Kimberley Griffiths Little

2020 50 States-50 Books Reading Challenge: #31 - NEW MEXICO

READING LEVEL: 3 AR POINTS: 8

This was an awesome read and a book all kids should read. I'm 54 years old and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Although this is fiction, parts of the story are true and historically documented events, such as the Acoma tribe that resided in the real Acoma Pueblo, also known as Sky City, in New Mexico. The story of the snake runners from all the clans (Snake Clan, Antelope Clan, etc...) was a real thing. Also, their demise was a real thing. The only problem I had with this book is the fact that there were quite a few typos. The book should have been proof-read a little better than that.

Kendall, 14 years old, was in training to be a snake runner, which he didn't really know the extent of what a snake runner really was until he was transported back in time to 1000 years back. Snake runners would run into the desert once a year for 4 days straight, bringing back a snake each day for the ritual of blessings and prayers for rain and harvest the following year. All snakes were released back into the desert after the ceremonies. Snake runners ran fast and could run for days on end barefooted.

Kendall was part Acoma from his mother's side, and white from his father. When Kendall loses his mother, and his dad remarries to a Spaniard, he is deeply troubled and runs off into the desert. He is drawn to a crevice in the Enchanted Mesa where he is transported spiritually back in time. Here, he lives among the Acoma tribe and learns the truth of how his people, his ancestors, were extinguished by the Spanish explorers. The Spanish army would rob them of their food and supplies as they were passing through. The Acoma's gave what they could to keep the peace, even as much as promising to worship the Spaniards god and religion. But, soon they were wanting more and more, more than what they could give and still survive, and when the Spaniards killed one of their elderly, battle ensued.

The Acomas didn't have a chance against the Spanish and their armour and guns. It was a blood bath. The Spaniards gathered the women and children and what men were left, in chains, and brought them to their base camp down in the valley. The women were separated from their children and served as servants to the wives of the military leaders, the children were shipped back to Mexico with the priests, and all the men had one foot chopped off, never to run again, and were forced to be servants for the next 20 years.

Kendall was the last snake runner, and he learned he was also the messenger for the present. He had to survive and return home to the present to one day start a family and tell the story of the Acomas to keep their history alive.

Besides the time travel and the monologue between individuals, this is a true account. Just Google Sky City, or Acoma Pueblo images and see just how beautiful this city is that rests 400 feet high on top of the mesa. They do have a Sky City Cultural Center that gives bus tours into the city. Definitely a place I'd LOVE to visit one day.… (més)