Review of Red Dove, Listen to the Wind by Sonia Antaki

Read for: Requested Review/ Netgalley

Synopsis: "Abandoned by her white father, thirteen-year-old Red Dove faces another lean winter with her Lakota family on the Great Plains. Willful and proud, she is presented with a stark choice: leave her people to live in the white world, or stay and watch them starve. Red Dove begins a journey to find her place in the world and discovers that her greatest power comes from within herself."

My Review: I grew up reading Kenneth Thomasma's books and this one gave me very similar vibes with the synopsis.  I am glad I did get the opportunity to read it.  While this is a middle grade book and a lot of the violence has been toned down, it still gives a good look at the harsh realities of the time. Red Dove and her family, had some difficult decisions to make, to survive by leaving their ways behind and trusting people who were not entirely trustworthy or stick with their heritage but risk starving and being persecuted.  I did appreciate the portrayal of  not only those who are following orders and strongly agree with them, but also those who think they are helping but were innocently blind to the damage that was being caused.  I enjoyed seeing how the characters developed throughout the story.

My Rating: This was a beautiful but difficult book to read, it shows us some of the truly ugly past of our nation.  With that said it is an important story to read and the way the multiple and polar opposite views are presented make for great conversation starters with young readers.  I give it a rating of Four Paws.

I received a complimentary copy of this book via Netgalley, the above is my honest review and opinion.

You can find out more about Sonia Antaki and her books on her Goodreads or Website.

Red Dove, Listen to the Wind will be released on October 15th, but you can pre-order your copy in print or digital format from Amazon or Barnes & Noble or ask for it at your local bookstore or library.