood by all. Deeper themes are hinted at as well; racial relations, possible fates of the lost colonists, and the role of a mother are subtly mentioned. The LYON series will educate as it entertains, hopefully inspiring further, future study about America's multi-ethnic past, focusing attention on Tidewater
Virginia and the outer islands.

I have finished the last book! I want to compliment you on a wonderful job well done. Your book is very comparable to the work done by Englis Fletcher of Bandon Plantation over at Edenton. Her success was due to the taking of a framework of historical fact and interweaving human characters into a realistic story.
Your work "has brought to life the human relationships of our first English people as settlers, and the Native Americans that were found here."
Your line, "I like to think that Eleanor and all our brave colonists, scattered far and wide... are part of the wind itself which spreads outward to the ends of the earth." How well this portrays the blending of two civilizations and their impact on the world to come.
To anyone, I heartily recommend these five books as a glimpse into the "people side" of our Nation's first colony. Their dreams, lives, loves and hopes. You will feel that in many ways, their lives had great meaning!
What will be your next project? You have too much feeling for people to let it all stop here. There is always another story!

I've personaly been to Mata Ortiz and everything the book contains is acurate! Go ahead and buy it, of course there is no substitute to actualy going there but this will give you a great idea of how things are.
Thanks!

We just visited Mata Ortiz, and it is great to be able to connect all the faces and stories with the beautiful objects these humble artists create.

This is a great book for all that are curious about Mata Ortiz pottery and the people who make it. If you want to start collecting, it's a great book to have for a reference source. All artists mentioned in this book are of high caliber, as good, some even better than the Native American potters of the Southwest. At this time, these wares are also less expensive and affordable to most people. Hopefully they will be a good investment for the future.

Susan Moesch

A wonderful collection of photographs combined with dialoge about this remote village in Mexico. It describes the journey to get there, then details the lives of the talented people who live there. The photogtaphy is outstanding. A must for any person collecting or thinking of collecting pottery from this village.

"The Many Faces of Mata Ortiz" is a treasure trove of information about the treasures that are the Mata Ortiz people and pottery. It is well laid-out, well written, and well...wonderful!! The only thing that would make my copy better are autographs by Juan Quezada himself and every other potter in the book.

Unfortunately for whatever reason, Juan's son Alvaro is not featured in the book. He is indeed an exceptional artist.

I was able to meet Alvaro and Juan Quezada in Nov 2006 in their family gallery in Mata Ortiz and found them and their entire family to be humble friendly and genuinely thrilled that people love their wonderful creations.

If you have not had the opportunity to visit Mata Ortiz, "The Many Faces of Mata Ortiz" will inspire you to go. If you have, it will make you pine for it and it's people.

I was delighted to come across this incredible book by Margaret Wyman. Having taught fourth grade in California for ten years, I thought I had a good understanding of the relationship between the native Americans and the Spanish. This indredible story of a Kumeyaay Indian woman, took me to new heights of understanding, and stirred emotions in me from compassion and sadness for the natives, to rage and disgust of the Spanish. The author does an exceptional job of bringing her characters to life. I literally could not put the book down as I raced to learn the fate of these intriguing characters. Margaret Wyman writes with passion and ingenuity. I highly recommend this fine book.

Besides telling the dirty truth, this book will keep you reading and biting your nails until the very end. (In fact, you will be asking "What's Next?") The book is that good!
Just remember that beyond the kind, decent, misguided and sometimes sordid characters, the story is historically accurate, even when the truth is frightening and shameful.

Margaret Wyman has written a compelling story about early California and its invasion by Spain and the Catholic church. Surprising twists and turns are followed through the intertwining of the lives of the natives, the Spanish soldiers, the Mexicans, and the "black robes". Good and Evil, sanity and madness, religious fervor and native beliefs are all portrayed in this novel.
I hope that her future titles will be as readable.

Mission: The Birth Of California, The Death Of A Nation is an historical novel set against the conquest of Southern California by the Spanish crown, set at the same era as when the United States was fighting for its independence. A brutal tale of the subjugation, forced religious conversion, enslavement, and massacre of California's native people seen through the eyes of a young woman who personally experiences the worst and most vicious of the conquistadors' treatment. A disturbing but highly recommended saga by Margaret Wyman, Mission accurately depicts the historical, genocidal impact that foreign settlement had on California's native population.

Margaret Wyman was blessed with the gift of story telling. She has the extraordinary talent of bringing her characters to life. I only wish I had the talent and eloqence to encourage you to read Mission. I found myself discussing Web with one of my friends as if I were reminiscing about my own sister. On daily walks along the trails of Lake Hodges I envision Web and feel her spirit as if she truly existed. Web's story has touched my soul and enlightened my view of Southern California history.