Customer Reviews

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

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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.

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.

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!

Not sure what to expect on such a big subject, in a book for Children, but this is a winner.

For sure it's a high level view of "Beckoning"'s life, but just right for a book aimed at children. It is both a sad in inspirational look at the life of an amazing person. I liked all the little side bar details that were added also.

Bought a copy for my daughter to read, and as a family were very impressed. So much so that we bought another copy to donate to the library at my daughters school.

No wonder it's won so many award, it's a well done book!