Counting Coup: A True Story of Basketball and Honor on the Little Big Horn

Greaat book!

I got this book for my 16th birthday. It changed my life forever.

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haven't read it yet

Excellent true account

This reviewer normally would not read a non-fiction work about sports, but my spouse used to coach girl¿s basketball and persuaded me to do so. It turned into quite a surprise as this work drives the lane with its in depth look at the divisions in society. Author Larry Colton went to Little Big Horn to follow a local high school boys team, but quickly honed in on a female superstar, Sharon Laforge


The Crow see Sharon as a symbol that will break the cycle of their children living miserable lives. That pressure of tribal hope almost obscures Sharon¿s simple dream of wanting to be the first member of her tribe to attain an athletic scholarship. The season is a strong run towards the state title, but the book showcases the racial chasm between the Native Americans and whites even as the team tries to become one to achieve the goal of winning. COUNTING COUP: A TRUE STORY OF BASKETBALL AND HONOR ON THE LITTLE BIG HORN is slam dunk look at high school women¿s sports on a reservation that is more than just a minor chronicle or journal. Though a sports book, this account is actually an insightful look at a segment of life that serves as a microcosm of our larger society

Overcoming Odds

Larry Colton is a journalist, wanting to write a story on a high school basketball team. He ends up in Hardin, Montana. Hardin is a town made up of whites and Indians that live on a reservation. Colton begins to follow the girls team around with the permission of Coach Mac. He tells not just about basketball but the players¿ home lives. He learns about their struggles and the poverty most of the kids live in. Colton shows great insight into this town¿s love for basketball and their need for something more. The characters in Counting Coup could be stories by themselves. What made the book good was that Colton didn¿t dwell on one person or issue too long, so it helped the book flow. Reading this book would be a good read for anyone who enjoys women¿s basketball and seeing people overcome life¿s obstacles.

Counting Coup: Jounrey Of Life.

The book Counting Coup is about a reporter Larry Colton that comes to a small town in Montana to write a book about the boys basketball team. When he gets to Hardin High School He saw a girl playing basketball Sharon Laforge and knew right away that's his story was in the girl's team. This book is for any age, race, or gender. If you appreciate basketball and people getting their problems this will be a fast read for you.

Trouble on the rez

This book follows a star Basketball player through her senior year, showing you the trials and hardships on the little Big Horn reservation. Sharon Laforge is a star basketabll player who has everything going for her, but after losing the championship game she lost it all. Theres alot more to it but I don't want to ruin it for you.

A great book!

'Counting Coup' is a very interesting book. The book shows the life of a girl, named Sharron, and her basketball team, the Lady Bulldogs. The book portrays all Indians as drunks and all white people as racist, which, arguably, is a good thing, because the author doesn't take either side. Along with the prejudice of the book, it shows America as still unequal. Sharron was the star basketball player, yet no collage took interest in her because she was Indian. This was a great book. I can see why some people may find it offensive, but I don¿t have a problem with any of it. This book was a true story, so if anyone really does have a problem with this book, they don¿t realize that this is the truth and they have to face that this is how it is always going to be. Like it or not.

intense

i think counting coup could have been better.I think that the the author could have focused on sharon's positive side more then her negative.i think that he could have wrote some of the negatives of the town.He could have worte more about the team grades in school and the school the kids went to

fascinating story!

As a former basketball player and current coach I found Colton's book to be very well done. I was particurlarly impressed with how he meshed the girls cultural differences with their team unity. It was a fascinating look inside a culture using basketball as the microscope.

Disappointed ball player/Crow Tribal member

I am a member of the Crow Tribe from Pryor, MT, a basketball player, and a college student. I look at it from those three views. The picture the book paints of the rezervation makes it seem really ugly, which it is not. There's plenty more to the rezervation then what's in the book. Unfortunately there is alot of racism here in Montana and that is portrayed in the book. He focused on ONE player out of an entire TEAM. There are plenty of Sharon Laforges, or basketball greats, on the Crow rezervation ( i.e. Elvis Old Bull, Lil' Rich McCormick, Chelsey Not Afraid, Garren Goes Ahead, etc., etc). That really talented player on a team here -Lodge Grass, Plenty Coups, Hardin- that slacks off and doesn't really seem to love game. They're just there for the stardom. I know because I was the bench warmer on the side who's seen it all. So that is nothing new. Why did he not focus on Ms. Laforges accomplishments, instead of all of her downfalls. And he didn't seem to write too much about the culture of us Crows, the title of the book has nothing to do with the book itself. Girls do not and have not counted coup. But I love the way that Mr. Colton wrote the book, the way that he describes everything is amazing. I am saying that from a literary point of view. I would recommend this to someone who is interested in basketball, and just that. Please do not take the portrayal of the rezervation too literaly, there is more on the inside of all that ugliness that is written. If you want to know about the rezervation just come down.

