Review by Janice D. Green

• Tsali: Legendary Hero of the Eastern Band Cherokee
• Author: Gail Cartee
• Illustrator: Frances Espanol
• 30 pages, paperback
• ISBN 978-1-5144-8455-5 Softcover
• ISBN 978-1-5144-8454-8 EBook
• SRP $21.99 Paperback and $3.99 Kindle

Rating:

Why did John Charley’s mother hide black wax beans in her hair? Who were those men around the strange campfires? What did they want? Where is the land called Oklahoma? Would Tsali and his sons agree to the soldiers’ unthinkable offer for the sake of the members of his tribe who were still hiding out in the mountains?

Tsali: Legendary Hero of the Eastern Band Cherokee is a fictionalized account of the legendary hero of the Eastern Band Cherokee. Tsali and his son John Charley were an indigenous Cherokee father and son who resisted resettlement on an Oklahoma reservation. Tsali will resonate with children age 8 and up as they seek to understand the plight of the Cherokee people. The engaging text handles the Native American voice skillfully as the two main characters, Tsali and John Charley take turns telling the story.

The illustrations by Frances Espanol are simple, yet colorful and expressive. They serve the story well.

Author Gail Cartee includes her extensive bibliography lending authenticity to her account as well as additional places to learn more about the events surrounding the legendary Tsali. I contacted the author to ask if her account followed the plot of the “Unto These Hills” drama that includes the story of Tsali and is presented regularly in Cherokee, NC, and she responded that it did not. Rather, it followed more closely the book Tsali by Denton Bedford, a historical novel about the final months of the life of Tsali, who, with a brother and two sons, was martyred during the Cherokee Removal of 1838.

What do I like best about this book? The voice is strong and the setting and portrayal of the feelings the Native Americans had to struggle with in these dark times come across vividly.

What do I like least about this book? It was a little hard for my ADHD mind to keep up with who was speaking, especially on my first reading of the book, although the author kept it clearly identified throughout. It was only tricky for me.

I purchased this book from the author because the title intrigued me, and I was in no way disappointed.