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Wheezer and the Painted Frog
Ideal for mature middle grade readers to adult - anyone interested in Native American history.Who killed Usti Yansa? Find out September 15, 2011, in Wheezer and the Painted Frog, Kitty Sutton's debut novel about the aftermath of the infamous Trail of Tears. Healthy little boys shouldn't grow weak and die when they have shelter, food and the care of their families, yet Sasa's little brother, the last of her family, sickens, mumbling the mysterious 'I didn't do it right, I didn't do enough. Why didn't it work?' Left alone, mourning and trying to survive in a new place with new ways, Sasa seeks answers with the help of her new friend, Wheezer. The Jack Russell Terrier seems too wise, too fierce and too loyal to be just a dog. Did the Creator send Wheezer to Sasa and if so, how can a dog, albeit a smart one, help to solve a murder? From the time Europeans landed in North America, the People were forced out of the land they had known for generations. By the nineteenth century, the United States had pushed them into the remote and undeveloped area known as Indian Territory and promised them food and protection that never came. Plagued by the loss of their ability to farm and hunt, the lack of food and shelter, the disease brought by the White Man, every tribe suffered losses so great only the memories of the survivors could document the dead. This story, taking place among the Cherokee after the Trail of Tears, is a story for all the People. "Wheezer and the Painted Frog is at once joyous and heartbreaking. You will ache for the suffering, be outraged by the wrongs fascinated by the way of life, identify with Sasa and above all you will love Wheezer. You will look for his spirit in every dog you meet!Good luck and all best wishes Anne" Anne Perry, Author of Acceptable Loss
205 pages, ebook
First published September 13, 2011
About the author
Kitty Sutton
15 books12 followersKitty Sutton was born Kathleen Kelley to a Cherokee/Irish family. Both sides of her family were from performing families in Kansas City, Missouri and Kitty was trained from an early age in dance, vocal, art and musical instruments. Her father was a Naval band leader. During the Great Depression, her mother helped to support her family by tap dancing in the speakeasys even though she was just a child; she was very tall for her age but made up like an adult. Kitty had music and art on all sides of her family which ultimately helped to feed her imaginative mind and desire to succeed.
Kitty married a wonderful Cherokee artist from Oklahoma, in fact the very area that she writes about in her Wheezer series of novels. After raising her family, Kitty came to Branson, Missouri and performed in her own one woman show there for twelve years. To honor her father, she performed under the name Kitty Kelley. She has three music albums and several original songs to her credit and is best known for her comical, feel good song called, It Ain't Over Till The Fat Lady Sings. Kitty has been writing for many years and in 2011 Inknbeans published her historical Native American murder mystery. First in a line of stories featuring Wheezer, a Jack Russell Terrier and his Cherokee friend, Sasa, it is called, Wheezer And The Painted Frog. Kitty lives in the southwestern corner of Missouri near Branson with her husband of 40 years and her three Jack Russell Terriers, one of which is the real and wonderful Wheezer.
Kitty married a wonderful Cherokee artist from Oklahoma, in fact the very area that she writes about in her Wheezer series of novels. After raising her family, Kitty came to Branson, Missouri and performed in her own one woman show there for twelve years. To honor her father, she performed under the name Kitty Kelley. She has three music albums and several original songs to her credit and is best known for her comical, feel good song called, It Ain't Over Till The Fat Lady Sings. Kitty has been writing for many years and in 2011 Inknbeans published her historical Native American murder mystery. First in a line of stories featuring Wheezer, a Jack Russell Terrier and his Cherokee friend, Sasa, it is called, Wheezer And The Painted Frog. Kitty lives in the southwestern corner of Missouri near Branson with her husband of 40 years and her three Jack Russell Terriers, one of which is the real and wonderful Wheezer.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
January 22, 2012
Wow! I loved this book! Narrated in an understated, almost journalistic-like, prose, this book packed one heck of a punch. Told from the perspective of a young Cherokee girl, and obviously lovingly researched, this book evoked intense emotion in me. The terrible march to Oklahoma “Indian Territory” on the Trail of Tears was only the beginning of the brutal hardships these displaced people endured.
The book focuses around a mystery. When her healthy five-year-old brother inexplicably weakens then dies, Sasa must find out why. All alone, grieving, she finds a little dog. The dog has been bitten by a snake and is barely alive. Sasa rescues the pooch and soon falls in love with the rascal. Wheezer becomes Sasa’s stalwart protector as she begins to enlist the help of others.
When the dog’s owner traces him to the Indian settlement, he too, finds out that not all is as it seems. The rations and commodities intended for the Indians are not arriving. As Jackson investigates, he and Sasa help each other, and Wheezer’s loyalties are divided between Sasa and Jackson.
This is a moving story that instantly captured my heart. Never verbose or preachy, this tale flawlessly captured the flavor of the West, and the bigotry of the times. Yet, it is written in an inherently upbeat style that had me cheering for the good guys, and booing at the no-good, low-down, greedy bad guys. I also cheered for Wheezer, my favorite character. This book is the first in a planned series of mysteries. I am looking forward to the next one by this talented new author.
This book was given to me by the author in exchange for my honest review. I am not a personal friend this author.
Reviewed by Laurie
The book focuses around a mystery. When her healthy five-year-old brother inexplicably weakens then dies, Sasa must find out why. All alone, grieving, she finds a little dog. The dog has been bitten by a snake and is barely alive. Sasa rescues the pooch and soon falls in love with the rascal. Wheezer becomes Sasa’s stalwart protector as she begins to enlist the help of others.
When the dog’s owner traces him to the Indian settlement, he too, finds out that not all is as it seems. The rations and commodities intended for the Indians are not arriving. As Jackson investigates, he and Sasa help each other, and Wheezer’s loyalties are divided between Sasa and Jackson.
This is a moving story that instantly captured my heart. Never verbose or preachy, this tale flawlessly captured the flavor of the West, and the bigotry of the times. Yet, it is written in an inherently upbeat style that had me cheering for the good guys, and booing at the no-good, low-down, greedy bad guys. I also cheered for Wheezer, my favorite character. This book is the first in a planned series of mysteries. I am looking forward to the next one by this talented new author.
This book was given to me by the author in exchange for my honest review. I am not a personal friend this author.
