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Description edit
Michael Dorris has crafted a fierce saga of three generations of Indian women, beset by hardships and torn by angry secrets, yet inextricably joined by the bonds of kinship. Starting in the present day and moving backward, the novel is told in the voices of the three women: fifteen-year-old... read more
Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit
Characters/People edit
- Rayona: Part Native American on her mother's side, 15, part black (father's side).
- Christine Taylor: Rayon's mother, Aunt Ida's daughter. She lived in Seattle, Washington after she left home.
- Charlene: A friend of Christine, in Seattle.
- Ida: Called Aunt Ida - she's Christine's mother, Rayona's grandmother. She lives on the Montana reservation, as she is (Cree?) Indian. She keeps herself aloof from both Christine and Rayona.
- Elgin: Rayona's father, seldom seen, a black man Christine met in a bar.
- Dayton Nickles: The man Christine stayed with near the reservation. Half white, Christine's brother Lee's best friend.
- Annabelle Stiffarm: A girl at the Mission High School, in the God Squad. She often made it tough on Rayona.
- Kennedy Cree (Foxy): Always with Annabelle at the Mission High School
- Father Tom Novak: The new priest, assistant, at Holy Martyrs Mission
- Father Hurlburt: Priest at Holy Martyrs Mission
- Willard Pretty Dog: An injured soldier returned from the war, Ida took him in when she was young.
- Sky (Dial) Norman: Owner of the Conoco Service Station near Bearpaw Lake State Park.
- Evelyn Dial: Sky's wife, the cook at Bearpaw Lake State Park
- Mr. Mccutcheon: Hired Rayona at Bearpaw Lake State Park; an overwieght man with bad teeth
- Dave: Worked at Bearpaw Lake State Park; ate lunch often with Rayona, intelligent. A thin mian, older than Rayona.
- Ellen DeMarco: A swimming instructor at Bearpaw Lake State Park, pretty, born in NY or NJ, college freshman. The male workers were interested in her.
- Mr. and Mrs. DeMarco: Ellen's parents (Burt and Dell), visited the State Park
- John and Andy: Maintenance workers at Bearpaw Lake State Park. They were older than Rayona, white men, big men, friends.
- Pauline and Dale Cree: Aunt Ida's sister and her husband
- Mrs. Pretty Dog: Add a description of this character.
- Lee: Christine's deceased brother, a Viet Nam veteran, killed in action.
Setting & Locations edit
Present day
- Seattle, Washington: Where Christine lived, with Rayona, until she became too sick to remain there.
- Cree reservation in Montana: Where Christine had lived with Aunt Ida, then later brought Rayona
- Bearpaw Lake State Park: Where Rayona worked after leaving the reservation
- Dayton's house: Where Christine stayed after leaving Rayona at the reservation. It was a tiny ranch house with white siding and green trim, near Havre.
First Sentence edit
I sit on the bed at a crooked angel, one foot on the floor, my hip against the tent of Mom's legs, my elbows on the hospital table.
Authors & Contributors edit
- Michael Dorris (Author)
First Edition edit
Original Language: Add the language.
Publisher: Add the publisher.
Country: Add the country of publication.
Publication Date: Add the publication date.
ISBN: Add the ISBN.
Page Count: 343
Publisher: Add the publisher.
Country: Add the country of publication.
Publication Date: Add the publication date.
ISBN: Add the ISBN.
Page Count: 343
Classification edit
- Library of Congress: Add the Library of Congress Classification.
- Dewey: 813.54
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