Reviews
An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States for Young People by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz
leigh_reidelberger's review against another edition
5.0
4.5, but rounding up to 5.
This book is excellent and I'm so glad we have copies available in our library. This book has been 'adapted' for younger readers (Like Jason Reynolds' Stamped) and while I feel like I sped through it, it's a fairly dense read.
There is so much to unpack in this book, where do I even begin?
I consider myself fairly knowledgeable about Native Americans, more than the average person, but the sad thing is, that's still not a lot by any means. The content is a little overwhelming at times, because Dunbar-Ortiz manages to fill each page with purpose. That purpose is heavy enough that I found myself putting the book down even after a few pages to think about her writing.
I took so many notes beginning with the Doctrine of Discovery and settler colonialism- a list of acts and treaties to further read- how Franciscan friars supported the capture and abduction of Indigenous peoples for slavery. Found organizations to follow on Instagram to stay more informed and hopefully involved with helping their cause. I learned that the government of the United States was whittling away rights as recently as 1959. This is not an issue that existed only during Christopher Columbus and the pilgrims, it goes beyond the idea of the wild west - it's a travesty that existed recently.
Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz's writing is inspiring. It's also difficult knowing many of the people doing such unspeakable harm against the Indigenous People's are probably some of my own ancestors (like the Ulster-Scots). She quotes native historian John Forbes, "... while living persons are not responsible for what their ancestors did, they are responsible for the society they live in, which is a product of that past." I like this quote a lot- if more people (let's be honest- in the U.S., 'more people' = white people) would recognize the amount of trauma and harm that has existed (still exists) against (but not limited to) Indigenous peoples and instead of indignantly denying involvement, work towards how to make it better now. We can't change the past, but we can absolutely impact the future.
This book is excellent and I'm so glad we have copies available in our library. This book has been 'adapted' for younger readers (Like Jason Reynolds' Stamped) and while I feel like I sped through it, it's a fairly dense read.
There is so much to unpack in this book, where do I even begin?
I consider myself fairly knowledgeable about Native Americans, more than the average person, but the sad thing is, that's still not a lot by any means. The content is a little overwhelming at times, because Dunbar-Ortiz manages to fill each page with purpose. That purpose is heavy enough that I found myself putting the book down even after a few pages to think about her writing.
I took so many notes beginning with the Doctrine of Discovery and settler colonialism- a list of acts and treaties to further read- how Franciscan friars supported the capture and abduction of Indigenous peoples for slavery. Found organizations to follow on Instagram to stay more informed and hopefully involved with helping their cause. I learned that the government of the United States was whittling away rights as recently as 1959. This is not an issue that existed only during Christopher Columbus and the pilgrims, it goes beyond the idea of the wild west - it's a travesty that existed recently.
Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz's writing is inspiring. It's also difficult knowing many of the people doing such unspeakable harm against the Indigenous People's are probably some of my own ancestors (like the Ulster-Scots). She quotes native historian John Forbes, "... while living persons are not responsible for what their ancestors did, they are responsible for the society they live in, which is a product of that past." I like this quote a lot- if more people (let's be honest- in the U.S., 'more people' = white people) would recognize the amount of trauma and harm that has existed (still exists) against (but not limited to) Indigenous peoples and instead of indignantly denying involvement, work towards how to make it better now. We can't change the past, but we can absolutely impact the future.
jtlars7's review against another edition
Informative, though it’s hard to imagine many young people reading this by choice. Much of it reads like a textbook, and it’s a lot of upsetting info to take in. Lays out in more detail than most of us probably know exactly how European colonizers and the U.S. government have tried to systematically eliminate Native American nations, people, and cultures. Some of the many horrifying examples: paying bounties for the scalps of Native men, women, and children; issuing military orders to destroy villages and their food sources (George Washington!); forced relocations; wiping out buffalo populations on purpose; removing children from their families to schools designed to rob them of their cultures; and so, so many treaty violations. Glad I read it because it was eye-opening, but certainly not an enjoyable experience.
kat07's review against another edition
5.0
I meant to get the original version, but I picked up the young people's edition instead. No regrets! I love the textbook layout with the maps and pictures, but it also includes "Did you know" and "Consider this" snippets for further learning. This book solidified what I already knew but also challenged assumptions and prejudices embedded in early education. The narrative we are taught beginning with those first grade Thanksgiving reenactments are so very different than the reality and what actually happened.
This book covers the history of Native Americans from colonialism to present-day.
