Publisher: Independently Published
Page Length: 266
Genre: Historical Fiction
When the culture you have grown up with and your spirituality are ripped away from you, frowned upon, and forced deep down to make way for a new way of life, how long can one truly last before the person one once was is no more? For Joseph Cross and his cousin, Elizabeth White Cloud, this is a question they are soon to learn the answer to. Taken from their homeland and family tribe in Montana and hustled across the country, their future is uncertain. The purpose of the Carlisle Indian School is to strip Native American children of their culture, assimilate them into modern Western society, and slowly eradicate everything that Joseph and White Cloud have grown up knowing.
'A Heart That's True' by Mark Guillerman delves into the importance of culture and spirituality, of truly knowing who you are, and of staying true to yourself throughout life.
This novel is a painful reminder of how Western culture slowly erased different cultures and ways of life to make way for its own. Without the ability to make their own choices, and being told not only how to act but also how to think, Joseph and White Cloud find themselves slowly beginning to lose who they are. Their lives become structured and planned by others, and they have no choice but to obey, putting aside their family's customs in order to fit the mould designated for them. The guttural feeling of losing something so dear emanates from the pages of this novel: the freedom of choice extinguished and the entire world they have loved so dearly cut off from them. The spirituality woven throughout the novel reflects all that Joseph and White Cloud have lost, while a deep sense of longing permeates the story as they yearn for home and desperately try to learn how to live in this new world.
Joseph is a central character in the novel, and his journey remains the primary focus throughout. This is not a story of bold defiance, speaking out against injustice, or standing up to assimilation, but one of quiet resistance. The heart-wrenching depictions of children from different tribes standing together, sharing the same dejected grief for the lives they have lost, their faces expressionless and their hope fading, set the tone for the novel. These children know there is little point in fighting, that they have lost what they once had, and that resistance seems futile. Their lives are no longer their own, but accepting this reality is harder than simply believing it.
Joseph mourns deeply for home, feeling as though a part of himself has been lost, yet he understands that displaying his grief will not mend the void within him. Despite this sense of dejected detachment, he pulls himself together as best he can. He refuses to allow himself to fall into despair, knowing it will lead nowhere. The stables become a refuge, and working alongside the horses brings him comfort and stability. Joseph is an admirable and realistic character. He is hardworking and aware of his own worth, and he strives to prove that worth to others. Yet this does not mean abandoning his past or his culture. Among friends, in moments of quiet rebellion, he speaks his native tongue, reminisces about happier times, and remembers the life he once led.
The intricate symbolism within the novel shines through, proving that the spirit will always endure despite attempts to crush and reshape it. The parallel symbolism of Big Black, a half dog, half wolf, offers another perspective on the resilience of the spirit in the face of persecution and fear. Big Black finds himself hunted, his very existence perceived as a threat, and therefore efforts are made to destroy him. Living in the wild among his pack, he fights for survival, his quiet perseverance mirroring Joseph's as both struggle to preserve the lives they once knew while remaining hidden beneath oppression. The inclusion of Big Black broadens the novel's scope. This is not merely a story about Joseph's systematic integration into Western society, but also one of deep spirituality and the importance of remaining authentic and true to oneself.
Big Black's experiences echo Joseph's struggles, providing a powerful metaphor for the emotional consequences of losing one's culture. While Joseph's battles are quiet and psychological, the bullets Big Black faces as hunters pursue him for the ever-rising bounty give physical form to the invisible war raging within the displaced children. Their personalities, beliefs, and identities are forced into hiding in order to appease those around them. Guillerman does an excellent job of creating a profound sense of unease in situations that are not immediately dangerous, an undercurrent of instability and restlessness settling deep within the bones of the story.
Although some characters show sympathy towards the children taken from their homes, others view them with suspicion, treating them as threats and using their heritage as a convenient excuse for shifting blame. White Cloud's perspective reveals a profound sense of displacement, amplified by the fact that she is referred to by her given name throughout the novel. While Joseph is rarely called by his given name, Blue Thunder, White Cloud retains hers. This reinforces the feeling that she is profoundly out of place away from home and unable to move on from her past or leave her heritage behind. As she faces danger and increasingly direct persecution, it becomes clear that, despite attempts to integrate Native American children into Western culture, they gain neither the freedoms enjoyed by Westerners nor their trust. White Cloud embodies a heartbreaking sense of uncertainty and displacement throughout the novel, unable to find her footing in this new life and desperate to return home.
'A Heart That's True' by Mark Guillerman delivers considerable emotional impact, drawing the reader into a profound sense of loss and unease. With its rich historical backdrop, compelling characters, and exploration of the psychological trauma caused by losing oneself to the ideals of others, this is a novel that will captivate readers from beginning to end. It is a story that lingers long after the final page, for it is not only a story of fear and despair, but also one of hope, resilience, and the rediscovery of what was thought to have been lost forever.
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