This engrossing book uses archived documentation to provide a look at frontier life in the 1800s and the story shows how two women Emma and Oenikika, are connected by the fate of one man.

In setting the background for the story I have to note my interpretation of how the Dakota War of 1862, also known as the Sioux Uprising or Little Crow's War got started.

In 1851, the United States government negotiated a treaty that forced Dakota-Sioux Indians to live on a 20-mile wide by 150-mile long reservation. The Dakota-Sioux could not leave to hunt for their families beyond their reservation.

The government said they'd pay them money that they could then use to buy food and supplies at trading posts. But it's reported that the payment was often late and that instead of delivering the money to the Dakota-Sioux, some government agents kept the money for themselves.

Due to crop failure, the Indians on the reservation faced extreme food shortages with a limited ability to cope. Many on the reservation longed for something better than the present situation and experienced shock and grief as they became devastated by their circumstances and the lack of money promised.

On August 15, 1862, it's reported that the Dakota-Sioux went to their Indian Agent expecting their annual payment of money and weren’t given any. So, two days later, 4 young, hungry, Indian braves stole eggs and killed five white settlers. This then resulted in an armed conflict in the United States between white settlers and several bands of Dakota.

The outcome of the conflict was the largest one-day mass execution in US History. After military trials, thirty-eight Dakota-Sioux men were hanged in Mankato Minnesota on December 26, 1862. ( )

I remember reading about the true story of the hanging of the Dakota-Sioux men that inspire this book. It is a very tragic moment in history. The treatment that the Dakota endured at the hands of the white men will not be forgotten.

This book is told from two girls voices...Emma and Oenikika. I have to admit that I was more fascinated by Oenikika. Yet, this is not to say that Emma was not interesting. She just had a quieter tone as she was finding her voice. Plus, the other Dakota were just as interesting as Oenikia, therefore her story just came alive more and faster.

Dovetails in Tall Grass is a tragic but powerful story that author, Samantha Specks does portray beautifully. A book that readers should not miss. ( )