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thewenzl's review against another edition
3.0
Audience: 1st-3rd graders (younger ages may be able to enjoy the story with additional help from older readers, but subject matter and writing style may take a lot of explaining); readers with an interest in Native American history and culture
Appeal: It tells the story of a wonderful defender of women's and Native American's rights with colorful and expressive illustrations that almost tell the story by themselves. Because the story is drawn from and inspired by Zitkala-Sa's actual writings, it has a distinctly Native American feel to writing in the rhythms and the phrasing used.
2012 Carter G. Woodson Elementary Level Book Award
[bc:Red Bird Sings: The Story of Zitkala-Sa, Native American Author, Musician, and Activist|11450088|Red Bird Sings The Story of Zitkala-Sa, Native American Author, Musician, and Activist|Gina Capaldi|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1310051353s/11450088.jpg|16384011]
Appeal: It tells the story of a wonderful defender of women's and Native American's rights with colorful and expressive illustrations that almost tell the story by themselves. Because the story is drawn from and inspired by Zitkala-Sa's actual writings, it has a distinctly Native American feel to writing in the rhythms and the phrasing used.
2012 Carter G. Woodson Elementary Level Book Award
[bc:Red Bird Sings: The Story of Zitkala-Sa, Native American Author, Musician, and Activist|11450088|Red Bird Sings The Story of Zitkala-Sa, Native American Author, Musician, and Activist|Gina Capaldi|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1310051353s/11450088.jpg|16384011]
crystal_reading's review against another edition
4.0
I really appreciated finding this biography of a Yankton Sioux woman. It is great to see her strength, persistence, and her contributions to the world. Through this book, readers learn a bit about what it was like for Zitkala-Ša to be separated from her family and culture while she was educated at a residential school. We see the conflict as she learns the white ways and begins to lose her feeling of belonging with her family and culture. Books, music and writing were places that she found comfort.
In adulthood, Zitkala-Ša worked for equality for women and Native Americans. She became an activist and supported American Indian issues. She also received national acclaim for her writing and music.
The book made me want to read Zitkala-Ša's own works though. I wondered a few times about the word choice I was seeing - whether they were her own or those of the authors since the authors note explains that they have "reworked her language and substituted modern phrasing for clarity." One example of this is on pg. 21 when she was giving a speech and the text says, "I spoke of the noble Indian and urged my audience to accept us as equals." It's not necessarily a big thing, but I wondered if she used the phrase "noble Indian." It is possible since that is a phrasing that was often used. Another instance is p. 14 when the text says, "I was neither a small girl nor a tall one, neither a wild Indian or a tame one." These instances definitely made me curious to find her own words. Besides, she won awards for her speeches and writing, so I am wanting to experience the real deal now.
In adulthood, Zitkala-Ša worked for equality for women and Native Americans. She became an activist and supported American Indian issues. She also received national acclaim for her writing and music.
The book made me want to read Zitkala-Ša's own works though. I wondered a few times about the word choice I was seeing - whether they were her own or those of the authors since the authors note explains that they have "reworked her language and substituted modern phrasing for clarity." One example of this is on pg. 21 when she was giving a speech and the text says, "I spoke of the noble Indian and urged my audience to accept us as equals." It's not necessarily a big thing, but I wondered if she used the phrase "noble Indian." It is possible since that is a phrasing that was often used. Another instance is p. 14 when the text says, "I was neither a small girl nor a tall one, neither a wild Indian or a tame one." These instances definitely made me curious to find her own words. Besides, she won awards for her speeches and writing, so I am wanting to experience the real deal now.
hlparis's review against another edition
5.0
I was not aware of Zitkala-Sa until this month when Google doodle introduced me to her. I immediately looked her up and found this book. I have her book on hold "American Indian stories, legends, and other writings" to read in the near future. The presence in her life of the Quakers surprised me, yet it didn't. It may be a great book to spur discussion on how culture has evolved and changed and what was done to American Indians before the 1900's. While I knew that American Indians were taken to Christian boarding schools, I had no idea that Quakers were a part of this. I would like to learn more about this aspect, but I will put that on hold until I learn more about her.
hldillon's review against another edition
5.0
Beautifully written story about Zitkala- Sa and her struggles to become a famous musician and orator/writer. She is taken from her tribe when she is little and lives with with the white Quaker settlers who teach her how read and write as well as play music where she earns the nickname Red Bird. She grows up even stronger becoming the first Native American to write and perform an opera. She even has the opportunity to perform for the President of the US. Based on a true story.
therainbowshelf's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
slow-paced
4.0
I thought this picturebook did a good job of making writings by Zitkala-Sa accessible for kids and explaining the background kids needed to know in order to better understand her experiences. The art is beautiful, and the page layout was fun. Not a single read for kids, though. I don't think I would have made it through this book on my own as a kiddo because I struggled pretty hard with reading.
Content Warnings
systematically destroying a culture by taking away its children and forbidding those children from participating in their culture
toad_maiden's review against another edition
2.0
Books on indigenous history and activism are high on my priority list, but this one seems in poor taste. From what I can tell, Capaldi is not indigenous, and while she relied on Zitkala-Sa's first-person source material to write this, it is impossible for a casual reader to tell how much that material has been tinkered with to make it "palatable." Approach with caution.
jmshirtz's review
5.0
I am in love with the illustrations by [a:Gina Capaldi|1177236|Gina Capaldi|https://www.goodreads.com/assets/nophoto/user/f_50x66-e0ba3b90c110cd67123d6a850d85373e.png] in this book. The story is one that needs to be shared with the next generation of readers, as well, so this one was a win-win for me. I wish there'd been more explanation about her two names, as well as why she returned to the school when she was so miserable there. I'm sure it's very hard to balance a person's life to fit in a children's picture book. Perhaps I'll have to read Zitkala-Sa's writings myself.