Reviewed by Laurie
May 9, 2013
I am the author, and this book is suitable for PG-13. Here is the latest review on Smashwords, the reviewer will also put review on Goodreads:
Review by: Linda Rae Blair on Feb. 25, 2013 : star star star star star
"The Trail of Tears--a story we hear bits and pieces about or get spoon-fed in some Western movie. Here's the heart of it! The isolation, desolation and loss so horrible that, like slavery, it is difficult for twenty-first century white man to comprehend that his fore bearers committed such an atrocity. The aftermath of this horror is brought to us in the person of a young survivor, Sasa, and her loss of all those dear to her. Left to her own devices in a culture where she is barely old enough to be considered an adult, we are shown her struggles, her fears and the dangers that still threaten her. Along comes the adorable and wise Wheezer who seems to be the savior of, not only a sad little girl, but the People as a whole. Wheezer and his friend from another life, Jackson, come to the rescue of her and her Cherokee tribe. Whether or not Jackson and brave little Wheezer can solve a murder, discover the cause of the tribe's starvation and want, as well as save themselves in the process is a story Miss Sutton spins with love and care. Don't miss this opportunity to peek inside the history this story lays before us. It is well worth the trip back in time."
Review by Cathy Speight
http://www.facebook.com/l/NAQGwNpnyAQ...
Wheezer and the Painted Frog by Kitty Sutton
AMAZON UK
AMAZON US
When a dog is the hero of a story, what on earth is not to like?!
What an excellent tale from Kitty Sutton. One of fact and fiction, married perfectly to create a story set around the appalling eviction of the Cherokee to new territories, in the nineteenth century.
Vital supplies from government are not reaching these destitute people. Though many—old and young—are dying from the hardship, the death of a little boy is incomprehensible to his older sister, Sasa, who is confused by his dying words. And so, she has a puzzle to solve. Alone—but determined—companionship, protection, and help, arrive in the form of a four-legged assistant: Wheezer, no less. A very smart Jack Russell terrier, who has fled his beloved master in terror when an explosion frightens his whiskers off. When his owner finally catches up with him, Sasa finds another unexpected ally in solving her puzzle and the mystery surrounding a carved painted frog, and together they uncover betrayal, greed, and the reasons why their lifeline is being cut off from them.
The title—and indeed the cover—belies the content of this book. I confess I was expecting a children’s story. How wrong was I! There was murder, crime, fraud, mystery, deception, a teensy weensy bit of romance, and adventures aplenty for one very smart little dog. The story is fictional, yes, but the historic Cherokee ‘Trail of Tears’ is not, nor is the intelligence and lovability of Jack Russells. The factual perimeters envelop a compelling story with wonderfully conceived and portrayed characters (how about Mary Walkingstick? Fabulous!). Kitty’s research has left no stone unturned and has created a vivid and detailed setting for this easy-to-read and enjoyable novel.
Posted by CathyS at 05:53
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Labels: Crime/Thriller/Mystery/Suspense, Historical
Review by: Linda Rae Blair on Feb. 25, 2013 : star star star star star
"The Trail of Tears--a story we hear bits and pieces about or get spoon-fed in some Western movie. Here's the heart of it! The isolation, desolation and loss so horrible that, like slavery, it is difficult for twenty-first century white man to comprehend that his fore bearers committed such an atrocity. The aftermath of this horror is brought to us in the person of a young survivor, Sasa, and her loss of all those dear to her. Left to her own devices in a culture where she is barely old enough to be considered an adult, we are shown her struggles, her fears and the dangers that still threaten her. Along comes the adorable and wise Wheezer who seems to be the savior of, not only a sad little girl, but the People as a whole. Wheezer and his friend from another life, Jackson, come to the rescue of her and her Cherokee tribe. Whether or not Jackson and brave little Wheezer can solve a murder, discover the cause of the tribe's starvation and want, as well as save themselves in the process is a story Miss Sutton spins with love and care. Don't miss this opportunity to peek inside the history this story lays before us. It is well worth the trip back in time."
Review by Cathy Speight
http://www.facebook.com/l/NAQGwNpnyAQ...
Wheezer and the Painted Frog by Kitty Sutton
AMAZON UK
AMAZON US
When a dog is the hero of a story, what on earth is not to like?!
What an excellent tale from Kitty Sutton. One of fact and fiction, married perfectly to create a story set around the appalling eviction of the Cherokee to new territories, in the nineteenth century.
Vital supplies from government are not reaching these destitute people. Though many—old and young—are dying from the hardship, the death of a little boy is incomprehensible to his older sister, Sasa, who is confused by his dying words. And so, she has a puzzle to solve. Alone—but determined—companionship, protection, and help, arrive in the form of a four-legged assistant: Wheezer, no less. A very smart Jack Russell terrier, who has fled his beloved master in terror when an explosion frightens his whiskers off. When his owner finally catches up with him, Sasa finds another unexpected ally in solving her puzzle and the mystery surrounding a carved painted frog, and together they uncover betrayal, greed, and the reasons why their lifeline is being cut off from them.
The title—and indeed the cover—belies the content of this book. I confess I was expecting a children’s story. How wrong was I! There was murder, crime, fraud, mystery, deception, a teensy weensy bit of romance, and adventures aplenty for one very smart little dog. The story is fictional, yes, but the historic Cherokee ‘Trail of Tears’ is not, nor is the intelligence and lovability of Jack Russells. The factual perimeters envelop a compelling story with wonderfully conceived and portrayed characters (how about Mary Walkingstick? Fabulous!). Kitty’s research has left no stone unturned and has created a vivid and detailed setting for this easy-to-read and enjoyable novel.
Posted by CathyS at 05:53
Email ThisBlogThis!Share to TwitterShare to Facebook
Labels: Crime/Thriller/Mystery/Suspense, Historical
September 17, 2011
I approached this book with happy trepidation, because it was carrying me back to a genre I had loved as a child and as a teenager, the one I had grown up with and then I had been forced to leave behind because there weren’t any good western books to read any more.
And it did not fail me.
I realize, however, that defining it just a “western” is highly reductive, for “Wheezer” is much more than that, and can be read on different levels, by people with different interest.
It is, first and foremost, a historical book, looking into one of the most sorrowful pages of the Native Americans’ history, the “Trail where They Cried”, the forced migration of the Cherokee tribe from their native land to the arid Territory of Oklahoma. Kitty Sutton has manage to paint the odissey, the agony of a people with just a few words here and there, never getting boring (as historical books could be) and always touching the heart of the reader.
