Home to Medicine Mountain

The real-life experiences of Lowry's father and uncle fuel this account of two Native American brothers in California, sent to a government-run boarding school in the 1930s to unlearn their traditional ways. While the book discloses a sad chapter in the long history of the disenfranchisement of Native Americans, it will also resonate with any kid who has been homesick. But the storytelling wobbles. There is little buildup to the main event--occurring when the boys, still children, ride the rails home for summer break--and the contrast between the regimented life at school and life at home does not create narrative momentum. Lowry's stylized artwork works well both for the prison-like school and the happier scenes at Medicine Mountain: the sharp edges of her compositions lend themselves to a cold, hard look and to a more innocent, naive style. Kids will also be interested to see Native Americans at home in jeans and dresses. This book goes a long way toward replacing romanticized stereotypes with something closer to history, but remains less than satisfying as a story. Ages 6-up. (Aug.)