Black Eagle Child

By Ray A. Young Bear

Book Overview

A classic of Native American literature, Black Eagle Child uses a rich mix of verse, prose narrative, and letters to tell Edgar Bearchild's journey to adulthood. Although the backdrop of much of Young Bear's novel may be familiar -- the conflicts over race, drugs, Vietnam and others that gripped America in the fifties, sixties, and seventies -- Bearchild recounts his coming-of-age story from a distinct vantage point, as a member of the Mesquakie nation. From his childhood delight in Jell-O to his induction into the faith of his elders, Bearchild's journey is a uniquely American one.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0802134289
• ISBN13: 9780802134288
• Release Date: December 1996
• Publisher: Grove Press
• Length: 261 Pages
• Weight: 0.92 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.9" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

What do owls, fireflies, and UFOs have in common?

This is a great read! Ray A. Young Bear's book is not as difficult to penetrate as some of Gerald Vizenor's stuff, but is just as smart. It isn't quite the way Louise Erdrich weaves her stories together, but his use of language and his ability to tell a story is just as good. He's poetic, magical, honest, and can paint pictures with words you won't forget.What is it about? Well, it's about life. It is about the lives of a group of people from the heartland of America. If you like Native American literature, get it. If you like poetry, get it. If you enjoy staying up and night and laughing with the characters in the books you read, and feeling their pain, I think you won't be disappointed.