In my opinion, Trail of Tears is five star. The book is finely crafted with a vivid, poignant picture of a wonderful heroine, Laurel, who is caught in one of the most terrible events in our nation's history -- the forced removal of the Indians to the West. Showing the level of the Cherokee culture at New Echota and the hazardous journey of survival, Statham makes the events so real I had to wipe the dust from the soles of my feet, once I reached the west with the Cherokees. I have read this book 3 times and have gained new insights with each reading!

This is a truly outstanding, well written book. My daughter at the age of 7 read this with ease. She was able to discuss Seuoyah, John Ross, Andrew Jackson, and Thomas Jefferson with me. She had an accurate understanding of the Traii of Tears, the Indian Removal Bill, and even was able to discuss how the Cherokee Alphabet came about. The best part was she and I both enjoyed the book. This book would make a great gift for a teacher in grades 2 - 4 or any one wanting to learn more about the Trail Of Tears.

As is often the case with these informative volumes in the Cornerstones of Freedom series, "The Trail of Tears" is about more than the forced exodus of the Cherokee nation from Georgia to Oklahoma. R. Conrad Stein spends as much time teaching young readers about the culture of the Cherokees as he does discussing the Indian Removal plan to settle all Indians east of the Mississippi River finally implemented by President Andrew Jackson. Although the focus is primarily on the Cherokee nation, Stein touches on the other members of the "Five Civilized Tribes," the Creek, Choctaw, Chickasaw, and Seminole, albeit to a lesser degree. As would be the case with the Plains War of the 1870s, the spark for this fatal encounter would be the discovery of gold in the heart of Cherokee territory. The Cherokees went to court to have their treaty rights enforced, but Jackson ignored the ruling of the Supreme Court and Chief Justice John Marshall. Simply by presenting the facts of the matter, Jackson clearly becomes the villain of this tale, which saw one in four Cherokees die on the Trail of Tears. Stein ends his story with the defiance of Tsali, a legendary Cherokee whose last words were "It is sweet to die in one's own country." This book, illustrated with both historic paintings and etchings as well as more contemporary artwork of the tragic trek westward, gives students and teachers considerably more information about the treatment of Indians by the American government and the Trail of Tears than they will ever get in an American History textbook. There is not a better supplemental source of historical information for secondary History classes than this series.

I dont have this book yet,but I have used it several times at the library.I just ordered it and cant wait to have it for my very own!!!If you are researching the Cherokee people in Georgia,and their intermarriage/involvement with the whites,this book is,in my honest opinion,the most valuable,informative and interesting publication available.Mr Don L Shadburn..my hat is off to you for compiling a fantastic piece of literature.

This is Ms. Rozema's third book on Cherokee History and an excellent complement to her others. Voices from the Trail of Tears is a collection of first person accounts of the infamous Cherokee Removal of 1838. Drawn from letters, journals, military reports, contemporary newspaper accounts, and even physicians' reports, it offers an in-depth and very personal account of the tragedy referred to by the Cherokees as 'The Trail Where We Cried.' This book is different from previous books on the Cherokee Removal because it consists primarily of first person accounts of events leading up to, during, and immediately after the removal and while Ms. Rozema provides introductory notes to each account to explain the events and people who wrote the accounts, the eye-witness accounts are the focus of the book. This book deals more with the experience of the Cherokees held in camps during the summer of 1838 while they were waiting for removal led by Chief John Ross and where it is believed most of the deaths (due to sickness) actually occurred rather than on the trail than previous books. This book also deals more with the actual experiences of the Cherokees on the 'Trail Where they Cried' where previous books deal more with the events leading up to the removal.
Voices from the Trail of Tears is an excellent choice for anyone interested in Cherokee history or the removal of the southeastern Indians. It would also be an excellent choice for teachers or researchers including those doing genealogy research. The book is thoughtfully indexed and carefully noted with unobtrusive endnotes and extensive bibliography at the end of the book.

I was looking for something to read along the lines of The Last Of The Mohicans. The War Trail North certainly delivered! It also opened up for me a whole new literary area.

In this story the reader views the life of a warrior as he attempts to prove his manhood. I found particularly interesting the clashes between rival tribes. But I have to say that I also enjoyed the passages where the young man seeks to gain the young woman he has fallen in love with.

