This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.
Reviewed by Courtnee Turner Hoyle for Readers' Favorite
Angela Ellen Grey pens 305 poems relating to the Dakota Sioux people in her book, Bdóte. During a fishing trip in Bdóte with her father, Evie falls asleep under the shady trees on Pike Island. Evie wakes up in 1862 with another young teen girl, Lily, staring at her as she and her family hide from United States soldiers. Even though they are from different times, they share Dakota Sioux heritage. The book details their conversation in a series of poems. Evie struggles with abandonment and alienation after her mother disappears, and Lily suffers as she and her family are ripped from their homes. Evie learns to accept her circumstances and appreciate her heritage as Lily details hardship, grief, the effects of rape, and resentment.
After a Native American studies course, Angela Ellen Grey understood the need to explore multiple perspectives in history to get a clearer picture of the narratives of the cultures in her region. Her work is a story that tugs on every heartstring as she describes the atrocities and mass executions the Dakota Sioux endured during their war with United States soldiers. Even though Lily and Evie seem to have different stories, they are connected through a generational bond. The poems can be read singularly or chronologically, and their cultural significance resonates with readers. Grey writes in many poetic forms, from concrete and ghazal to diamante and acrostic, inspiring young poets to experiment with different variations. Young adult and experienced readers who enjoy poetry with historical context will love Bdóte.