Native American YA Novel:

Christo, R. (2012). Gives Light. [Kindle Version].  Retrieved from Amazon.com.

When 15-year old Skylar St. Clair's father goes missing for over a week, he files a missing persons report.  Because he is a minor, Skylar is taken to the home of his estranged grandmother on Shoshonne reservation.  Left without a voice during the violent murder of his mother a decade before, Skylar learns that the language of his heritage and shared bloodlines speak volumes.

- I chose this Young Adult e-book series not only due to its multicultural perspective but all because I found the prospect of the protagonist facing the loss of his father, realizing his homosexuality, and seeking to better understand his native heritage an intriguing mix.  The author, Rose Christo, is herself a Plains Indian strives to weave the mystery of Skylar's past with the society of the Reservation which influence his present and future.  Christo strives for authenticity by ingraining Shoshonne vocabulary with the voices of characters young and old alike.  Skyler is a character that teens can easily identify with and because of this, it is easier to open up to the history and legal issues which affect his family and friends.  I appreciated the glimpses into issues that still exist between Native Americans and the U.S. Government which were most thought-provoking when they threaten to harm Skyler's future.

-For those who enjoy deepening their understanding of characters or simply have the habit of falling in love with characters, check out Christo's continuation of this series to get a glimpse into the mind of Raphael and Mary.  You will not be sorry and will walk away with a new appreciation of what it means to be a Native American within modern times.