Then there is Wheezer himself… any reader who loves animals in general and dogs in particular cannot help but being captivated by this small, extremely clever dog, who’s a sort of “deus ex machina” throughout the novel. He’s so cute, so brave, so clever, you’ll never have enough of him, you’ll wish to read more about him.
And the other characters, from Jackson Halley to the little, brave Cherokee girl Sasa, to all the other minor characters, are unforgettable too. Kitty has a way of making them come to life with her words so that the reader can actually “see” them and share their emotions, their despair, their pride, their happiness.
And then there is the “western atmosphere” proper, the landscape, the wide spaces, the forest and the arid plains, all brought to life in such way the reader cannot help but feel transported in another land and in another time.
As I said at the beginning, this book brought me back to the love of my childhood and youth, and I must say that reading Wheezer’s story, the Cherokee people story, Sasa’s story, captivated me as much as the best novels by Zane Grey and Louis L’Amour managed to do so many years ago.
I definitely recommend reading this book. You’ll feel the richer for it
And it did not fail me.
I realize, however, that defining it just a “western” is highly reductive, for “Wheezer” is much more than that, and can be read on different levels, by people with different interest.
It is, first and foremost, a historical book, looking into one of the most sorrowful pages of the Native Americans’ history, the “Trail where They Cried”, the forced migration of the Cherokee tribe from their native land to the arid Territory of Oklahoma. Kitty Sutton has manage to paint the odissey, the agony of a people with just a few words here and there, never getting boring (as historical books could be) and always touching the heart of the reader.
Then there is Wheezer himself… any reader who loves animals in general and dogs in particular cannot help but being captivated by this small, extremely clever dog, who’s a sort of “deus ex machina” throughout the novel. He’s so cute, so brave, so clever, you’ll never have enough of him, you’ll wish to read more about him.
And the other characters, from Jackson Halley to the little, brave Cherokee girl Sasa, to all the other minor characters, are unforgettable too. Kitty has a way of making them come to life with her words so that the reader can actually “see” them and share their emotions, their despair, their pride, their happiness.
And then there is the “western atmosphere” proper, the landscape, the wide spaces, the forest and the arid plains, all brought to life in such way the reader cannot help but feel transported in another land and in another time.
As I said at the beginning, this book brought me back to the love of my childhood and youth, and I must say that reading Wheezer’s story, the Cherokee people story, Sasa’s story, captivated me as much as the best novels by Zane Grey and Louis L’Amour managed to do so many years ago.
I definitely recommend reading this book. You’ll feel the richer for it
December 27, 2011
I approached this book with happy trepidation, because it was carrying me back to a genre I had loved as a child and as a teenager, the one I had grown up with and then I had been forced to leave behind because there weren’t any good western books to read any more.
And it did not fail me.
I realize, however, that defining it just a “western” is highly reductive, for “Wheezer” is much more than that, and can be read on different levels, by people with different interest.
It is, first and foremost, a historical book, looking into one of the most sorrowful pages of the Native Americans’ history, the “Trail where They Cried”, the forced migration of the Cherokee tribe from their native land to the arid Territory of Oklahoma. Kitty Sutton has manage to paint the odyssey, the agony of a people with just a few words here and there, never getting boring (as historical books could be) and always touching the heart of the reader.
Then there is Wheezer himself… any reader who loves animals in general and dogs in particular cannot help but being captivated by this small, extremely clever dog, who’s a sort of “deus ex machina” throughout the novel. He’s so cute, so brave, so clever, you’ll never have enough of him, you’ll wish to read more about him.
And the other characters, from Jackson Halley to the little, brave Cherokee girl Sasa, to all the other minor characters, are unforgettable too. Kitty has a way of making them come to life with her words so that the reader can actually “see” them and share their emotions, their despair, their pride, their happiness.
And then there is the “western atmosphere” proper, the landscape, the wide spaces, the forest and the arid plains, all brought to life in such way the reader cannot help but feel transported in another land and in another time.
As I said at the beginning, this book brought me back to the love of my childhood and youth, and I must say that reading Wheezer’s story, the Cherokee people story, Sasa’s story, captivated me as much as the best novels by Zane Grey and Louis L’Amour managed to do so many years ago.
I definitely recommend reading this book. You’ll feel the richer for it
And it did not fail me.
I realize, however, that defining it just a “western” is highly reductive, for “Wheezer” is much more than that, and can be read on different levels, by people with different interest.
It is, first and foremost, a historical book, looking into one of the most sorrowful pages of the Native Americans’ history, the “Trail where They Cried”, the forced migration of the Cherokee tribe from their native land to the arid Territory of Oklahoma. Kitty Sutton has manage to paint the odyssey, the agony of a people with just a few words here and there, never getting boring (as historical books could be) and always touching the heart of the reader.
Then there is Wheezer himself… any reader who loves animals in general and dogs in particular cannot help but being captivated by this small, extremely clever dog, who’s a sort of “deus ex machina” throughout the novel. He’s so cute, so brave, so clever, you’ll never have enough of him, you’ll wish to read more about him.
And the other characters, from Jackson Halley to the little, brave Cherokee girl Sasa, to all the other minor characters, are unforgettable too. Kitty has a way of making them come to life with her words so that the reader can actually “see” them and share their emotions, their despair, their pride, their happiness.
And then there is the “western atmosphere” proper, the landscape, the wide spaces, the forest and the arid plains, all brought to life in such way the reader cannot help but feel transported in another land and in another time.
As I said at the beginning, this book brought me back to the love of my childhood and youth, and I must say that reading Wheezer’s story, the Cherokee people story, Sasa’s story, captivated me as much as the best novels by Zane Grey and Louis L’Amour managed to do so many years ago.
I definitely recommend reading this book. You’ll feel the richer for it
December 26, 2011
Review by Zona Crabtree (Owl Hollow Books)
Many stories deal with the forced removal of America's native people from their ancestral lands. Most the stories of The Trail of Tears are about the people as a whole. In Wheezer and the Painted Frog, Kitty Sutton delves into the individual lives of a lost dog, his white owner, and a young Cherokee girl and her people. Wheezer, a frightened, lost dog, leads the reader into a tangled mystery. After losing all her family on the trek to the area known as Indian Territory, Sasa finds herself caught in the midst of sickness and starvation of her people brought on by a corrupt agent. When she finds Wheezer and nurses him back to health, she senses the dog possesses special abilities and is there to help her.
