Charlie Young Bear

by Katherine Von Ahnen

Overview

Charlie Young Bear lives with his family on the Mesquakie reservation in Tama, Iowa. They are poor, but Charlie has a dream of owning a red and silver bicycle. One day, the tribe learns that it will soon receive a large sum of money in settlement of a treaty with the U.S. government. When the money finally arrives, it brings an unexpected surprise, and wismon and understanding to Charlie.
Ages 5-8

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781570980015
Publisher:	Rinehart, Roberts Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	11/01/1994
Series:	Council for Indian Education Series
Pages:	48
Product dimensions:	5.48(w) x 8.54(h) x 0.15(d)
Age Range:	5 - 8 Years

About the Author

Katherine Von Ahnen is an award-winning author and poet, and has written for various newspapers and journals.

Editorial Reviews

Gr 2-3-In 1955, the Mesquakie Indians in Iowa received a U.S. government settlement of over one million dollars for treaty violations dating back to 1802. In this beginning chapter book, a young boy, Charlie Young Bear, dreams of getting a red-and-silver bicycle with some of those funds. New roads and schools are a first priority for the settlement, plus each family will receive a share. Charlie's mother selects a new stove; his dad buys tools. Consulting his grandfather about his desire, Charlie asks the elder to consider his request as worthy in the eyes of the Great Spirit. Under a stone in the woods, the boy places small treasures as offerings. To his surprise, the hardware store delivers a truckload of bicycles, one for each child in the village. With deft, spare prose, the characters are fleshed out. Soft charcoal drawings on each page complement the gentle tone. Through this smooth combination of history, plot, and character, young readers can immerse themselves in Charlie's story.-Jacqueline Elsner, Athens Regional Library, GA

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