Customer Reviews

War of the Eagles

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Well-intentioned with some engaging characters, but the level of research in an historical novel exploring different cultures is very poor. The most significant errors are in the author's understanding of First Nations cultures. He seems confused between Haida and Tsimshian (they are very distinct) and puts forward some absurd notions. eg. "Both the Tsimshian and Haida believe in many things. [well, who doesn't] When a Tsimshian dies, if he's led a good life, he comes back to earth as an eagle or a raven or another one of the creatures of the forest or ocean." This is simply preposterous and an insult to Tsimshian people by its ignorance. One more laughable example: Quite a bit is made of the main character hunting rabbits. Well, if the author had done a modicum of research he would have found that rabbits do not exist on the north coast, and that the hunting scenes in the book would have been impossible.

Jed is half Tsimshian and half white, his best friend Tadashi is Japanese, but what they both are to themselves is Canadian. But the practices and laws of their country don't agree just before the beginning of Wold War II in remote Prince Rupert Sound on the British Columbia coast. Meanwhile they're working at an army base and nursing a wounded bald eagle back to health. It's an understated, perfect little book, particularly for boys who are interested in action-- and who would appreciate the issues of identity of boys go through.