Sasa encounters threats to her life every direction she turns. Wheezer protects her as best he can, but they are no match for the corrupt agent. When Wheezer's white owner arrives and realizes the Cherokees are not receiving the food and shelter promised, the danger intensifies as he investigates the chain of delivery. What is the painted frog everyone is searching for, and how does it pertain to the attempted murders?
Kitty Sutton spins an intriguing mystery about the Trail of Tears from an unusual viewpoint. Her writing is unique in that the reader can experience each character's story from the character's own level. The technique creates strong characters that draw the reader into the mystery as it develops. Kitty Sutton captures the spirit of the Cherokee people as she brings each character to life. I look forward to more of this intense type of character portrayal. Wado, Kitty Sutton.
Many stories deal with the forced removal of America's native people from their ancestral lands. Most the stories of The Trail of Tears are about the people as a whole. In Wheezer and the Painted Frog, Kitty Sutton delves into the individual lives of a lost dog, his white owner, and a young Cherokee girl and her people. Wheezer, a frightened, lost dog, leads the reader into a tangled mystery. After losing all her family on the trek to the area known as Indian Territory, Sasa finds herself caught in the midst of sickness and starvation of her people brought on by a corrupt agent. When she finds Wheezer and nurses him back to health, she senses the dog possesses special abilities and is there to help her.
Sasa encounters threats to her life every direction she turns. Wheezer protects her as best he can, but they are no match for the corrupt agent. When Wheezer's white owner arrives and realizes the Cherokees are not receiving the food and shelter promised, the danger intensifies as he investigates the chain of delivery. What is the painted frog everyone is searching for, and how does it pertain to the attempted murders?
Kitty Sutton spins an intriguing mystery about the Trail of Tears from an unusual viewpoint. Her writing is unique in that the reader can experience each character's story from the character's own level. The technique creates strong characters that draw the reader into the mystery as it develops. Kitty Sutton captures the spirit of the Cherokee people as she brings each character to life. I look forward to more of this intense type of character portrayal. Wado, Kitty Sutton.
February 27, 2013
Lesson Learned... ‟Never judge a book by it’s cover or title. I saw this book as it did the rounds on the internet. My first impression was it’s about a childhood fable. WRONG.
‟Wheezer and the Painted Frog” by Kitty Sutton is for anyone with a heart.
Sometimes we need to be reminded of the many people who’s lives were or are full of suffering and heartache. Kitty will do that, so gently you’ll flip through the pages one after another with true earnest to see what happens next.
The story might be told from a young person’s prospective and Wheezer the dog might be the hero but any similarity to a child’s tale stops there. A Drama and Murder mystery set at the end of the dark Trail of Tears march.
You will discover an emotional ride as she builds slowly to a story about loss of loved ones, the cruelty of greed, and the lengths people will go to accomplish and hide such facts.
Kitty Sutton does this as we face our country’s own history during a dark time for those affected by it and those who ignored its happening. She weaves the historic elements to perfection. She made me wonder if her fictional parts were closer to the truth than recorded history. Not to be ignored there’s a touch of romance and a smidgen of justice for some.
Reading ‟Wheezer and the Painted Frog” will be time well spent.
Excuse me while I go read, ‟Wheezer and the Shy Coyote.”
PS. I tried to come up with a different cover shot or title: funny nothing else works better than the way Ms. Sutton has done it.
‟Wheezer and the Painted Frog” by Kitty Sutton is for anyone with a heart.
Sometimes we need to be reminded of the many people who’s lives were or are full of suffering and heartache. Kitty will do that, so gently you’ll flip through the pages one after another with true earnest to see what happens next.
The story might be told from a young person’s prospective and Wheezer the dog might be the hero but any similarity to a child’s tale stops there. A Drama and Murder mystery set at the end of the dark Trail of Tears march.
You will discover an emotional ride as she builds slowly to a story about loss of loved ones, the cruelty of greed, and the lengths people will go to accomplish and hide such facts.
Kitty Sutton does this as we face our country’s own history during a dark time for those affected by it and those who ignored its happening. She weaves the historic elements to perfection. She made me wonder if her fictional parts were closer to the truth than recorded history. Not to be ignored there’s a touch of romance and a smidgen of justice for some.
Reading ‟Wheezer and the Painted Frog” will be time well spent.
Excuse me while I go read, ‟Wheezer and the Shy Coyote.”
PS. I tried to come up with a different cover shot or title: funny nothing else works better than the way Ms. Sutton has done it.
December 5, 2011
This was one of my favourite books of 2011. When I neared the end, I didn’t want it to finish. The book opens with a dog running – who is he, where is he running to, where is he running from? From the beginning I was hooked. The background to the story is the plight of the Cherokee and their fight for rights, respect, justice and then pure survival. The story takes place after the Trail of Tears and the Long Walk. Although the book is fictional, you feel like history is flowing all around, with descriptions of the plight of the peoples of the Indian Territory. It also made me want to research this important part of history more. Our main characters – Sasa, Wheezer and Jackson – are well drawn, likeable, individual and interesting. The plot is good and well designed. There is a mystery at the heart of the book that keeps the reader wondering, along with tragedy – always in the background is the waste of life that marked this chapter of history. The reader follows the journey of Sasa, the last of her family, through loss and hope, and her search for justice, carried forward by her inner strength and her new companion. Her life entwines with the paths of others in the book, and there are many twists and turns. Characters come to life and struggle with their own problems, passions and ambitions. I found this book a joy to read and I’m hoping that this isn’t the end of this story for Sasa, Wheezer, Jackson and friends.
March 16, 2012
This is the story of Sasa, a young Cherokee girl and a Jack Russell called Wheezer. Sasa's brother has been murdered and her Cherokee people are not getting the food and provisions they desperately need. Can Sasa and Wheezer get to the bottom of the mystery and solve it?
This was a story steeped in history. Based on the Cherokee 'Trail of Tears', where they were moved from their land and made to settle elsewhere, with many Cherokees dying along the way. While this was at it's heart a murder mystery, you could feel the history seeping out of every word. Having 5 principal characters, Wheezer/Jack the Jack Russell, Sasa, Jackson, Arch and Anna - the story focussed on the dwindling supplies for the Cherokee settlers and the murder of Sasa's brother Usti Yansa. The story went along at a fair clip and the descriptions were so vivid, I felt I was there walking in their shoes. I loved the inclusion of Wheezer as a main character. Who couldn't fail to be drawn to a book with a dog as one of the principal players? I understand this is Kitty's debut novel-well it had me gripped to the end and I even shed a tear at the conclusion. Well done Kitty, I am anxiously waiting for the follow up!
