Home to Medicine Mountain

Two young brothers are separated from their family and sent to live in a government-run Indian residential school in the 1930s—an experience shared by generations of Native American children throughout North America. At these schools, children were forbidden to speak their Indian languages and made to unlearn their Indian ways. Sadly, they were often not able to go home to their families for summer vacation.

Native American artist Judith Lowry based this story on the experiences of her father and her Uncle Stanley. Judith and author Chiori Santiago tenderly relate how Stanley and Benny Len found their way home by train one summer. Inspired by their dreams of home and the memories of their grandmother's stories, the boys embark on an adventurous journey from the harsh residential school to their triumphant welcome home at Susanville, California, in the shadow of Yo-Tim Yamne (Medicine Mountain).

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Chiori Santiago was an accomplished journalist who wrote for national magazines about the art, music and family life of people from many parts of the world. Always active in community affairs, she was also an arts and music commentator for public television and radio. Chiori died in 2007.

Judith Lowry is a nationally exhibited painter of Mountain Maidu, Hamawi Pit-River, and Australian descent. Considered one of California’s premiere contemporary Native American artists, she is inspired by the stories passed down in her family. Judith lives in Nevada City, California.
 

Themes: Historical Narratives, Community, Family/Intergenerational, Friendship

Related Books: See books from the Native American communities  

•    1999 American Book Award
•    1999 American Library Association Notable Book
•    1998 Cooperative Children's Book Center Choice
•    1999 Skipping Stones Honor Award
•    1999 Selected as an "Outstanding" Title by Parent Council, LTD

"The artist and author have brought a little-known chapter of history to children's attention, and have done so in an appealing way. The colorful paintings and intelligent text tell a loving story…. A welcome title." —School Library Journal

"Poetic drawings illustrate both the excitement of the adventure and the spiritual side of the boys' life, as the elements of their culture call to them. Winning readers' sympathies from the outset is the comparison of the clocks, classrooms, and uniforms of boarding school with indigenous customs…. The ending is perfect." —Kirkus Reviews

"A great story, well told, and the illustrations are colorful and compelling—a children's book that adults will also treasure." —News from Native California