I Am Apache

I had to read this book for a school assignment and absolutely fell in love with Siki. I identified with her so much and her story was so interesting. Slowly her culture is passing, but she is standing strong, saying, "I am Apache."

This novel -written by a Brit -was published in the UK as a Young Adult novel but in my view it can be enjoyed across the age spectrum and it is by no means essential to be a devotee of the Western to derive pleasure and profit from reading the book.It is narrated by Siki ,a young woman of the Black Mountain Apache tribe who witnesses the massacre of women and children by the Mexican army.Among those slaughtered is her 4 year old brother Tazhi .She vows revenge and elects ,in defiance of tribal custom, the choose the warrior's path.(While this was not unknown it is at odds with more usual tribal convention).She finds a mentor in Golahka ,a respected warrior ,and a passionate enemy in Keste ,a vainglorious warrior wannabe whose star is eclipsed by Siki and who turns renegade ,vowing revenge on her and his tribe . Siki earns warrior status in a raid on a Mexican post housing those who carried out the raid on her village ,and helps rescue women and children taken by the Mexicans .However ,all the while the threat posed by the advance of white settlers is growing ,casting a shadow over the ancient ways .She must also resolve the mystery of her father's fate -he was believed to have died a coward's death -and come to terms with her own family history. The book is a powerful tale of a young girl's quest for independence on both an individual and cultural level.It affords a fascinating glimpse of tribal culture,although some may find the mysticism of the scenes depicting dream visions a tad overdone .It is ultimately a tragedy but ends on a note of defiance and hope .Please do not let the fact it is written by a non Native American ,indeed non -American deter you from reading a brave and passionate book of enormous power ,intelligence and insight

I bought this book for my teenage daughter who 'devoured' in several days. It is remarkable that a book held her interest for this period while her life is so full of school, soccer, friends, computers and I-pods. The book may have some problems with histories and dates, and maybe authentic revelations of the Indian/Native Americans cultures and customs, but it gave her insight on how other peoples live and the tragedies and problems that we all experience as we go on the journey called life. She enjoyed it, and I enjoyed talking to her about some of the events and developments in the novel.

At fourteen, Siki knows that she will walk a difficult path among her tribe. Having no talent for women's work, Siki has chosen to live and train as a warrior. Many of her fellow tribesmen view her as a disgrace; an outcast. Siki only wishes for one thing - revenge. The senseless murders of her mother and younger brother have sparked a bitterness within Siki that cannot be extinguished. Every day the attackers live is another reminder of how her family was slaughtered. Siki's warrior spirit is strong and will not be bent. The pride she feels for her people is boundless. Her training is arduous, but necessary. What she learns as an Apache warrior may very well save her life and the lives of her people. Her path is chosen; she does not look back. Landman expresses in her author's note that she has not tried to create an accurate historical novel, but rather one that is based on true events. She wished to explore how one might have felt if put in Siki's situation. The author allows Siki to narrate her own story, thus producing an extremely strong piece of writing. Because of this, the reader becomes intimately involved with Siki and the events surrounding her. Siki is filled with wisdom and courage and that will appeal to many young readers. Those who follow her on her journey will not be disappointed. Reviewed by: LadyJay