This was a story steeped in history. Based on the Cherokee 'Trail of Tears', where they were moved from their land and made to settle elsewhere, with many Cherokees dying along the way. While this was at it's heart a murder mystery, you could feel the history seeping out of every word. Having 5 principal characters, Wheezer/Jack the Jack Russell, Sasa, Jackson, Arch and Anna - the story focussed on the dwindling supplies for the Cherokee settlers and the murder of Sasa's brother Usti Yansa. The story went along at a fair clip and the descriptions were so vivid, I felt I was there walking in their shoes. I loved the inclusion of Wheezer as a main character. Who couldn't fail to be drawn to a book with a dog as one of the principal players? I understand this is Kitty's debut novel-well it had me gripped to the end and I even shed a tear at the conclusion. Well done Kitty, I am anxiously waiting for the follow up!
May 11, 2015
Before I moved to western North Carolina, I'd never heard of the Trail of Tears. Now, living here, I've become well acquainted with the Cherokee history of NC, GA and TN, as well as the infamous genocide that the Trail of Tears really was. I didn't realize, though, what happened to the survivors of the march, but the story of Sasa, Wheezer, Jackson and the other characters kept me turning the page while learning about it. It was obvious that Ms. Sutton had done her homework, and the result, I feel, is an important history lesson that is presented in a very good story. I can see it being used as a teaching tool for both the Eastern Band of Cherokee as well as the Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma. I'm very much looking forward to Ms. Sutton's next book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 16, 2011
I thoroughly enjoyed this well written and fascinating story. I bought the book on a whim because the superb title caught my eye, and I am glad I did.To my shame, I know comparatively little of the rich culture of the native American people's or the shameful history of their displacement. One of the aspects of Wheezer and the Painted Frog that I enjoyed the most was the clever way in which the author, Kitty Sutton, has managed to weave a history lesson into the fabric of what is a delightful mystery novel.... and who can resist a story with an eager and exciting dog as the hero? I will certainly look out for more of Kitty's work.
December 30, 2011
A historical novel that delivers on all levels. In her first novel Kitty Sutton pulls her readers into the camps following The Trail of Tears, a sad chapter in American history, and makes you feel right along with her characters. Her research is obvious from the start. As you follow Wheezer and Sasa in search of Usti Yansa's killer you will learn about Cherokee culture and history almost without realizing it. This book is well written and even without the history lesson the story itself will keep you interested and will bring you to a satisfying end. I would recommend this book for anyone.
December 30, 2011
A historical novel that delivers on all levels. In her first novel Kitty Sutton pulls her readers into the camps following The Trail of Tears, a sad chapter in American history, and makes you feel right along with her characters. Her research is obvious from the start. As you follow Wheezer and Sasa in search of Usti Yansa's killer you will learn about Cherokee culture and history almost without realizing it. This book is well written and even without the history lesson the story itself will keep you interested and will bring you to a satisfying end. I would recommend this book for anyone.
September 26, 2013
REVIEW: "Wheezer and the Painted Frog" by Kitty Sutton
I would like to get the meat of this review out first. This is a five star read that could interest several age groups and interests. The character development is complete and it is easy to like the good ones and hate the bad. It addresses that "skeleton in the closet" that we as Americans seem to like to keep buried. It is one of the darkest secrets that taints the American legacy. The white man's treatment of the First Nation would be looked at today as a good reason to defend the Indian Nation with "Shock and Awe" as we did in Iraq for much the same crimes. What we do instead is turn our heads to avoid the view. Kitty has researched details that we have not heard much about. I think it is common knowledge of the basic facts of the "Trail of Tears" but to hear the numbers and feel the devastation that this caused to an entire culture is shocking. To know that these men of greed and wealth would prey upon them in this weakened state is despicable. To kill or cause the death of women, children, aged and infirm is criminal. The only reason it was not in this time is that it was done by the wealthy and the government. I imagine that if a country was acting this way in today's world we would seek criminal charges and execution of those involved up to and including the highest ranking and the wealthy.
This story is one that we should look to and learn how we should go forward in our lives. Even the young girl, Sasa, learned through her grief and her community what is right and wrong. She did not focus on it and use it as an excuse to live a lesser life. She followed her tradition and customs and made the best of the evil that was put into her life by others.
Wheezer is a dog. In this story he has human like intelligence and morals. There is much to be learned from a simple animal that demonstrates that we have drifted a long way from our own morals on the current of greed and power.
Jackson and his father bring the white man's viewpoint to the story. There are those who got it right. The other white characters are the villains and rightfully so.
The First Nation was mostly peaceful. Their internal wars were generally for survival or territory. The act of removing the basic elements of life from any community and watching them starve, die of illness and in the weather is nothing short of genocide and our government at its highest ranks were guilty of this systematic murder plot against the Indiana Nations. I personally feel ashamed of our country in their lies, fraudulent dealings and lack of human rights that they committed against the First inhabitants of this continent. They had a system called "Counting Coup" The warrior was rewarded for showing bravery simply by touching or striking his enemy in a brave way. It did not require death. Death was a part of war however. I have included a section from "The Encyclopedia of the Great Plains" on the subject.
I believe that our country lost one of the greater opportunities since its existence to learn from the Indian culture. They have a structured lifestyle that includes all things that we strive for but fall short of in our own government. Their environmental intelligence, moral structures, before alcohol was introduced into their midst, and spiritual ideas would greatly reduce the problems that all cultures face today. Indeed much of the family crisis of today is addressed in Native life. The First Nation has not marched or demanded things from the government. They have quietly made do with what they are given. Much is made of slavery in the south. It too is an abomination. The forced removal of peaceful and prosperous Indian communities and the death of so much of their culture was and is a much more heinous situation. There were many ways to come into slavery and not all of them by kidnapping. Even then the goal of slavery was not to obliterate those subjected to this institution. In essence the owner of slaves prospered by keeping the slave healthy and able to work even to have children and propagate their holdings. The First Nation was targeted for annihilation by the White Man and the government with the goal of removing the culture from existence. Those that were not killed were forced on a reservation and into "Missionary Schools" that taught Christianity and forced those that survived to abandon their spiritual beliefs and lifestyle that was judged to be uncivil. The White Man's lifestyle, while proving to be the must uncivil of all, was forced upon them to tame the "savages!" Since most tribes did not write their stories, dances or medicine much of this was lost to their culture and history if there were not a chain of ancestry that passed it forward.
