Adventures of Rusty Son of Tall Elk by Charles Bertram

Born Irish Growing Up As Cheyenneceremonial dancing, guns and gun powder create
Rusty has lived as a Cheyenne for three yearsand dominate a fierce atmosphere of conquest.
with his adoptive father Tall Elk and his family inAs the white man aggressively moves in to take
"Adventures of Rusty Son of Tall Elk" the sequelover Indian Territory through torment, killing, and
to "Rusty Son of Tall Elk". Rusty is now 13 yearsbloodshed, Rusty is disturbed and conflicted by
old. He has awed Tall Elk and the Chiefs with histhe deceit, revenge killing and torture.
gift of reading, his technical proficiency, his gift forBertram integrates other Native American Indians,
lip reading, and the wisdom he has gained from histhe Crow, the Sioux, the Comanche, the
white heritage. Often misunderstood and resentedBlackfoot, and the Pawnee throughout the story.
by his peers Rusty is faced with earning theHe includes Indian Lore as well as information on
respect of the young braves as he learns thethe various gun's being traded and used by the
ways of the Cheyenne, their culture, theirCheyenne. The importance of the introduction of
customs, and their ceremonies.horses into the Cheyenne way of life was
Meeting head-on with a grizzly bear, horse tradinginformative and interesting as this related to their
with the army officers, bargaining with trappers,pursuit of buffalo herds.
coaching young boys the skill of using a sling,"Adventures of Rusty, Son of Tall Elk" is Rusty's
telling stories to love-struck young Cheyenne girls,story of growing up in the Cheyenne Culture and
or dealing with a wagon master are all a routinethe challenges he faced as a redheaded Irish boy
part of Rusty's on-going adventures.adopted by Tall Elk and the difficulties of proving
As in the first story Setting Sun, his adoptedhis manhood to the Cheyenne by honoring their
sister, an Irish girl, has an important part incustoms as he while have a personal struggle with
creating and solving the conflicts Rusty faces inaccepting of the Indian tactics of waging war with
his challenge to become a young Cheyenne Brave.the white man. It is Rusty's search his own
Together they experience many narrow escapespersonal identity while remaining true to himself.
in an era of American and Indian history whenSuspense and fast action engage the reader right
suspicion and chaos, the frantic rhythm of Indianup to the final surprise climatic ending. A great
drums, blazing fires, celebratory festivals,read for the early teen reader.