Thunder Rolling in the Mountains

It is spring of 1877 when fourteen-year-old Sound of Running Feet, daughter of Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce, sees white people panning gold in the little creek that feeds the Wallowa River, and brings word of them to her father. "They are the first, but more are on the way," he says. "We are few and they are many. They will devour us." It is Sound of Running Feet who narrates the story of her tribe's fate. Readers will be gripped as she shares with us her respect for her father, her love for handsome Swan Necklace, and her destiny.

I liked this book for two reasons. First, I thoroughly enjoyed this book because of the strong female main character. She does many untraditionally feminine things such as when she “jumped off [her] horse and took a careful aim with [her] rifle at the pan Jason Upright’s wife held in her hands”(5). I am currently reading this book to a few fifth graders and they all thought the main character was a boy based on the character’s actions. It was refreshing to see such strong female portrayal in books that are accessible to children. The second reason I enjoyed this book was because of the language. I enjoy how this book explains the surroundings and weather in a way so that the readers can get a better vision for the environment. show more For example, “The wind swirled high in the treetops” (13). The language is very simple and easy to understand which makes it a perfect read for my students as many of them are still struggling with comprehension. The main message of this book is to explain the horrific events of the past in hopes that it will not repeat in the future as well as educating readers on the events that followed after white settlers forced their way into the Indian tribe’s homeland. show less

Thunder Rolling in the Mountain is a story surrounding a young girl named Sound of Running Feet, who happens to be daughter of the chief of the Nez Perce, Chief Joseph. She recounts what life was like during a period of time where the U.S. government began decimating the cultures of Native American groups all over the United States. This novel captures the loss, grief, and grit that many native american's had to experience during the late 1800's. Scott O'Dell did a wonderful job capturing the culture, and reality of what happened to the tragedy that was the Nez Perce tribe. This is one of my favorite novels I have gotten the chance to read with my students!

This is the story of the Nez Pierce being driven from their homeland and going to war with the US army, told from the perspective of Chief Joseph's daughter, Sound of Running Feet. We see her tribe struggling to survive as they run from the army and slowly lose their possessions and many lives. Sound of Running Feet eventually strikes off with only her beloved to try to escape to Canada.

Thunder Rolling In the Mountains
Author: Scott O’ Dell
Illustrator: Elizabeth Hall
Publisher/Date: Bantam Doubleday-(1992)

Summary: Thunder rolling In the Mountains is a book that tells the story of a young Indian girl and her tribe Nez Perce tribe. Sound of Running Feet is the name given to Chief Joseph’s fourteen-year-old daughter who brings word to the tribe that white people are panning gold in the river and living on land that is not theirs.

Personal Reaction: This book did not strike me and strongly as the other books that I had read. It was a good book but it took me awhile to get into it and enjoy it.

Extension: In the classroom we would talk about the Indian tribes. I would have each student to make up a name for themselves for show more example, the name that was given to the girl in the story was the Sound of Running Feet, then the next day we would have an “Indian Day” and wear Indian clothes and have our names. show less

I loved this book! I thought it gave an interesting historical view. I really liked that the book put a lot of detail into the native american culture. i also liked this book because from growing up in the Northwest I could identify places in the book, for example my parents used to take us camping at Wallowa Lake in Oregon, wich is where Sound of Running Feet's tribe's original home was. This is a book I would recommend to children in upper elementary school

In the late nineteenth century, the young daughter of Nimipu chief Joseph relates how her people were driven off their land by the U. S. Army and forced to retreat north until their eventual surrender.
Lexile: 680