European Ideals and Mindset
• Beginning with the idea of white supremacy, Europeans believed that their civilization was superior to all others.
• The Doctrine of Discovery was then issued by the Vatican which used white supremacy to justify European conquest and exploitation of lands that didn't belong to them.
• And then there's Manifest Destiny, the belief that English-speaking Americans are destined to spread their ideals across the continent.
• These three ideals set the mindset against Native Americans from the very beginning, and still today, some people view them only as "savage" and "uncivilized."
Mindset vs Reality
• Settlers (and Americans today) had this idea that North America was an untamed wilderness, but it was actually molded by the Native Americans. The earliest settlers were successful only because the resources were already available to them (often taken by force).
• Thomas Jefferson had the idea of "from sea to shining sea," but again, the Native Americans had networks that already spanned across the continent.
Something that I particularly love:
• Natives are all about relationships, with land and with each other.
This book covers the history of Native Americans from colonialism to present-day.
European Ideals and Mindset
• Beginning with the idea of white supremacy, Europeans believed that their civilization was superior to all others.
• The Doctrine of Discovery was then issued by the Vatican which used white supremacy to justify European conquest and exploitation of lands that didn't belong to them.
• And then there's Manifest Destiny, the belief that English-speaking Americans are destined to spread their ideals across the continent.
• These three ideals set the mindset against Native Americans from the very beginning, and still today, some people view them only as "savage" and "uncivilized."
Mindset vs Reality
• Settlers (and Americans today) had this idea that North America was an untamed wilderness, but it was actually molded by the Native Americans. The earliest settlers were successful only because the resources were already available to them (often taken by force).
• Thomas Jefferson had the idea of "from sea to shining sea," but again, the Native Americans had networks that already spanned across the continent.
Something that I particularly love:
• Natives are all about relationships, with land and with each other.
christoke's review against another edition
4.0
I had actually meant to read the Adults version of this book, but I downloaded the Young People version by accident on Libby (and I’m very glad I did!) While some of the thinking exercises in the book were a little silly, the content of this book was excellent. This definitely feels like a revisionist history book. I’ve read a decent amount of history, and it frequently neglects, or grossly glosses over what happened to Native Americans.
This book begins by talking about what the American continents looked like before Europeans arrived. It then looks at what Europe looked like at the time, and explores what happened from there.
Even though this was a “Young People’s” version, it didn’t sugarcoat what happened. This book explains how the native people were massacred through non-civilized warfare time and again. While the material is very disturbing to read, this version does a good job of moving at a decent pace so the information is digestible.
At the end of this book, I feel like I learned the real story of American history for the first time. It was very disturbing, but I’m also very glad I read this book.
The Indigenous History - Young People’s version is an excellent place to begin with learning more about our country, and I highly recommend everyone read this book.
This book begins by talking about what the American continents looked like before Europeans arrived. It then looks at what Europe looked like at the time, and explores what happened from there.
Even though this was a “Young People’s” version, it didn’t sugarcoat what happened. This book explains how the native people were massacred through non-civilized warfare time and again. While the material is very disturbing to read, this version does a good job of moving at a decent pace so the information is digestible.
At the end of this book, I feel like I learned the real story of American history for the first time. It was very disturbing, but I’m also very glad I read this book.
The Indigenous History - Young People’s version is an excellent place to begin with learning more about our country, and I highly recommend everyone read this book.
codercaitlin's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
laurie_bridges's review against another edition
3.0
I have not read the adult version of this book. I am a white woman who is interested in indigenous history - I took several classes of indigenous history in college and I’ve read numerous books and articles over the years. My teen was assigned this book in 8th grade - actually just the first four chapters. I read them aloud because he has dyslexia. The first three chapters were interesting and well-told. Then, chapter four read like a very long list of bullet points… So many dates, places, names. I had difficulty keeping my teen’s interest and I often had to stop and explain to give more context. I had difficulty imaging other 8th graders reading this without further explanation. I don’t recommend this chapter without videos or other, more interesting methods (pictures, maps, anything!). I continued reading the book on my own. Some of the book does contain good descriptive storytelling. However, much of the book reads like a dry textbook with few pictures. I stopped reading at about 60%. I admit I prefer a well-told story that brings history to life, not a laundry list of facts. I would recommend the first three chapters and a few other sections. It could also be used as a good source for research (example: a student report on the Modoc).
maximum83's review against another edition
5.0
Informative but in an easy to grasp manner. You walk away well informed on the subject of colonization and what it did and still does to native people.
lauraviivi's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
4.0