Jesse Chisholm: The Story of a Trailblazer and Peacemaker in Early Texas and Oklahoma

O'Rear, Sybil Jarnagin

ISBN 10: 1571681108 / ISBN 13: 9781571681102

Published by Eakin Pr, 1997

About this Item

Seller Inventory # 1571681108-3-33579526

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Jesse Chisholm: The Story of a Trailblazer and Peacemaker in Early Texas and Oklahoma
• Publisher: Eakin Pr
• Publication Date: 1997
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1571681108
• ISBN 13: 9781571681102
• Binding: hardcover
• Condition: Good
• Weight: 18 ounces

About this title

Synopsis

Presents the life story of the part-Cherokee trailblazer whose greatest accomplishment was bringing the Plains Indians to the peace table

Reviews

Grade 4-7. A disappointing biography. O'Rear tells the story of the man who was part Cherokee and part Scottish, with energy and excitement, and has done her research, as evidenced in the book's lengthy bibliography. However, her choice of vocabulary seems oversimplified, lacking the figurative language and structure of good writing. Indeed, the author is patronizing in her attempts to make the narrative interesting and understandable. Chisholm's close association with Sam Houston, or "Colonneh" as the Cherokees called him, is a focus of the book. However, there are too many distracting details about Houston and the Texas Revolution, and these digressions detract from Chisholm's story. Also, O'Rear uses a great deal of fictional dialogue, which only confuses readers. Few primary sources are noted. One only needs to consider Jean Fritz's lively and engaging Make Way for Sam Houston (Putnam, 1986) and other titles to know that invented conversation is not necessary to bring biographies to life for young people. The book's most useful aspect is the description of how Chisholm lived between the worlds of the white man and the Cherokee. There is an excellent chapter titled "More About the Eastern Cherokees." Too bad the author didn't show the same respect for her audience in telling about her subject's life as she did in this well-written addendum.?Phyllis Graves, Creekwood Middle School, Kingwood, TX
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.