Between Earth and Sky by Amanda Skenandore

Alma was the only white student in a boarding school for Native Americans, run by her Father. The school was meant to assimilate the students, but all it did was strip them of their culture, language and ways.

Many years later Alma learns of the arrest of her childhood friend Harry (Asku) Muskrat, charged with murder. She asks her Husband (Stewart) an Attorney, for help defending her childhood friend. Reluctantly he agrees as a favor for his loving wife, not knowing what truths will be revealed.

The story moves at a steady pace, with vivid details, engaging dialog and true to the times events. Told from Alma's childhood (1880's) to present day (1906), slowly revealing secrets kept hidden for so long. Love, loss, a search for justice, (was) heart-felt, I was hooked from the first page.

Overall I found Between Earth and Sky memorable, thought-provoking, emotionally charged. I highly recommend to those who enjoy Historical fiction, a must read. ( )

Such a well written novel, and based on true events that happened. Alma and her family came to the west side of Wisconsin where her father opened a school to teach Indian children how to live like a white man. They came from various tribes in the surrounding areas, and were stripped of everything that was Indian that could be for them to learn how to properly eat, speak, walk, dress and act as the white men to properly integrate them into the changing country.

Alma grew up right along side these Indian children. She ate with them, shared dorm rooms with them, and even learned their language and traditions. Although this was all in secret, as her mother was already against her even being a part of everything that was going on. But her father insisted it was for her to be looked upon as a role model. She did what she could to please her father, as she knew this was his mission and he wanted to succeed and she wanted to help.

Decades later, while reading a paper, Alma comes across a heading of an Indian that murdered a federal agent. She knows that Indian, and she also grew up with him and knew he would never be one to commit that sort of violence. It is some sort of mistake, so she convinces her husband that they must go to Wisconsin and he must prove the truth. Harry Muskrat (Asku) would never have done this. He is being blamed for someone else’s crime.

Alma and her husband venture off to Wisconsin and she has a lot of explaining to do, as she has kept quiet about her past and Stewart feels like he has no idea who his wife really is. Alma’s history comes crashing back as they venture to find out the truth, and as pieces of her history come back to her, she has to also explain herself to Stewart and what this Harry (Asku) Muskrat means to her. Why is she determined to prove his innocence?

This novel was told from Alma growing up in the school, and also now while her and her husband search for the truth of what happened and who murdered who and why. This was such a well written novel and I cannot believe that these schools existed and that this happened to those poor Indian children. I think the author did an amazing job in writing this novel with using Indian words, talking about their beliefs and what life was like. I cannot wait to read her next novel. ( )

Between Earth and Sky by Amanda Skenandore portrays a fictionalized account of the sad history of Tasunka Ota "Plenty Horses" from the Lakota tribe. In the misguided attempt to assimilate Native Americans, homes and families were destroyed. Children were uprooted from their traditions and thrust into a world that would not accept them no matter what the assimilation lessons. Evil was perpetrated purposefully, but also a tragedy was allowed to happen and enabled by those with seemingly good intentions. A powerful message.

Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2019/08/between-earth-and-sky.html

Reviewed for NetGalley ( )

This is historical fiction at its best. Going back and forth in time makes the story --- a close up picture of the past and then up to the present, meaning the early 1900s. Emily Sutton-Smith was a compelling narrator on the CD. ( )

A fascinating book diving into the history of assimilation schools for Native Americans around the turn of the 20th century. Alternately entertaining and challenging, romantic and practical. I enjoyed the level of detail and the immersion into the native culture. The writing is good but not fantastic. I'm thankful for the reminders that no culture is entitled to "rescue" another culture and that society's "progress" is not wholly positive. ( )