As I study the First Nation and the tribes I find myself wishing that this was the system that we lived under now. Keep writing these stories Kitty, who knows maybe our government officials will read them and learn how we should all act.
COUNTING COUP
A depiction of counting coup
Counting coup, or striking an enemy, was the highest honor earned by warriors participating in the intertribal wars of the Great Plains. Native peoples recognized precise systems of graduated war honors, and usually the greatest exploit was counting coup. Key to a man's success in Plains combat was demonstrating his own courage by proving superiority over his opponent and, in a competitive sense, over his own comrades. Killing was part of war, but showing courage in the process was more important for individual status. This was best accomplished by risking one's life in charging the enemy on foot or horseback to get close enough to touch or strike him with the hand, a weapon, or a "coupstick."
Humiliating the enemy also played a part in this fighting, as illustrated by an account from the Jesuit missionary Father Pierre-Jean De Smet. In De Smet's 1848 visit to the Oglala Lakotas, the Oglala leader Red Fish related to the priest how his men had just suffered a disgraceful defeat at the hands of the Crows. The Crows killed ten Oglalas, then chased the others for a distance. The Crows then were content merely to repeatedly count coup on their enemies with clubs and sticks, thus demonstrating to the Oglalas that they were not worth the ammunition needed to kill them.
Counting coup carried over into the battles against American troops. For example, the Northern Cheyenne warrior Wooden Leg related how, as a young man at the Battle of the Little Bighorn, he and his friend Little Bird chased a soldier across the river, counting coup on him with their whips and grabbing his carbine. They did not kill him, said Wooden Leg, because after counting coup it did not seem particularly brave, and besides, it would waste bullets. Counting coup, then, was the epitome of a type of warfare that pitted the skill and daring of one man against another.
I would like to get the meat of this review out first. This is a five star read that could interest several age groups and interests. The character development is complete and it is easy to like the good ones and hate the bad. It addresses that "skeleton in the closet" that we as Americans seem to like to keep buried. It is one of the darkest secrets that taints the American legacy. The white man's treatment of the First Nation would be looked at today as a good reason to defend the Indian Nation with "Shock and Awe" as we did in Iraq for much the same crimes. What we do instead is turn our heads to avoid the view. Kitty has researched details that we have not heard much about. I think it is common knowledge of the basic facts of the "Trail of Tears" but to hear the numbers and feel the devastation that this caused to an entire culture is shocking. To know that these men of greed and wealth would prey upon them in this weakened state is despicable. To kill or cause the death of women, children, aged and infirm is criminal. The only reason it was not in this time is that it was done by the wealthy and the government. I imagine that if a country was acting this way in today's world we would seek criminal charges and execution of those involved up to and including the highest ranking and the wealthy.
This story is one that we should look to and learn how we should go forward in our lives. Even the young girl, Sasa, learned through her grief and her community what is right and wrong. She did not focus on it and use it as an excuse to live a lesser life. She followed her tradition and customs and made the best of the evil that was put into her life by others.
Wheezer is a dog. In this story he has human like intelligence and morals. There is much to be learned from a simple animal that demonstrates that we have drifted a long way from our own morals on the current of greed and power.
Jackson and his father bring the white man's viewpoint to the story. There are those who got it right. The other white characters are the villains and rightfully so.
The First Nation was mostly peaceful. Their internal wars were generally for survival or territory. The act of removing the basic elements of life from any community and watching them starve, die of illness and in the weather is nothing short of genocide and our government at its highest ranks were guilty of this systematic murder plot against the Indiana Nations. I personally feel ashamed of our country in their lies, fraudulent dealings and lack of human rights that they committed against the First inhabitants of this continent. They had a system called "Counting Coup" The warrior was rewarded for showing bravery simply by touching or striking his enemy in a brave way. It did not require death. Death was a part of war however. I have included a section from "The Encyclopedia of the Great Plains" on the subject.
I believe that our country lost one of the greater opportunities since its existence to learn from the Indian culture. They have a structured lifestyle that includes all things that we strive for but fall short of in our own government. Their environmental intelligence, moral structures, before alcohol was introduced into their midst, and spiritual ideas would greatly reduce the problems that all cultures face today. Indeed much of the family crisis of today is addressed in Native life. The First Nation has not marched or demanded things from the government. They have quietly made do with what they are given. Much is made of slavery in the south. It too is an abomination. The forced removal of peaceful and prosperous Indian communities and the death of so much of their culture was and is a much more heinous situation. There were many ways to come into slavery and not all of them by kidnapping. Even then the goal of slavery was not to obliterate those subjected to this institution. In essence the owner of slaves prospered by keeping the slave healthy and able to work even to have children and propagate their holdings. The First Nation was targeted for annihilation by the White Man and the government with the goal of removing the culture from existence. Those that were not killed were forced on a reservation and into "Missionary Schools" that taught Christianity and forced those that survived to abandon their spiritual beliefs and lifestyle that was judged to be uncivil. The White Man's lifestyle, while proving to be the must uncivil of all, was forced upon them to tame the "savages!" Since most tribes did not write their stories, dances or medicine much of this was lost to their culture and history if there were not a chain of ancestry that passed it forward.
As I study the First Nation and the tribes I find myself wishing that this was the system that we lived under now. Keep writing these stories Kitty, who knows maybe our government officials will read them and learn how we should all act.
COUNTING COUP
A depiction of counting coup
Counting coup, or striking an enemy, was the highest honor earned by warriors participating in the intertribal wars of the Great Plains. Native peoples recognized precise systems of graduated war honors, and usually the greatest exploit was counting coup. Key to a man's success in Plains combat was demonstrating his own courage by proving superiority over his opponent and, in a competitive sense, over his own comrades. Killing was part of war, but showing courage in the process was more important for individual status. This was best accomplished by risking one's life in charging the enemy on foot or horseback to get close enough to touch or strike him with the hand, a weapon, or a "coupstick."
Humiliating the enemy also played a part in this fighting, as illustrated by an account from the Jesuit missionary Father Pierre-Jean De Smet. In De Smet's 1848 visit to the Oglala Lakotas, the Oglala leader Red Fish related to the priest how his men had just suffered a disgraceful defeat at the hands of the Crows. The Crows killed ten Oglalas, then chased the others for a distance. The Crows then were content merely to repeatedly count coup on their enemies with clubs and sticks, thus demonstrating to the Oglalas that they were not worth the ammunition needed to kill them.