This novel farthered my facination of Native America and gave me an appreciation for Robert J. Conley's talent. I'm hoping he continues the Real People series. I've since gone back and picked up one of the earlier books!

The collaborative effort of author Kay Thorpe Bannon, illustrator Kristina Rodanas, and storyteller Robert H. Bushyhead, Yonder Mountain is the truly impressive picture book retelling of a Native American folktale. A wise old Cherokee chief must choose a successor to lead him; so he sends three young men out on a journey to a mountaintop. One returns with precious stones that represent wealth; one returns with healing herbs to guard against disease. But the third, who climbs all the way to the top of the mountain, returns with something even more crucial to being a leader. Yonder Mountain is unreservedly recommended as a profound allegorical tale brought vividly to life with sweeping color illustrations.

Robert J. Conley's "Mountain Windsong:A Novel of the Trail of Tears" is an outstanding novel to read if you are trying to find out history about the Cherokee people. Mr. Conley gave his readers a great perspective about the Cherokee Removal out west. The book gives the reader a good illusion about what goes on during the time of the removal. It also, shows a great deal of love and how two people are, somehow connecting, thoughout the harsh treatment going on in their lives. I actually could picture events taking place in Waguli and Oconeechee life. The ending seemed to like emotion and color probably, because by the end of the harsh treatment so did the Indians. Not only did I learn some new things about the Cherokee's perspective, but I thoroughly enjoyed the novel. At first I though the novel would be very boring, but it turned out to be enlighting, definitely worth reading and worth buying.

In Robert J. Conley's Mountain Windsong a novel of The Trail of Tears, he thoroughly descibes the Cherokee nation. He gives us an imaginery view of their cultural style and does an excellent job indicating their beliefs. He is a superb writer. I definitely recommend others to read this fabulously written book that keeps you on the edge of your seat! Also if you enjoy love stories then you'll love this book.

"Mountain Windsong: A Novel of the Trail of Tears" was a very well written story. Conley wrote in different perspectives showing differant sides in this story. It starts out with grandpa and grandson telling the story of the windsong. Conley did a great job telling the love story of Waguli and Oconeechee. And about their seperation on the Trails of Tears. This was a great book, and very hard to put down. Conley did a great job tying in all the differant aspects of Cherokee history.

So is Jerry Ellis in this book, which is a first person account of his thoughts and encounters as he walks the Cherokee Trail of Tears. He blends what he sees and who he meets along the trail with ancestoral stories and beliefs in a way that educates and entertains the reader. He also manages to restore a person's faith in the kindness of Americans.

I use this book as a classroom novel in my high school nonfiction course. The issues that Jerry struggles with in his book are some of the same ones that my students face as they prepare to leave school and figure out where they belong in the world. What keeps me from giving the book a five star rating is that Jerry sometimes gives the reader an up close and personal look at his love life in a way which doesn't really add to his narrative.

Otherwise, I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys the cerebral slant of an excellent travelogue and who wants to know more about the spiritual traditions and history of the Cherokee.

I just want to say "Thank You" to Jerry Ellis and also Congratulaions to him for such a wonderful, informative book, and for walking The Trail of Tears!!! I just finished reading this book about an hour ago and I loved it. Tears came to my eyes at the end. It was such a touching book. I plan on reading all your books, Jerry. Thank you for such a great one!

This is a wonderfully-written book that helps us rethink our connection to our fellow humans and to all of Nature. Jerry Ellis has the ability to connect to people, causing them to trust him immediately and open up. Because of his encounters with so many during his walk along the Trail of Tears, I am encouraged about the state of our ability to be more tolerant of one another. Jerry also conveys a sense of calmness and patience and it has helped me to stop and take a few minutes to breathe, and look up, and look around. Also, to listen. Jerry writes with clarity and sureness, and it's as if he's telling you this story in person. I highly recommend this book.

The Borderland is a compelling work of historical fiction which works well because of its plotting, richly drawn characters and historical accuracy. Its 400+ pages move briskly along, following several interrelated story-lines which lead to an ultimate showdown. The story has a cliff-hanger feel to it, setting up a confrontation in chapter 1, which does not come to a head until several chapters later and recurs throughout the book.

