Review: Bad River Boys by Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve

Bad River Boys by Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve

1.      BIBLIOGRAPHY

Sneve, Virginia Driving Hawk. 2005. Bad River Boys: A Meeting of the Lakota Sioux with Lewis and Clark. Ill. by Bill Farnsworth. New York: Holiday House, Inc. ISBN 0823418561

2.  PLOT SUMMARY

Bad River Boys details a fictionalized account of the real meeting between members of the Sioux tribe and the Lewis and Clark expedition. Three young Sioux boys, Cloud, Sun, and Antler spot a boat containing the members of the Lewis and Clark expedition coming up the river. The boys tell the elders of their tribe about the boat and strangers, so the elders, including chief Black Buffalo, go to meet members of the expedition. Through an inconsistent French interpreter, the tribe members exchange gifts with Lewis and Clark. Eventually, after exchanging gifts and settling many misunderstandings, Lewis and Clark were free to continue up the river on their expedition.

3.    CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve created an interesting picture book based on an important historical event, the Lewis and Clark Expedition. The timeline can be confusing on occasion, as can the action sequences described by Sneve between the Sioux and the Americans. Without prior knowledge about the location of the Lakota Sioux or other landmarks referenced in the text, the reader would not know the exact setting for the meeting. Much of the action takes place either on the shore of, or in the Bad River in modern day South Dakota.

The text is full of cultural details based on the author’s background in the Sioux tribe. The tribe members expect certain actions to occur, including celebrations and religious rituals, if the expedition intends to use their section of the Bad River. The women of the tribe brought roasted buffalo, corn and squash to the meetings with the Americans and were given articles of clothing, hats, and American flags in return. To celebrate the friendship of the Americans, the chief lit a peace pipe, lifting it to all directions and sharing with the expedition members. After the pipe ceremony, women danced around the bonfires to the sound of drums and rattles made of hooves as the men exchanged war stories. A few days later when the expedition was about to proceed up the Bad River, other chiefs demanded gifts of tobacco, angry that Black Buffalo received more than them. Sneve explains many traditions and ceremonies in her text, and emphasizes the fact that Lewis and Clark were clearly unaware of the proper way to honor all the Native American chiefs.

Characters are named in a traditional Native American manner. The three young boys are named Cloud, Sun and Antler. Black Buffalo, Cloud’s father, is a tribal elder and other tribal chiefs are named Black Medicine and Partisan. True Woman is the name of Cloud and Antler’s mother, while Sun’s mother is named Shell.

Sneve has added a historical notes section detailing the specific details behind the Lewis and Clark Expedition. She also has a glossary of Lakota Sioux words that were not defined in the text itself. Because this is a fictionalized account of this meeting, Sneve falls into the trap of making the Sioux seem noble and respectful while the Lewis and Clark expedition members are made to appear ignorant and disrespectful of Native American customs and traditions. She also fails to include reference sources to provide evidence for her slightly biased historical note.

Bill Farnsworth’s illustrations are reminiscent of vibrant old west landscapes. They are usually located in either full page or double page spreads, surround the text. Members of the Sioux tribe are shown with dark brown skin, black hair, and dark eyes. Males wear deerskin pants while females wear knee length deerskin dresses. Boys, such as Cloud, Sun and Antler wear their long hair in braids, but older men like chief Black Buffalo wear their hair long and straight. The Sioux live in a traditional Native American village setting, in teepees. Unfortunately, interesting details in the illustrations are lost due to Farnsworth’s fuzzy painting style. It is almost impossible to tell one character from another without additional identifying details.

4. AWARDS & REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Review in Booklist: “Sneve's narrative is long, and the slow pacing of the words sometimes feels at odds with the story's dramatic action, which is depicted in sweeping, feathery oil paintings. Still, Sneve tells a rare story from a Native American perspective that casts the famous expedition in an unflattering light and emphasizes how easily meaning can be lost in translation.”

Review in School Library Journal: “The author succeeds in portraying the anxious discomfort of the confrontation, but her poignant message is shoehorned into the picture-book format and the overall effect is at times muddled and unengaging. This book would be most helpful as a thoughtful supplement to units on the Lewis and Clark expedition.”

5. CONNECTIONS

* Other books from a Native American perspective by Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve:

The Christmas Coat: Memories of My Sioux Childhood. ISBN 9780823421343

High Elk’s Treasure. ISBN 9780823402120

The Trickster and the Troll. ISBN 9780803292635

When Thunders Spoke. ISBN 9780823402304

           

* Other children’s books discussing the Lewis and Clark Expedition:

Eubank, Patti Reeder. Seaman’s Journal: On the Trail With Lewis and Clark. ISBN

9780824954420

Erdrich, Liselotte. Sacagawea. ISBN 9780876146460

Schanzer, Rosalyn. How We Crossed the West: The Adventures of Lewis and Clark.

ISBN 9780792237389