Counting coup carried over into the battles against American troops. For example, the Northern Cheyenne warrior Wooden Leg related how, as a young man at the Battle of the Little Bighorn, he and his friend Little Bird chased a soldier across the river, counting coup on him with their whips and grabbing his carbine. They did not kill him, said Wooden Leg, because after counting coup it did not seem particularly brave, and besides, it would waste bullets. Counting coup, then, was the epitome of a type of warfare that pitted the skill and daring of one man against another.
April 30, 2020
I enjoyed this story and the characters. Very much feel this one is worth the read.
Kitty Sutton handles the issue of the Trail of Tears well. That treatment of the Cherokee resettlement was a horrible stain on the history of the United States. I am glad to see the topic in a story. We should not forget what happened. Sutton uses that as the background to establish her mystery, a murder mystery.
The characters are nicely developed. The dog, Wheezer, especially becomes a main character, has depth, and makes one want to get a Jack Russell terrier, well, that is until one does deeper research to learn of their characteristics. Fine for some folks; I prefer a bit more laid back.
As one of the main antagonists returned to the camp, I must say I was quite surprised at who it was tracked behind him waiting for the right moment.
I appreciated the balancing that not all people involved were horrible toward the Cherokee and other bands as they were resettled. Yes, there were many greedy, heartless folk involved, but there were others who cared and tried best they could to help.
Well worth the read. Next, I'll be getting the next episodes of Wheezer's life.
Kitty Sutton handles the issue of the Trail of Tears well. That treatment of the Cherokee resettlement was a horrible stain on the history of the United States. I am glad to see the topic in a story. We should not forget what happened. Sutton uses that as the background to establish her mystery, a murder mystery.
The characters are nicely developed. The dog, Wheezer, especially becomes a main character, has depth, and makes one want to get a Jack Russell terrier, well, that is until one does deeper research to learn of their characteristics. Fine for some folks; I prefer a bit more laid back.
As one of the main antagonists returned to the camp, I must say I was quite surprised at who it was tracked behind him waiting for the right moment.
I appreciated the balancing that not all people involved were horrible toward the Cherokee and other bands as they were resettled. Yes, there were many greedy, heartless folk involved, but there were others who cared and tried best they could to help.
Well worth the read. Next, I'll be getting the next episodes of Wheezer's life.
October 30, 2023
I absolutely enjoyed reading this book. It was wonderful. I will definitely be reading the next book in this series.
October 8, 2012
This book is a wonderful find. It's an involving, well written, well plotted story about a thirteen-year-old Cherokee girl, Sasa, who investigates the mysterious death of her young brother in the barren new settlement to which her tribe has been relegated after walking the Trail of Tears. Sasa teams up with a preternaturally intelligent Jack Russell terrier she rescues and names Wheezer, as well as several older people in her community. She's also assisted by Wheezer's original owner (a virtuous young white man named Jackson) and a few others. As the investigation continues, Sasa and her friends uncover a cruel plot to steal funds intended to purchase supplies for the relocated Cherokee, who are facing an approaching winter and have no means of feeding themselves.
The book is a mystery-thriller hybrid: the reader is in on some of the villains' machinations, but not all of them. It also strikes me as a hybrid between children's and young-adult fiction. The bad folks are relentlessly wicked, and the good people are without fault, a type of characterization I associate with work intended for young readers. On the other hand, Sasa's age and maturity, as well as the book's more graphic descriptions of death and injury, seem aimed at older kids (in the fourteen- to seventeen-year-old age range, I'd say). The cover, in both its shape and sweetly drawn central figure, looks appropriate for a children's book. Yet other elements, including Sasa's little brother's death and the book's setting in the aftermath of the U.S. government's genocidal relocation of the southeastern tribes, probably make Wheezer and the Painted Frog inappropriate for young children. Lastly, while much of the book is told from Sasa's point of view, we also see a lot of material from Jackson's point of view, and he's much older -- well out of young-adult territory -- and has more adult interests.
This generic hybridity strikes me as one of the book's great strengths. It's simply not like most of what's out there. On the other hand, it may also make marketing the book more challenging. We read in a very pigeon-holed way, these days, and readers tend to enforce generic boundaries pretty firmly.
I hope Wheezer and the Painted Frog doesn't go unread for such reasons because it's terrific. Sasa is a strong and sympathetic protagonist, and Wheezer is a real charmer. Furthermore, the novel puts Native American history front and center. I bet that's all too rare a reading experience for the average American teen, and it shouldn't be.
Sutton has now published the second book in the Trail of Tears Mystery series, Wheezer and the Shy Coyote. I probably won't get to it for a while -- I'm quite behind on my reading and reviewing. But it's certainly in my TBR piles, and when my daughters are old enough, all the Wheezer books will end up on their reading devices as well.
This review has been cross-posted from my blog. I did not receive a free copy of this book.
The book is a mystery-thriller hybrid: the reader is in on some of the villains' machinations, but not all of them. It also strikes me as a hybrid between children's and young-adult fiction. The bad folks are relentlessly wicked, and the good people are without fault, a type of characterization I associate with work intended for young readers. On the other hand, Sasa's age and maturity, as well as the book's more graphic descriptions of death and injury, seem aimed at older kids (in the fourteen- to seventeen-year-old age range, I'd say). The cover, in both its shape and sweetly drawn central figure, looks appropriate for a children's book. Yet other elements, including Sasa's little brother's death and the book's setting in the aftermath of the U.S. government's genocidal relocation of the southeastern tribes, probably make Wheezer and the Painted Frog inappropriate for young children. Lastly, while much of the book is told from Sasa's point of view, we also see a lot of material from Jackson's point of view, and he's much older -- well out of young-adult territory -- and has more adult interests.
This generic hybridity strikes me as one of the book's great strengths. It's simply not like most of what's out there. On the other hand, it may also make marketing the book more challenging. We read in a very pigeon-holed way, these days, and readers tend to enforce generic boundaries pretty firmly.
I hope Wheezer and the Painted Frog doesn't go unread for such reasons because it's terrific. Sasa is a strong and sympathetic protagonist, and Wheezer is a real charmer. Furthermore, the novel puts Native American history front and center. I bet that's all too rare a reading experience for the average American teen, and it shouldn't be.
Sutton has now published the second book in the Trail of Tears Mystery series, Wheezer and the Shy Coyote. I probably won't get to it for a while -- I'm quite behind on my reading and reviewing. But it's certainly in my TBR piles, and when my daughters are old enough, all the Wheezer books will end up on their reading devices as well.
