House of Purple Cedar (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9781935955245)

A Choctaw tale of tragedy, good and evil, revenge and ultimately forgiveness, laced with healing Choctaw humor and a little magical realism thrown in.

"The hour has come to speak of troubled times. It is time we spoke of Skullyville."

Thus begins Rose Goode's story of growing up in Indian Territory in pre-statehood Oklahoma. Skullyville, a once-thriving Choctaw community, was destroyed by land-grabbers, culminating in the arson of New Hope Academy for Girls in 1896. Twenty Choctaw girls died, but Rose escaped. She was blessed by the presence of her grandmother Pokoni and her grandfather Amafo, both respected elders who understand the old ways.

Soon after the fire, the White sheriff beats Amafo in front of the town's people, humiliating him. Instead of asking the Choctaw community to avenge the beating, her grandfather decides to follow the path of forgiveness. And so unfolds this tale of mystery, Indigenous magical realism, and deep wisdom. It's a world where backwoods spiritualism and Bible-thumping Christianity mix with bad guys; a one-legged woman shop-keeper, her oaf of a husband, herbal potions, and shape-shifting panthers rendering justice.

Tim Tingle--a scholar of his nation's language, culture, and spirituality--tells Rose's story of good and evil with a local perspective and even laugh-out-loud Choctaw humor.

Author: Tim Tingle
ISBN-10: 1935955241
ISBN-13: 9781935955245
Publisher: Cinco Puntos Press
Language: English
Published: 02/18/2014
Pages: 336
Format: Paperback
Weight: 1.10lbs
Size: 8.90h x 6.00w x 1.10d

Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Reviews 11/01/2013 pg. 27
Publishers Weekly 11/18/2013 pg. 31
Booklist 12/15/2013 pg. 25
Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks 05/01/2014
Library Journal 06/01/2014 pg. 98
School Library Journal 10/01/2014 pg. 126