Adopted by Indians: A True Story
Gr. 5^-8. After his mother died in 1850, young Thomas Mayfield lived with the Choinumne Indians in California, spending almost all of his time between 8 and 18 with them while his father ran livestock in the valley. Mayfield tells of a carefree and happy existence growing up at therancheria, describing the traditional ways of the tribe before the encroachment of the white settlers and people in search of gold. Although the folksy tone of the narrative may be lost on middle readers, the first-person descriptions of fishing and hunting, clothing, food, and everyday life are genial and appealing. The black-and-white drawings scattered through the book are at their best when they show wildlife, housing styles, and details of preparing food. Edited by Margolin, this account was adapted for children from Mayfield's bookIndian Summer: Traditional Life among the Choinumne Indians of California's San Joaquin Valley. Glossary appended.Karen Hutt