This review has been cross-posted from my blog. I did not receive a free copy of this book.
May 9, 2013
When a dog is the hero of a story, what on earth is not to like?!
What an excellent tale from Kitty Sutton. One of fact and fiction, married perfectly to create a story set around the appalling eviction of the Cherokee to new territories, in the nineteenth century.
Vital supplies from government are not reaching these destitute people. Though many—old and young—are dying from the hardship, the death of a little boy is incomprehensible to his older sister, Sasa, who is confused by his dying words. And so, she has a puzzle to solve. Alone—but determined—companionship, protection, and help, arrive in the form of a four-legged assistant: Wheezer, no less. A very smart Jack Russell terrier, who has fled his beloved master in terror when an explosion frightens his whiskers off. When his owner finally catches up with him, Sasa finds another unexpected ally in solving her puzzle and the mystery surrounding a carved painted frog, and together they uncover betrayal, greed, and the reasons why their lifeline is being cut off from them.
The title—and indeed the cover—belies the content of this book. I confess I was expecting a children’s story. How wrong was I! There was murder, crime, fraud, mystery, deception, a teensy weensy bit of romance, and adventures aplenty for one very smart little dog. The story is fictional, yes, but the historic Cherokee ‘Trail of Tears’ is not, nor is the intelligence and lovability of Jack Russells. The factual perimeters envelop a compelling story with wonderfully conceived and portrayed characters (how about Mary Walkingstick? Fabulous!). Kitty’s research has left no stone unturned and has created a vivid and detailed setting for this easy-to-read and enjoyable novel.
What an excellent tale from Kitty Sutton. One of fact and fiction, married perfectly to create a story set around the appalling eviction of the Cherokee to new territories, in the nineteenth century.
Vital supplies from government are not reaching these destitute people. Though many—old and young—are dying from the hardship, the death of a little boy is incomprehensible to his older sister, Sasa, who is confused by his dying words. And so, she has a puzzle to solve. Alone—but determined—companionship, protection, and help, arrive in the form of a four-legged assistant: Wheezer, no less. A very smart Jack Russell terrier, who has fled his beloved master in terror when an explosion frightens his whiskers off. When his owner finally catches up with him, Sasa finds another unexpected ally in solving her puzzle and the mystery surrounding a carved painted frog, and together they uncover betrayal, greed, and the reasons why their lifeline is being cut off from them.
The title—and indeed the cover—belies the content of this book. I confess I was expecting a children’s story. How wrong was I! There was murder, crime, fraud, mystery, deception, a teensy weensy bit of romance, and adventures aplenty for one very smart little dog. The story is fictional, yes, but the historic Cherokee ‘Trail of Tears’ is not, nor is the intelligence and lovability of Jack Russells. The factual perimeters envelop a compelling story with wonderfully conceived and portrayed characters (how about Mary Walkingstick? Fabulous!). Kitty’s research has left no stone unturned and has created a vivid and detailed setting for this easy-to-read and enjoyable novel.
February 26, 2013
The Trail of Tears--a story we hear bits and pieces about or get spoon-fed in some Western movie. Here's the heart of it! The isolation, desolation and loss so horrible that, like slavery, it is difficult for twenty-first century white man to comprehend that his fore bearers committed such an atrocity. The aftermath of this horror is brought to us in the person of a young survivor, Sasa, and her loss of all those dear to her. Left to her own devices in a culture where she is barely old enough to be considered an adult, we are shown her struggles, her fears and the dangers that still threaten her. Along comes the adorable and wise Wheezer who seems to be the savior of, not only a sad little girl, but the People as a whole. Wheezer and his friend from another life, Jackson, come to the rescue of her and her Cherokee tribe. Whether or not Jackson and brave little Wheezer can solve a murder, discover the cause of the tribe's starvation and want, as well as save themselves in the process is a story Miss Sutton spins with love and care. Don't miss this opportunity to peek inside the history this story lays before us. It is well worth the trip back in time.
March 3, 2013
Kitty Sutton asked me to read and review "Wheezer and the Painted Frog" and I gladly accepted her request. This book has been out for a while and I have been wanting to read it but just haven't taken the time to do it. I'm sorry I didn't read the book sooner. What a captivating tale!
My reaction to "Wheezer and the Painted Frog" was two-fold. First,the story had my interest from the very first page. Ms Sutton is a wonderful story teller who crafted an enchanting mystery with bits of history mixed in. Her characters are well developed with a mix of people you either love or hate. I am partial to dogs, so having Wheezer as one of the heroes made the story complete.
Secondly, I am familiar with the Trail of Tears and the terrible treatment of the native Americans by the white man. Reading about Wheezer, Sasa and Jackson's quest to fight the wrong doings and get to the truth of why Sasa's little brother was murdered helps me to remember that there are good people in this world who believe in what's right and do whatever they can to overcome the odds against them.
I highly recommend this book to everyone, young and old.
My reaction to "Wheezer and the Painted Frog" was two-fold. First,the story had my interest from the very first page. Ms Sutton is a wonderful story teller who crafted an enchanting mystery with bits of history mixed in. Her characters are well developed with a mix of people you either love or hate. I am partial to dogs, so having Wheezer as one of the heroes made the story complete.
Secondly, I am familiar with the Trail of Tears and the terrible treatment of the native Americans by the white man. Reading about Wheezer, Sasa and Jackson's quest to fight the wrong doings and get to the truth of why Sasa's little brother was murdered helps me to remember that there are good people in this world who believe in what's right and do whatever they can to overcome the odds against them.
I highly recommend this book to everyone, young and old.
December 22, 2012
I was given a copy of this book to review by the author. It's not really set in any of the usual genres I read, but I found it to be a very well-written tale. Kitty Sutton is very knowledgable about the iconography, mythology and history of the Native American people, and this story tells a great tale set against the backdrop of one of our country's more shameful time periods. Definitely worth a read by anyone who likes Native American stories, or good fiction in general.
May 13, 2013
What a great and sad tale to tell. Although it was heartbreaking knowing The Trail of Tears really happened, and it made me feel guilty to know that my ancestors had a part in this tragedy, I also felt relieved to see how Jackson and other white men tried to help. Kitty Sutton writes with knowledge that pulls at your heartstrings. How can you not love a story that has a cute but brave dog (Wheezer), action, romance and an ending that made me cry. This book has it all.
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