Roxanne Henkes' books are very good and very hard to put down. She has the gift of telling her story from different view points, and I like this style a lot. Living in a small town in North Dakota made the book Finding Ruth even more of a delight for me to read. Besides being entertained by Roxanne's books, she includes insights that make one think about their own life. Keep the books coming Roxanne! They are definitely winners!

Henke's compelling first book, After Anne, was such a page-turner that I wondered if she could possibly repeat her success. In Finding Ruth, the reader has all the components for a delightful read: fast-paced story, believeable characters, interesting dialogue, heart-wrenching moments, touching romance, and plenty of take-away. I couldn't put it down.

Ruthie struggles with years of unfulfilled dreams that sour her view of small town Brewster. Tough circumstances early in life are part of the problem, years of bad decisions don't help. When Paul, her highschool sweetheart, returns to town, Ruthie's life takes a new twist.

Roxanne Henke has the wonderful ability to engage the reader as if one is sitting across the kitchen table listening to "girl-talk." When I open her books, I feel like she is saying, "Now let me tell you about Ruthie!" And I pull up my chair, pour myself a cup of tea, and listen.

An great book anyone interested in Indi'n life and their beliefs will love this book. I am from the author's home town and what is writen is real and true.

I found this book to be a moving experience. It graphically illustrates the current condition of our Reservations, and how the People persevere in spite of living in absolute poverty. It is a story of hope and inspiration. I recommend it highly.

"It Is a Good Day to Die" tells the story of the Battle of the Little Bighorn using the eyewitness accounts of eleven Indians who were there, from Sitting Bull of the Hunkpapa and Low Dog of the Oglala to White Man Runs Him, a Crow scout in Custer's cavalry unit. Herman J. Viola simply arranges the various parts of these varied accounts chronologically: Antelope Woman of the Cheyenne talks about the great camp on the Little Bighorn and Young Hawk, an Akira scout for Custer, then tells of finding a Sun Dance circle in an abandoned camp. You really get a sense for the excitement of the battle as the warriors in the camp learn about the white soldiers, prepare themselves for battle, and ride off. Viola weaves together the accounts so that you get a true sense of how the battle progressed and what happened when Custer and his command were dead.

These accounts are drawn from varied sources, such as the biography of Black Elk, the Holy Man of the Oglala, and accounts collected by Dr. Thomas Marquis, who interviewed many of the old warriors early in the 20th century. Viola notes that years passed before the Indian side of the Battle of the Little Bighorn was ever told, because those who had participated feared reprisals from the government, the relatives of the slain soldiers, or the U.S. Army. However, despite these obvious gaps in the historical record, "It Is a Good Day to Die" certainly gives young readers a sense of what happened on June 25, 1876. There are no illustrations in the main body of the book to distract readers from this oral history of the battle, but the Introduction and Epilogue contain historic photographs and provide necessary background information. There is also a map of the battle, a photograph of Custer's last message, and an example of a Indian painting showing Crazy Horse in the battle. While this is not the first book students or teachers should read to learn about the Battle of the Little Bighorn, it is certainly a book that anyone truly interested in the subject should read at some point in their studies.

Final Note: The accounts use the word Sioux throughout the book, although we now know the term is inaccurate, having been a derogatory term used by the enemies of the Lakota people. Viola is much more specific in his identification of the tribes of the different eyewitnesses.

This is an excellent and clear told story of the Battle of Little Big Horn. I read this to my fifth grade son and we both "enjoyed" it. It is a very sad tale told from the perspective of people that were at Greasy Grass. I truly recommend this for ALL teachers that teach our children about westward expansion and ALL parents that want our children to learn the truth and the importance of the truth. It tells the story of Native Americans and the destruction of their life and culture.

Not only the most throughout chronicle of the sweat lodge ritual, but also one of the best books on contemporary Lakhota religion. Good work!

I read through this book in one day. I couldn't put the book down except to make a coffee. Excellent reading.

Looking forward to Jake's next adventure.

Excellent, entertaining reading for young adults. This and each title in the Jake Montana series provide exceptional insights into native American culture in an informative and entertaining manner. A modern day Hardy Boy Mystery series with spiritual and mystical elements.

This is it. This book is by far the most powerful thing I have ever read. I actually cried as I read the ending. This is the first book by Mr. Roderus that I have read but it will certainly not be the last. I have only 3 words of advise to you if you have not yet read this one. "BUY IT NOW !" This one will change your life.

In my opinion few writers can handle a novel where very few characters are onstage. Mr Roderus has given us a great novel. I read Potter's Fields at one sitting and I am sure that you will too. I was right there with Joe Potter in that line shack. I looked around and saw how miserable and ornery and cold it was and how a man carries more than just his emotions around with him. And how the tenderness of a woman is something that man ignores to his detriment. In short, this book is great -- buy it.

