Charlotte

July 1, 1999
Gr 6-8-After her parents are killed by Apache warriors while traveling by stagecoach through the Arizona Territory, Charlotte, 13, miraculously escapes. While wandering the hot, lonely desert, she meets a mysterious young woman who gives her an arrowhead that gives her the courage she needs to survive. Charlotte is able to muster her strength, especially after she stumbles on the camp of an elderly Indian woman named Hu'ul. The woman takes her in and teaches her self-reliance and the secrets of thriving in this environment. Vick brings the area to life with authentic detail, from Hu'ul's woven baskets to the desert's prickly cacti. However, the story is dragged down by a slow-moving plot. After the girl arrives at the camp, she mostly carries on conversations with herself because she and Hu'ul do not speak the same language. The action does pick up again at the end, and it's clear that Charlotte has gained the fortitude she needs to live her own life.-Kristen Oravec, Cuyahoga County Public Library, Strongsville, OH

Copyright 1999 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.