Customer Reviews

People of the Masks (The First North Americans, Book 10)

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I thought that People of The Masks is one of the best books that I've read all year.

People of the Masks follows the story of Rumbler, a False Face child, and Little Wren, a young girl in the Bear Clan. Rumbler is a dwarf, and as such is said to have great powers. The war leader of one of the bear clans wants that power, so he mounts a party and steals Rumbler away from his clan. And thus begins the story.

I really liked this book because the relationships between the various characters are explored. Aside from the main characters, the supporting character have their time in the spotlight. In fact, I think my favorite characters were Silver Sparrow, and Dust Moon. Dust Moon divorced Silver Sparrow after 35 years of marriage, and some of the dialogue between them is quite funny. I also appreciated the fact that People of the Masks (and really all of the "People of" books) was historically accurate. I know a fair amount about Native American cultures, espeically the Iroquois, and this is important.

I highly recommend this book for anyone who is interested in Native American cultures, or anyone who enjoys a good read.

What a wonderful book. I read it quite quickly. The characterizations are perfect and the history fascinating. I feel I have lived the experience and it was very spiritual and close to nature. I really felt like I had been tracking in the snowy winter with the *people* - totally engrossing! I have already purchased another in the series, couldn't stand for this one to end without having my hands on the next one! Very highly recommend.

I don't want to pick things apart... but I was really confused as to who wrote this book. It was flat, dopey, simple, almost childish... I hold the series and authors in high esteem... that's why this one leaves me a bit confused. I mean it is a big transition to go from some of the books, hidden treasures of depth and wisdom, to this one -- so... unenlightened... common... Mickey Mousey Gee Golly. It isn't that the adventure doesn't go to dark places, it's that it goes there with such Movie of the Week obviousness. Really.

Take a look at two main character pairings -- Little Wren, and Rumbler, two children set up against incredible harsh odds, and constant torment from the foolhardey madness of the adult empire... and Sparrow and 'Dust', two divorced clan elders of a different tribe, who learn to love again. Everything that happens is shallow, predictable, and made up of cliche to cliche. I kid you not, most of the children's dialogue is s-stuttered, that must be the way to show the intensity of all situations.

I do enjoy the series, and like I said, have found other books among it to be remarkable. This one, I just didn't dig.

There was one thing of worth, a historical afterward (the history really did not tie into the story at all here by the way) but the actual historical information and point of view offered in a couple pages at the end of the book brought me to tears as it talks about the founding of democracy and some stuff about it I hadn't realized. Unfortunately, the story had nothing to do with that, which is once again, why I have to find this as the first dud I've come across in this series of books.

I recommend People of the Lakes (Astounding!), and People of the River. The mysticism is one of the best things about these books, so if that's not your bag then you may not find them as incredible as I.

The only books I have read by these authors to date have been the Anasazi Mysteries-- Visitant, Summoning God and Bone Walker. In those books there was more of an intrusion by the past on the present and by the present on the past as the authors interwove the stories of the specialists who study the past, the present day Native Americans, and the people who lived at a time of crisis in the Anasazi culture.

In this book there is a brief mention of the modern day characters who are more fully fleshed out in the Anasazi Mysteries as they examine an unusual pair of skeletons and associated artifacts found at a dig in New York.

This discovery is used as a springboard to tell the story of Iraquoian villages trying to figure out how to survive in proximity to one another.

The authors appear to romanticize the Indian cultures but not to the point where I'm rolling my eyes and going "oh, really!" (Anyone who as read an "Indian Romance" knows what I am talking about.) They do their usual good job of presenting the Native Americans as they would appear to one another. For instance a tall person is decribed as being so many hands high. A hand is about four inches. A quick calculation and you realize that the "tall" person would be considered quite short today. By using a method of measuring that many of their readers may not be familiar with, they are able to give accurate information without breaking the willing suspension of disbelief.

In addition the authors present the differences in their way of life and thought without sensationalizing or demonizing things that many readers would find distasteful in the culture such as the exposure of unwanted children after birth or the use of torture.

All in all, well worth reading.

Good historical fiction. The plot, although somewhat obvious, was interesting. The historical descriptions of long houses and the strength of the Iraquois' maternal society is fascinating. My only complaint is that the characters seemed flat (they were either very good are down right evil)and sometimes spoke in 20th century language. If your looking for a book that will keep you turning the pages while you learn about a magnificient culture read this book.

This is the first time I have read one of the Gear's books. I was impressed to say the least. I am presently minoring in First Nations (Native studies) and I found the information to be as accurate as possible. The story line was exciting and it was difficult to get to sleep early as I wanted to read all night long. I was dissappointed when the book ended and I tried to read slower as to savour every sentence. I will definitely be reading their other books and I only wish that I heard of them before.

I highly recommend this book.

This was the best book I've read in a very long time. It was difficult to set it down for anything. The charters came to life. Little Wren tugged at your heart, and Raven her uncle was a real hero. If you want a book with action,drama,adventure and a touch of history. This book is for you.

A huge surprise for me. I've always perceived the Native North Americans as a defeated people, on the brink of destruction (mostly because that was the way the today Americans presented the past). This book presents the unknown story of the florishing civillisations of the first Americans - as I've never seen it before. The tale is set in an farther past then that of the conquest - actually, in the period of the Viking discovery of the North American seashore (the Vinland, as they put it).
Two related nations, the Turtle and the Bear, covet the same power child - a dwarf boy named Rumbler, who is known as child of a forest spirit. But if the Turtle clan of "Paint Rock" loves and protects the boy, the Bear "Walksalong" clan - especially the war leader (not a little crazed by his own spirit-power) want the child to help them in war and hunting and will stop at nothing to have the boy.
They utterly destroy the boy's clan and kidnap him - but when warriors begin to die of unknown causes, the matrons of the Walksalong decide they don't want the child anymore and he has to be killed by starvation and cold.
Only a small girl stands by him and ultimately saves him, guiding him back to his relatives.
The fate of the Walksalongs, decided by a prophecy, comes true, despite their best efforts to reject it.
All the characters are profoundly human (or inhuman, in the case of the bad guys). That was superb writing (and the naive - sounding isn't so strong here as in "People of the Lightining"). I couldn't believe the power of this novel - and i'm hoping to get more of the novels of this series.

Highly recommended.

After reading People of the Mist I was surprised to find this book just as interesting, maybe even more so. The characters were well written, not too much description - just enough. I was sorry to see this book end. Well worth your time.

People of the Mask is another fine addition to The First Americans series. Wren's (the young heroine) courage and determination combined with Jumping Badger's growing insanity create an intriguing suspense for the reader. As usual, the resolution is both satisfying and realistic. As always, the Gears provide the reader with a terrific story and fascinating information about those who came before. A definite must for fans.