Review: A voiceless young boy, that represent many other voiceless Native American
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 10 21, 2012
No voice, but certainly he has a lot to say.... That's the better line I can find to describe the main character of this story, Skylar***Blurb***Sixteen old boy, alone and voiceless. How you feel if you where him, Skylar? The book begin with this only man, abandoned by his father and took to his grandmother house.Sky is not just a teenager. A surviver from a brutal crime, that left him with useless vocal cords, and a dead mother, he is also a Native American by blood, his father is Shoshone. His story is the voice of someone that don't know much about his family traditions and the way of live in the Shoshone reservation.***What is the best quality of this book?***In my modest opinion all the information about the native americans. Sky will learn and tell you everything about his father's tribe (his mother is not a Native American) but also start to see and learn about many other tribe. Each pauwow he will learn more about other reservations, and of course also you. It's mesmerizing... I love each story, each character and their unique traditions.***It's a young-adult story?***I think so, but I prefer to classify it a "for everyone" not just YA story. Certainly it's also a romance, because Sky will meet a boy and start a deep friendship with him. His name is Rafael, and what an irony... Sky best friend and possible his biggest crush, is the son of the serial killer that destroyed his family. I said "possible" crush, I know. He is young, he is starting to discover his origins, but also starting to understand he maybe be in love with Rafael. I will not spoil saying more, you must read to know.***There is also some activism or it's just a 5 stars nonfiction book?***Oh yeah, definitively this book is much more than just a boys story.There is a bitter message too, of how Native American are saw, and treated.Each time the main character will be frustrated, seeing the injustice and prejudice you will be frustrated too. Each time he will be mad, you will want to go, hug him and tell everything will change... but maybe it's not that easy.I don't know particulars about Native Americans... I never even travel to USA.. what I know is what I read/saw online/watch in movies. So yeah, I'm very ignorant in this topic... but I know... I really know (for my own personal experience) how you feel after a racist comment, a hate stare, just because you are you.I can't say if all the Native American information is this book is precise or not. It help me to know more? I will certainly answer YES.***This is a Native American tale, from a boy that happen to be also gay***Don't fool yourself reading it just because of the LGBT theme. It's really not the main focus of the story.This is a story of a voiceless young boy, that represent many other voiceless Native American fighting for their rights to be... themselves.***I recommend it to readers with open mind***Don't read it thinking it will a boring lesson about Native Americans. It's a very funny story (Sky is really a very funny boy!), with interesting tales... but with also a little activism... to pass you a message of equality and human rights... Yeah human not civil rights, that should be applied to everyone, despite of all races, colors, sexual orientation and creeds.... because it's what we all are, humans.5 stars