Born and raised in Hardin

I was born and raised in Hardin Montana. I was in eighth grade when Larry Cotton began his research in my home town. Every person that was mentioned in his book I know. So much of what he said I found very true. I still believe he could have left a lot of that out. There were many times i was in shock after reading certian chapters. Though I must add, many people in that town trusted him and invited him into their lives and homes. He didnt do to much when he wrote his book to return the favor. All and all I was truly amazed that he was as honest as he was. I read the entire book in a day.

Remarkable and Incredible

Counting Coup is and outstanding book that describes the culture of the Crow's and what it was like for whites and Indians to play together as a girls basketball team. Larry Colton describes the girl's life at home and their journey to try and win the state championship.Mr. Colton also tells about abuse and alcholism that most of these girls have to deal with along with family pressure they strive to be the best. With the intense basketball games and the hardships of home life I never wanted to stop reading because I always wanted to know if they won the game or not. This is a awesome book espescially for those of you who like basketball and I highly recommend it.

Great, great book

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It pained me to stop reading each night. I also read Larry Colton's other book, 'Goat Brothers,' and enjoyed it immensely. I like authors who know how to tell a story. Colton can do that. Colton spent a year or so living among the people he writes about in 'Counting Coup.' Just as in 'Goat Brothers,' he does a beautiful job of getting close to his subjects and gaining their confidence. Although I am a sports fan, I normally don't read sports books (I'm more of a murder-mystery reader). But this is more than a 'sports book,' so don't be dissuaded from reading this if you aren't a sports fan and see 'basketball' in the title. Others who might particularly want to read this book are those who are interested in American culture and societal issues. But even if you're not into those issues, don't worry. The people who enjoy this book the most are the ones who simply enjoy reading a good story about interesting people. Colton spent a year or so living among the people he writes about in 'Counting Coup.' Just as in 'Goat Brothers,' he does a beautiful job of getting close to the people in Montana and gaining their confidence. I am a sports fan, but I normally don't read sports books (I'm more of a murder-mystery reader). But this is more than a 'sports book,' so don't be dissuaded from reading this if you aren't a sports fan and see 'basketball' in the title. Others who might particularly want to read this book are those who are interested in American culture and societal issues. But the people who enjoy this book the most are the ones who simply enjoy reading a good story about interesting people.

An unfortunate true picture of life on the Rez

The picture portrayed in this book is an unfortunate true testament of the life on the Indian reservations in Montana. Living in Montana all my life, anyone driving through any of the reservations can see the condition of the living. I have been involved in a treatment center for l4-24 year old males with drug and alcohol problems so have dealt with Native American adolescents for many years. The dynamics of the families as Larry Colton describes is very accurate and the alcoholism runs through many generations. Basketball is the number one focus and Native American kids have many special gifts if only they could be accomplised. Hopelessness is something we deal with and overall the book was excellent and an update on Sharon would be a great thing to follow her. Thank you.

Teenage Dreams vs Reality

An excellent read that captures one teenage girl's journey and the hopes of a girl's high school BB team. It accurately reflects how some teenagers act and react and the parental/adult guidance or lack thereof. There were snapshots during the story where I could see myself as a teenager again...going through the same immature emotions and decision making that typifies an individual not knowing just how much more in the world there is to see and experience and how exactly to grab the chances without stepping out of a personal comfort zone. The book also relates both the perceived image of the Crow Nation and reality for some of the families. I found myself alternating between cheering for Sharon and being frustrated with the choices she made.

Racism is alive and well

This is a well written book that is not only for the sports enthusiast. It delves into the issues of the Indian reservation while not becoming too academic. The racism, on both sides, is eye-opening. I would recommend this book to most anyone.

A Crow's opinion

I am a member of the Crow Tribe. I read this book with mixed emotions, however I feel that this book is a misrepresentation of the Crow people. Not all families have abuse as far as alcohol and physical abuse goes. This book had no point or real meaning. Just another story about an indian failing in this world.

Excellent true account

This reviewer normally would not read a non-fiction work about sports, but my spouse used to coach girl¿s basketball and persuaded me to do so. It turned into quite a surprise as this work drives the lane with its in depth look at the divisions in society. Author Larry Colton went to Little Big Horn to follow a local high school boys team, but quickly honed in on a female superstar, Sharon Laforge.

The Crow see Sharon as a symbol that will break the cycle of their children living miserable lives. That pressure of tribal hope almost obscures Sharon¿s simple dream of wanting to be the first member of her tribe to attain an athletic scholarship. The season is a strong run towards the state title, but the book showcases the racial chasm between the Native Americans and whites even as the team tries to become one to achieve the goal of winning. COUNTING COUP: A TRUE STORY OF BASKETBALL AND HONOR ON THE LITTLE BIG HORN is slam dunk look at high school women¿s sports on a reservation that is more than just a minor chronicle or journal. Though a sports book, this account is actually an insightful look at a segment of life that serves as a microcosm of our larger society.

Harriet Klausner