Anpao: An American Indian Odyssey [Paperback]

Jamake Highwater (Author), Fritz Scholder (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 30, 1992

Anpao is young and Handsome and Brave -- a man any maiden would be proud to call her husband. Any maiden but Ko-Ko-Mik-e-is, that is, who calims she belongs to the Sun alone. And so Anpao sets off for the house of the Sun to ask permission to marry the woman he loves. But Anpao's journey is not an easy one. Before he can reach the Sun, Anapao must travel back in time to the dawn of the world. He must relive his own creation, venture through The World Beneath the World, and battle the many magical mystical creatures of Native American legends. For only by doing so can Anpao discover who he really is, and rove to the Sun why he alone is worthy of the fair Ko-komik-e-is

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This Newbery Honor book chronicles a young Indian's mystical journey that crosses many time periods. Ages 12-up.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"Highwater is a wonderful poet and storyteller." -- -- The San Francisco Examiner

"Occasionally, not often enough, there appears a timeless work. Such a book is Anpao." -- -- The Washington Post

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 13 and up
  
• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins (January 30, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0064404374
• ISBN-13: 978-0064404372
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #918,384 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A UNIVERSAL ODYSSEY, May 30, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Anpao: An American Indian Odyssey (Paperback)

I truly enjoyed reading this well-crafted book and agree with critics that ANPAO is a "timeless work" and Highwater is a "wonderful poet and storyteller." Highwater has incorporated a diversity of original myths, legends, and stories from the Northern Plains culture, in which he grew up, with elements from the Southwest indigenous cultures to create a Native-American odyssey that is universal in its appeal. Themes of bravery, love, cooperation, honesty, and respect are interwined throughout the work, giving readers from diverse backgrounds much to ponder and contemplate regarding human nature and human relationship with the planet. Highwater crafts his story so well that questions arise naturally, and readers are encouraged to think critically about the themes presented in the text. This is an excellent title to include on any upper-level multicultural reading list.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ANPAO is a wonderful example of courage, love, & history., August 28, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Anpao: An American Indian Odyssey (Paperback)

As a 6th grade teacher, I first learned of ANPAO through a children's literature course. I was enthralled by the Native American (Blackfoot) culture and how Jamake Highwater used it to weave a tale of love, adventure, and history into one book. This past school year was the 5th time I have shared it with my children. It didn't matter what their reading levels were, they loved it, we shared it, and some, went out and purchased their own copies of it. You know something had an impact when a student, who wasn't necessarily the most proficient reader, relates something in his life to the characater long after the novel was completed. "That's something that Anpao would have done." I strongly suggest that all teachers of 6th grade reading or social studies, share this novel with their children.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Native American Chopsuey, July 4, 2009

By 

Robert S. Newman "Bob Newman" (Marblehead, Massachusetts USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Anpao: An American Indian Odyssey (Paperback)

Let's start with the bottom line: this is an attempt at a collage of Native American stories united around a single, fictional hero (a hero who isn't found in any ACTUAL Native American myths or stories). I don't think it's all that successful, but it's a very interesting idea. The end, dealing with the coming of the Europeans, is the most original part of the book. I found it the most moving too, for I hope that the peoples of the Americas will live, will return. As an attempt to describe Indian thought, ways, and values, ANPAO has its moments, but I felt that a lot of European (white man) values had got mixed in, a lot of influence from that direction no doubt absorbed by the author over the course of his life.
On looking at the reviews on Amazon, I was surprised to find that it is being used as a text or reading assignment in schools. I think that this is a very valuable way to utilize the author's obvious ability, but being "slightly beyond" school, I had a different reaction on reading it. I bought the book to learn more about some specific Native American culture, but realized on reading it that it was more like a potpourri. Let's imagine a similar, potpourri-type effort to present European values and thought. Can you imagine a hero called "Justice" or "Señor Sacrifice" wandering through a mythical Europe on a quest, meeting Thor, Zeus, Don Quixote, King Arthur, and Beowulf ? I don't think such a concoction would do much for me. Should we then accept this book because it's about Native Americans and we want to support their efforts to preserve their cultures and garner more respect for who they are ? I think Native American literature should be judged by the same standard as the rest. No condescension. Momaday, Erlich, Alexie and Silko---top writers by any standard. I'm not sure about ANPAO; it's original, but it has an artificial flavor. As a magical mystery tour of American Indian culture, it could open kids' minds to new ways of thinking and so be very valuable. As purely literature for adults, I have my reservations.