Lonesome Road

Tom Benedict, freshman at William and Mary college, has decided to write his anthropology paper about Native American folk medicine. His research leads him to Charles City County, Virginia, and the Chickahominy tribe. He is further directed to Granny Blow, the tribe's wisewoman. Standing between him and the information he seeks is Luney, Granny's likely successor and protector. Luney is sure that Tom is going to exploit their ways and make a public laughingstock out of them. It wouldn't be the first time. Tom's offer of books and information on other early Americans, and Granny's willingness to cooperate, are the only things that slightly relax Luney's animosity towards the outsider. Slowly, a shaky trust and an almost-friendship develop between Tom and Luney. Though both can fall apart unexpectedly at any given moment. Nonetheless, they begin to lean on each other in ways neither of them ever expected. Just when things seem to be settling a little, another newcomer appears. A woman, who begins holding rituals and gathering followers. Tom doesn't trust her; he thinks she's part of a cult. Luney doesn't necessarily trust her either, but is fascinated by her. It soon becomes very clear that much more than Tom and Luney's newly formed friendship may be threatened. LONESOME ROAD was a good story. I liked the story line a lot, and the relationship between Tom and Luney was very well done. With a bit more depth and involvement, I think this would have been one of the better books I've ever read. If you have an interest in Native Americans, this is a book that's worth taking a look at. Reviewed by: Carrie Spellman

Noted author and historian, Mary Louise Clifford's new young adult novel, Lonesome Road, combines an exciting adventure story with a love story and little-known information about Virginia's Chickahominey Indians. The action turns around a college freshman, Tom Benedict, and fifteen-year-old Luney, the granddaughter of a Chickahominey medicine woman. In learning about Chickahominey medicine, Tom is introduced to a different world view and must reevaluate his life. Clifford skillfully incorporates the interactions of whites, Native Americans, and African Americans in Charles City County