Joseph Medicine Crow (1913–2016)

I was a bit hesitant to read this book at first--judging the book by it's cover, it looked "text-booky". From the very first chapter (after the instructional introduction of how to earn chieftainship by counting coup), however, I was taken in with Medicine Chief's recounting of his birth. "With incense of burning cedar and the singing of scared songs, I came into the world. I was singing, too, but they probably thought I was wailing." Each chapter stands on it's own, vignettes that tell the show more story of Medicine Chief's childhood as the Crow nation transitioned from their traditional ways to life on a reservation. Written as an elder telling stories from the past is probably what makes this book so appealing to me and, I imagine, to the middle school students that I teach. It doesn't sound academic even though Medicine Chief holds a PhD and is the Crow Tribal Historian (or was--he passed away in April 2016 at 102 years old). His stories engage with his honest feelings and amusing or intriguing anecdotes. What did wouldn't be fascinated to learn that beef liver is sweet and delicious when eaten fresh and hot from the butchering? show less

Having previously read Medicine Crow’s book for adult’s, From the Heart of Crow Country: The Crow Indians’ Own Stories, this is a shorter, young reader version that can be read in one sitting. It is important that it is available to Montana students, especially here in Billings, as there is such a lack of knowledge and understanding about our original peoples in Montana. I think this book should be in every school library in Montana and required reading in Montana history classes.

I show more would use this book during Native American Heritage Month, but also encourage it as a general autobiography. I think this book is a good example of how important Montana’s Indian Education for All criteria is. The book can help non-Native students gain understanding about a living culture as well as provide inspiration and pride for Native youth. I think this book would also be valuable to begin a unit on interviewing elders in their own families to provide reports to share with their classmates. show less

Every spring a great big monster climbs out of the lake and up the cliff to steal the mother Thunderbird's young chicks. This year she is determined to save them, but she needs human help. So she snatches up Brave Wolf while he is out hunting and carries him to her nest, where he comes up with a plan . . .

Born in 1913 on the Crow Indian Reservation, Joseph Medicine Crow recounts his childhood, training to become a Crow warrior and his experiences in World War II. I found this book to be, although interesting, a slow read. It was written in an unemotional matter-of-fact way, rather than in a story-telling manner. Overall, I believe a child would become bored with this book and turn to more adventure-type stories.