The characters are richly drawn both from the conventional myth of Texas and truly unique characters. Texas ranger Matthew Caldwell exemplifies the strong, silent Texan of myth. He has the courage to assert the "Ranger's perogative" to defer arresting a wrongly accused man in defiance of orders from the President of the Republic of Texas as well as the ruthlessness to leave his enemies to their death. There is also a pack of Texas scoundrels, such as Henry Longfellow, a psychotic land speculator and hanger-on to President Mirabeau Lamar and lawyer Ridgewood Bone, whose name takes on an irony after an encounter with the Commanches. Lawrence Kerr is a more likeable, but still conventional character, as the foppish New Yorker who goes native and returns home with tales to tell. However, the story draws much of its depth from its unconventional and unlikely characters. Central to the plot are Doc Swift and his sister Cullasaja. They are the product of a marriage between a Cherokee woman and a Scottish ship captain, living their lives in both worlds. Doc Swift is a medical doctor educated at the University of Edinburg whose command of the English language is far superior to that of the American colonists he encounters. He uses both his European and native American medical training to save countless lives and earn the respect of many who would otherwise reject him. His sister Cullasaja is a similarly educated and erudite young woman who seeks a native American version of the American dream--to live in peace with her people in the land promised to them by former President Sam Houston. Hannah Dahlman is another central character. She is a German mail order bride who comes to Texas seeking to escape the political repression of her native land and bring her family with her. There is just one catch--she is Jewish, a detail which matters only to the Catholic church. The wooing of Hannah Dahl between Ranger Caldwell and Doc Swift forms one of the central conflicts of the book. The portraits of the Commanche warriors and mystics are compelling as well. Edwin Shrake creates them to be worthy adversaries rather than two dimensional villains to be gunned down by the heroic Texians.

The attention to historical detail is refreshing as well. Shrake captures the feel of frontier Austin, established San Antonio and swampy Houston with great accuracy. This is neither an uncritical telling of the Texas myth nor a PC screed against the evil Anglos. Instead, the story tells the grim dance of death between the Anglos, the Mexicans and the Commanches. Each takes a turn as executioner of the others and each receives a dose of death as well. None of the parties escapes being a giver and recipient of bloodlust, although it is often the innocent within each group who suffer. The violence is contrasted with the ordinary day to day lives of the Texans and the Commanches. The violence and grittiness of much of the story is contrasted with the ending, which is a counterpoint to Edwin Shrake's earlier novel, Blessed McGill, which was pretty darn depressing.

This is one great novel; the very best from the underappreciated author of two other classic works of fiction: "Blessed McGill" (the story of the first Saint of North America) and "Strange Peaches" (the first Kennedy conspiracy theory book). Shrake has reached his peak with the Borderland which gets at the real heart of the founding of the nation of Texas, the period after the Alamo and before admission to the Union during which Sam Houston moved the Capitol west to the middle of a Comanche paradise (oh, how we wish Austin was still a paradise), setting off a 40 year war with the Comanches and ethnic cleansing of the Cherokees. Imagine Austin with a Capitol Building surrounded by a stockade fence and a moat and protected by cannons against attack. It's bigger than life because these people were bigger than life. The climax of the book comes with the biggest Comanche raid in history which ended with the Texas Rangers triumph and slaughter of the Indians at Plum Creek south of Austin. I could give you a dozen other great scenes, but skip to the chase and simply read this book; it's a winner!

this superb book is so big that it entices one to match its size in praising it. There are dozens of literally, fabulous, characters. texas rangers, europeans, actresses, generals, and, of course, native americans. i can't imagine that these warriors, sages, half-breeds, captives, politicians and womenfolk have ever been better drawn.the scenes of their meetings read like shrake was taking minutes as do the pow wows of the white invaders. in short, it is the entire mix that created the republic of texas from president lamar down to the boatman who takes them across their stygian river. this book has a heart as big as the state of texas and as much wisdom as i have ever encoutered on the page. and the story is told with vigour and humour , laced with a fair amount of blood, sweat and lust.it could easily be called "jacobean." and probably will be. certainly its last line will be quoted for a long, long time.