All 15-year-old Dusty Hamilton wanted was to go to his hometown's bash for the 1893 Land Run centennial. Instead, he's witnessed a hate crime—and he's driving the getaway car. Now a mystical white eagle has invaded his dreams, making him question everything he thought he knew about Indians and friendship. After the eagle takes him back in time to see the horror of the Ponca tribe's forced removal to Oklahoma, Dusty must decide whether or not to act on what he's learned from watching one of America's first civil rights activists—the Ponca's own Chief Standing Bear—in action.
I was given this book in exchange for writing a review. This book is great for 4th-7th graders, depending on their reading levels. It has a lot of action and some suspense that keeps the reader wanting more. It also teaches valuable lessons on what true friendship is and how easily discrimination can turn into a hate crime. This story moved me because, although we read and hear about hate crimes, this is a fictionalized first-hand account of one and it really hits home.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
Overview
All 15-year-old Dusty Hamilton wanted was to go to his hometown's bash for the 1893 Land Run centennial. Instead, he's witnessed a hate crime—and he's driving the getaway car. Now a mystical white eagle has invaded his dreams, making him question everything he thought he knew about Indians and friendship. After the eagle takes him back in time to see the horror of the Ponca tribe's forced removal to Oklahoma, Dusty must decide whether or not to act on what he's learned from watching one of America's first civil ...