A Way of His Own [Paperback]

Thomas A. Dyer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 1990

When Shutok's nomadic family must follow the bison herds for their livelihood, they abandon him, believing and fearing that the bad fortune that has crippled Shutok's back may spread to them. But Shutok stubbornly follows them across the plains and prairies. Eventually, he can't keep up and is left to forge his own way in the primitive wilderness of North America. Shutok's people return in the spring, when a turn of events helps him win their respect and forces them to reconsider their primeval superstitions.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A thoughtful, uncondescending examination of prejudice and superstition, strengthened by well-developed characters and relationships." (School Library Journal Starred )

About the Author

Thomas A. Dyer currently lives in Oregon. He holds college degrees in English, education, and linguistics, and he speaks and studies several Native American languages.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Paperback: 154 pages
• Publisher: Sandpiper (October 1, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0395549698
• ISBN-13: 978-0395549698
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,971,740 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Great Story!, April 9, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: A Way of His Own (Paperback)

A Way Of His Own by T. A. Dyer is a good book. This book willmake you cry, frustrate you, and make you scream for joy. I likedthis book because it contained great information on how people used tolive, had great descriptions, and showed feelings between the characters extremely well. A good example of great description is on page 74 and it says, "The air outside was icy cold and the frosty ground bit into the boy's hands and knees." It was detail like that that helped me picture exactly what was being felt as Shutok struggled to stay alive. Another good example is on page 130 and it says, "Sitting here at other times, Shutok had almost felt the praire underfoot, the grass against his legs, the wind, rich with the smells of bison, brush against his cheeks." This detail made me feel like I was in the story myself!

This book also has a great plot. It is about a young boy named Shutok. He lives in a nomadic tribe, but once evil sneaks into his back while he is hunting bison, he cannot keep up with his family. This chilling story is about how Shutok and Uita, a female teenage slave, struggle to survive through the treacherous winter in a dark cave.

The main characters were Shutok, Uita, Aar, the shaman, and Shutok's brother, Yiaya. Shutok is the main character, and shares the role with Uita of living in the cave. Yiaya is just becoming a hunter and Aar is the tribe's leader. Aar and Yiaya both share the idea that Shutok is full of evil spirits because of his handicap, but Uita has learned to see past that and has became his friend. While reading the book, Aar and Yiaya might make you very mad because they are so harsh, and so well described. Through the story Aar resents Shutok. The tribe's beliefs about nature have influenced his thoughts too much. Since Shutok is handicapped, he is believed to be full of evil, and Aar tries to protect the tribe from it.

The author uses a very good style of writing. It makes you think it is happening at the speed the author intended. It also makes you stay more interested in the book. Using more advanced words helped me to visualize better what was happening throughout the story.

I would recommend this book to almost anybody. If you are between the ages of 10 and 14, and you like adventure, then this book is defiantly for you!

3.0 out of 5 stars Excellent condition, August 14, 2009

By 

Alfoso Ramos (San Diego, Ca.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A Way of His Own (Paperback)

This book was sold as a slightly used, when it arrived it was in excellent condition. The only thing that I didn't like was the time frame. I had to wait almost three weeks for the book to arrive, but other than that I recommend buying from this seller.

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous adolescent saga of a disabled Stone Age boy., August 29, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: A Way of His Own (Paperback)

A disabled boy growing up in a Stone Age clan of Hunters who are nomadic. The clan leaves the protagonist in a cave to die because he slows the clan down in their search for bison. He does not die however in the snowy winter. He survives by killing a saber toothed tiger and by learning that he has strength and worth beyond his disability. When the clan returns in the spring they are in awe of their disabled clan member and his pelt of the "man-killer"