Between Earth And Sky

Set mostly in La Crosse, Wisconsin, Between Earth And Sky is a historical fiction novel set in the 1850's. The story is based on a true account of a Native American man who attended the brutal boarding school where he was robbed of his culture and language. Later, at Wounded Knee, he murdered another soldier. His motive was that after boarding school he did not fit in with the other natives and he did not fit in with the white people. He felt that if he murdered a white soldier, he would regain the esteem of the people in his tribe. The story is told from the point of view of Alma. Alma is white. Her father started the school and hired the staff to work at the school. Her mother, a very critical woman, is not happy living with the heathens. Many of the students are the same age as Alma and there is no one else to play with so she makes friends. At first she believes the philosophy of her father in regard to helping the Native children. Alma travels to Fort Snelling with her husband who is a lawyer in Philadelphia. Alma heard one of her friends from the school was on trial for murdering a federal agent. She wants to help him so that he is not condemned to death. Alma travels to the White Earth reservation to investigate. She talks with her former friends at the school. Although they keep telling Alma she is not being helpful she doesn't believe them. The slow awakening in Alma's mind to the damage inflicted on the students of the school was fascinating to read. Turns out I have read one other book by Amanda Skenandore called The Undertaker's Assistant and I really liked that book too.