Tingle does not shy away from the harsh and cruel treatment of the Choctaw by the United States soldiers. This is evident in the way the ghosts and their messages are revered and acknowledged as important. There is great respect for those who have already died. As tragic events take place the reader learns about the mourning ceremonies, the role of the “bone pickers,” and tribal hierarchy.
The daily living experiences of eating, hunting, fishing and moving with the Choctaws reveal elements of the culture. Many Choctaw words are introduced and used again and again. There are cultural markers throughout the story. Isaac’s friend, Joseph, is a shape shifter, changing from boy to panther and back to boy just when needed to help protect his Choctaw tribe. The use of ghosts allows Tingle to explore and reveal many Choctaw beliefs about life after death, tribal loyalty and pride. Told in first person narrative, Isaac is vulnerable and naïve at times, he is also open and willing to listen to his elders, either human or ghostly, to guide him.
The protagonist, Isaac, spends equal time as a boy and a ghost and he is central to the story as both figures. He uses supernatural elements to weave in cultural details with factual events. The tragic events of the Choctaw people walking the Trail of Tears is the backdrop for Tingle’s novel. Supernatural events shape the outcome of the story for Isaac’s tribe. Isaac can see things others cannot and he is able to provide his family with guidance, forewarning and even comfort. His family and tribal community face freezing cold, hunger, privation and hardship. His Choctaw tribe is forced to leave their beloved land just as winter is approaching.
Ten-year old Isaac sees ghosts and will soon become one. "About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.Tingle, Tim. spare and authentic." -Dean Schneider, THE HORN BOOK MAGAZINEĢ014 American Indian Youth Literature Award -American Indian Library Association, ALAĢ016-2017 Illinois Rebecca Caudill Book Award Master ListĢ014 Oklahoma Book Award, finalist, juvenile fiction -Illinois Book Award Master List CommitteeĢ014 Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People -National Council for the Social Studies & Children's Book Council "Tingle, a Choctaw storyteller, relates his tale in the engaging repetitions and rhythms of an oft-told story. a recommendation for reluctant readers who like their history tinged with the otherworldly." RECOMMENDED -The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Literature "The beginning of a trilogy, this tale is valuable for both its recounting of a historical tragedy and its immersive Choctaw perspective." KIRKUS, STARRED REVIEW -Kirkus Reviews, June 15, 2013
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