This is a great book for Scandinavian recipes used EVERYDAY in America. There are tons of cookbooks for those special occasions, but the recipes which are hard to find are the ones that grandma didn't write down; she used them everyday; no need to refer to a recipe card! I found SIMPLE recipes that were used when the goal was to just feed the family, not to "entertain." But these are GOOD recipes, quite literally, like "Grandma used to make." If you're looking for a recipe that isn't fancy, but a family favorite, this is the place to find it!

You won't be sorry you picked up this book. I've read two other books by Carrie Young, and they are all just a treat to read. I grew up eating this kind of food, lovingly cooked by my Norwegian grandmother. I thoroughly enjoyed reading these recipes and accompanying stories. The stories are often hilarious, and they all ring true for those of us with similar backgrounds. I'm picking up another copy of this book as a birthday gift for a relative, I know she'll love it!!! A great book for Scandinavians, for persons from the midwest, or for anyone else!!!

Mike has been a friend of mine for years. He and I were ordained in the same class in our Annual Conference. However, I believe knowing him has helped me assess this work. The devotions are very thoughtful and the reflection of a well-trained pastoral mind. The stories show the a very compassionate human being who can see the hand of God in the work of people. Thanks Mike.

Though probably best read in small doses for proper assimilation and reflection, I found myself compelled to keep reading page after page of this wonderful collection of meditations. But donÕt let the term meditations throw you. There is nothing dry or boring about them. Bishop Coyner has a wonderful way of using the everyday events of our lives and how we react to them as reflections upon our relationships not only with each other, but with our Creator as well. I never felt that I was being preached to, but needed to be reminded of the need to "shave my head" when called to do so, learned a wonderful new word (Uffda!), and discovered that El Nino is not a bad thing for everyone. There is so much more to share, but some journeys we each have to make ourselves. This is definitely a trip worth taking.

When is a prose memoir nominated for the Pulitzer Prize in Poetry? When it is written by the talented Mr. Murphy and punctuated with poems that arise out of the narrative like crops from the earth, concentrating it into a sweet or bitter nourishment. The memoir tells how Murphy's family came to farm in the Red River Valley bordering Minnesota and North Dakota, starting with his grandfather from New York, who broke the virgin bluestem with a two-bottom plough. Full of both personal memories and the sweep of history, the narrative depicts a way of life at the mercy of drought and flood and constrained by national politics and now global economics. In this environment, strength of character is not a virtue but a given. With vivid portraits of his grandparents, parents, and neighbors, Murphy humanizes an often unforgiving landscape. It is amazing to come upon his poems-each one distilling the literal truth with acute accuracy. Anyone interested in the distinct power of poetry will want to see how prose and poetry interact. Six color woodcuts by artist Charles Beck make this book glow.

When I was young, my father farmed for a time. I had almost forgotten how it feels for one's livelyhood to be so closely tethered to the weather and economy, so much that one storm (or lack of) can throw one's life into chaos. Say it doesn't rain for a month, starting today, so you're not going to get a third of your regular salary. That's farming; very arbitrary. Set the Ploughshare Deep reminded me of how this feels.

Murphy's writing is simple, spare and excellent. He has a wry sense of humor that injects itself into his stories and poems occasionally, and an amiable voice. He also inspires incredible emotion, especially when he writes of the lives, manners and deaths of his beloved hunting dogs. An elegy for one of his dogs, Dee, broke my heart. An account of another dog's reaction to her puppy's death is equally moving. Murphy is excellent at what he does.

Bless Mari Sandoz for saving much of the traditional Plains culture in this very accessible short novel. It is the time before Custer; whites are just beginning to become more populous along the Oregon trail. The main character, Lance, is a boy looking for his role in a band of Oglala Sioux, whose main struggles still involve the enemy tribes of the Rees, Pawnees, and Crow, as well as the battle against hunger. It is his nature to stray from the fold, which goes against the strong tribal value system of doing nothing that will endanger the people. He adopts an enemy as a brother; catches horses; survives a winter alone; participates in the buffalo hunt; attends the Sioux tribal meeting on Bear Butte; falls in love; "buries" his mother in a tree-burial; and finally wins the tribe's--and his sweetheart's--approval for his keen vision in a revenge raid on the Pawnees. His talent is in watching and recording in pictures the people's stories: a comparison could be made to Sandoz and the Oglala historians she worked with. This book renders a topic of inherent interest in beautifully crafted sentences. There is much to learn in its pages.

this story is amazing. all though I am not of native american background I have some friends that are and fortunetly, they are related to the Sioux and Cheyanne tribes and they say this book is one of the best of it's kind.