A fictional recreation of the life of Ahyoka, a young Cherokee who worked with her exiled father to help him create Cherokee syllabary, the only written language ever invented by a single person.

Reviews

Grade 3-5-- Easy, well-written historical fiction. Ahyoka, daughter of Sequoyah, the man who created a written Cherokee language in the early 1800s, is a woman lost in the tide of history. In the Roops' story, she comes to life. She is portrayed as her father's helper and soul mate in his long-term quest, leaving her mother and home to travel with him after he is ostracized and accused of magic. It is Ahyoka who discovers that letters relate to sounds rather than being representative pictures--the key to creating the syllabic alphabet. The authors provide an epilogue of historical facts discovered in their research and a bibliography of adult sources. Miyake's illustrations are rendered with skill and sensitivity, and adequately convey the action. Full-page paintings reproduced in black and white and shades of gray are effective yet disappointing after the velvety warmth of the full-color cover art. Sequoyah and Ahyoka's success in creating a written language for their people provides a heartwarming conclusion to a satisfying story that should be in most libraries. --Jody McCoy, Casady School, Oklahoma City
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Ahyoka--daughter of Sequoyah, inventor of the Cherokee alphabet--is credited with ``enter[ing] into the genius of his labors.'' Adapting and filling out the historical record, the Roops depict their determination to find a way for Cherokees to read and write like whites, despite the antagonism of their family and tribe. In initial attempts, the two try drawing a picture to represent each word; then Ahyoka discovers the concept of symbols for sounds, and the result is a workable syllable alphabet. Oddly enough, the epilogue here is more interesting than the slender story, which lacks any real sense of time and place; it provides information on the period and mentions the novelty of an alphabet being created rather than evolving. It also implies historical fudging: History has Ahyoka helping to construct the syllabary, not producing the pivotal brainstorm. Not the best place to look for information on the Cherokees. Appealing b&w watercolors; bibliography. (Fiction. 6+) -- Copyright �1992, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.

Store Description

ThriftBooks is a fully independent seller of used books, having sold more than 160 million used and new books since we started in 2003. Each quality used book is sorted, graded, shelved and shipped by hand by our team of dedicated employees in our seven warehouses across the US. We have the best selection of books, in the right condition and format, at everyday low prices. We also have a dedicated, US-based Customer Service team, ranked in the top three by Newsweek for Best Customer Service in 2018 and 2019, so you can shop with confidence. We support and invest in our employees, appreciate and value our customers, and truly believe in the power of the written word to educate, energize, and engage readers of all ages and interests.

Visit Seller's Storefront

Seller's business information

Thrift Books Global, LLC
18300 Cascade Ave S, Ste 150, Seattle, WA, 98188, U.S.A.

Sale & Shipping Terms

Terms of Sale

We guarantee the condition of every book as it's described
on the Abebooks website. If you're dissatisfied with your
purchase (Incorrect Book/Not as Described/Damaged) or if the
order hasn't arrived, you're eligible for a refund within 30
days of the estimated delivery date. If you've changed your
mind about a book that you've ordered, please use the "Ask
bookseller a question link to contact us" and we'll respond
as soon as possible.

Shipping Terms

All domestic Standard shipments are distributed from our warehouses by OSM, then handed off to the USPS for final delivery.

2-Day Shipping is delivered by FedEx, which does not deliver to PO boxes.

International shipments are tendered to the local postal service in the destination country for final delivery – We do not use courier services for international deliveries.

Shipping rates within U.S.A.

Shipping rates within U.S.A.
Order quantity	4 to 8 business days	4 to 8 business days
First item	US$ 0.00	US$ 0.00

Delivery times are set by sellers and vary by carrier and location. Orders passing through Customs may face delays and buyers are responsible for any associated duties or fees. Sellers may contact you regarding additional charges to cover any increased costs to ship your items.