A Boy Named Beckoning: The True Story of Dr. Carlos Montezuma, Native American Hero [Hardcover]

Gina Capaldi (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 2008

This story reveals the remarkable life of a Native American boy named Wassaja, or "Beckoning," who was kidnapped from his Yavapai tribe and sold as a slave. Adopted by an Italian photographer in 1871 and renamed Carlos Montezuma, the young boy traveled throughout the Old West, bearing witness to the prejudice against and poor treatment of Native Americans. Carlos eventually became a doctor and leader for his people, calling out for their rights.

Gina Capaldi's exquisite paintings bring to life excerpts from Dr. Carlos Montezuma's own letters describing his childhood experiences. The culminating portrait provides an inventive look back into history through the eyes of a Native American hero.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

*Starred Review* In her author’s note, Capaldi calls the story of Carlos Montezuma, “a testament to the character, heart, and human spirit.” And so it is. As a child in 1866, Carlos (then called Wassaja), a Yavapai Indian living in the Arizona territory, was kidnapped by an enemy tribe. Luckily he was purchased by Italian photographer Carlo Gentile, who renamed him and raised him as his son. Together, they travelled the West taking pictures. After settling in Chicago, Carlos proved himself so bright that he went to college at the age of 14, then attended medical school, eventually returning to Arizona to help his people and find his family. Drawing on a letter to the Smithsonian Institution and incorporating information from interviews, articles, and speeches, Capaldi uses Carlos’ own words to draw the reader close. Attractive watercolor paintings in desert colors are the backdrop for the text, but the design cleverly uses photographs placed in the margins, which make a strong visual counterpoint to the art. An extensive afterword, a source note, and a bibliography add much for researchers. Fresh and fascinating. Grades 2-4. --Ilene Cooper

From the Inside Flap

Kidnapped from his home...

Sold as a slave...

Raised in a strange culture...

This is the true story of a Yawapati boy called Wassaja. In his language, this name meant "Beckoning." Wassaja was only five years old when Pima Indians kidnapped him and sold him to a white man.

Thirty years later, the boy named Beckoning had grown up to become Dr. Carlos Montezuma. His work for the rights of Native Americans made him a model of hope for his people.

Gina Capaldi tells this remarkable story in the words of Montezuma himself. Photographs from his time and original paintings by the author create an inventive look back into history through the eyes of a Native American hero.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Carolrhoda Books (April 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0822576449
• ISBN-13: 978-0822576440
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 9.7 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #457,263 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rutgers University Project on Economics and Children, August 14, 2008

By 

Yana V. Rodgers "econkids.rutgers.edu" (New Brunswick, NJ) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Boy Named Beckoning: The True Story of Dr. Carlos Montezuma, Native American Hero (Hardcover)

Gina Capaldi makes a substantial contribution with this book by raising children's awareness of Dr. Carlos Montezuma's long-term advocacy work for the rights of Native Americans in the United States. Born in 1866 into a Yavapai family and tribe and named Wassaja, which means "beckoning," he was captured as a five-year old boy during a brutal attack. When Wassaja's captors tried to sell him as a slave, they came across Mr. Carlo Gentile, an Italian photographer who had immigrated to America in search of new work and adventure.

Much of the book relates their experiences traveling across America and their subsequent settling down in Chicago. Wassaja, by then renamed Carlos Montezuma, excelled in school and was accepted into the University of Illinois at the age of fourteen. Three years later this talented young man gained admission into the Chicago Medical College. After medical school, Dr. Montezuma undertook humanitarian work as an advocate for Native Americans in the United States.

These inspiring and remarkable events in Dr. Montezuma's life are told through the book's narrative (which is based largely on a five-page letter that Dr. Montezuma wrote), sidebar facts underneath original photographs taken by Mr. Carlo Gentile, and a detailed afterword about Dr. Montezuma's advocacy efforts. The book is also a treasure chest of economics lessons about investing in human resources, the economics of education, jobs, work, discrimination, and land rights. Children will walk away with important lessons about how a small Yavapai boy became a reservation doctor who courageously fought to strengthen the civil rights and improve the economic opportunities of Native Americans.

5.0 out of 5 stars Awards and honors, December 14, 2009

By 

Gina R. Capaldi - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: A Boy Named Beckoning: The True Story of Dr. Carlos Montezuma, Native American Hero (Hardcover)

Honors and Awards given for A Boy Named Beckoning: The True Story of Dr. Carlos Montezuma, Native American Hero

* 2009 Carter G. Woodson Honor Book Award, National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS)
* Gold Medal,Independent Publisher Book Award
* 2009 Skipping Stones Honor Award
* 2009 Orbis Pictus Award, National Council of Teachers of English and the Children's Book Council.

* Starred Reviews from School Library Journal, Booklist, Junior Library Guild, and Rutgers University
* 'Book of the Month' from Rutgers University
* Named 'Best New Book for Classroom' from Book Links

* The Best Children's Book of the Year, 2009, Bank Street College of Education-100th anniversary edition 09.

5.0 out of 5 stars This book is a phenomenal recreation of the life of Carlos "Beckoning" Montezuma!, July 6, 2009

By 

D. Fowler "Dragonfly77" (Vermont) - See all my reviews
(TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Boy Named Beckoning: The True Story of Dr. Carlos Montezuma, Native American Hero (Hardcover)

Wassaja was a young Indian boy who lived "near Fish Canyon Creek in the Arizona Territory." He lived with his family in a small oo-wah (a small grass hut). The tribe he live with numbered around one hundred and fifty people. They often had to fear for their lives on the plateaus. One night in October 1871 he nestled with his mother and three siblings. The night soon turned into a nightmare when shots rang out and people began to scream. He ran for cover, but a strange Pima man "snatched [him] up by the arm and bound [him] with rope." Life for Wassaja, whose name meant "beckoning," would change forever. He now had a new name, Hejelweiikam ("left alone") and he was going to be sold as a slave.

Mr. Carlo Gentile, his new owner, tried to comfort him. He felt safe with his "new father" and was given yet another name. His new name was Carlos Montezuma, but his first name suited him better, least ways so he thought. Soon he was working in "Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show"playing the part of a young Apache captive and later he sold newspapers. Mr. Gentile met with misfortune when his "photo art studio burned to ashes and his finances were in ruin." Carlos was left with another family while his father tried to rebuild their lives. Carlos began to blossom. He was very intelligent and would be able to make a life for himself, but would he ever be able to find his biological family?

This book is a phenomenal recreation of the life of Carlos "Beckoning" Montezuma. The author attempted to piece together this biography from a "five-page letter" written by Professor Holmes of the Smithsonian Institution while staying to the facts and catching the spirit of the boy and the man. The book is wonderfully illustrated and is peppered with photographs, including Carlos himself and one of his actual Pima captors. In the back of the book there is more biographical information, a bibliography and additional recommended websites. This is an excellent biography that will appeal to both young and old alike!