Review: A Gutsy Retelling, Surprisingly Kid Friendly
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 11 26, 2012
This one was an interesting experience. It starts off as a fairly kid friendly story about 'the old days' and turns into a passionate and meticulous rewriting of history. Unflinchingly looking at atrocities on both sides, especially the American one, Wright examines the attempted genocide and resettlement of the Cherokee people. I was expecting 'magical indians' and flinched in the opening scene, but to my surprise, they were respectfully handled and treated.My only criticisms are that the charming tone--it's a lovely style--could have used a bit more editing to really make it shine; there are a few textual errors that popped up and distracted me slightly. The formatting is a bit off as well. Really, though, the distinctive voice reminded me of Twain and Harper Lee; every inch full of Southern warmth.I also feel that the history, while excellent, could have been added with more transitioning from the first plot; it felt a bit jammed in and it seemed as though the research carried him away at times.Still, all in all this one is definitely worth a look. I definitely recommend it for alternate history fans and even for young adults.