BIBLIOGRAPHY
Sneeve, Virginia Driving Hawk. 2007. LANA'S LAKOTA MOONS. Lincoln: University of Nebraska. ISBN 9780803260283
PLOT SUMMARY
Lakota tribe cousins, Lori, a shy and quiet young girl, and
Lana, an adventurous risk-taker, grow up within the strong community network of
their family and tribal members in South Dakota. Although both girls are very competitive with
one another, and are constantly bickering and fighting, their love and loyalty
for one another is seen in the everyday acts such as gardening, watching
television, and attending powwows. As
the story progresses, a young girl named Shoua moves to their community and
immediately strikes up a friendship with both Lakota cousins. Together, all three learn more about Lakota traditions and culture from tribal
members and the community.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
As young readers turn the pages of LANA'S LAKOTA MOONS, they
are introduced to the American Indian traditions of the Lakota Nation. Set in a contemporary setting in South
Dakota, Sneve heavily references many Lakota traditions and customs throughout
the entire book. The book twelve
chapters reflect the twelve months of the year.
However, chapter titles correspond to the Lakota names given for each of
the months. For example, readers learn
that the Lakota ancestors January is called "Moon of the Terrible"
because "of the terrible cold that caused so many deaths" while March is called "Moon When the
Frost Covers the Prairie Chicken's Eyes" since " the weather gets
warm, then gets cold again, and the poor prairie chickens wake up with frost on
their eyelids." Not only do these
details pay homage to Lakota ancestry, but also emphasizes how they relied on
nature and the phases of the moon to tell the seasons and months apart. This is confirmed with the girls' grandmother
tells them that since" the phases of the moon lasted for several days, it
is sort of what is now known as a
month."
Sneve also includes authentic Lakota names with her
characters. Lori and Lana's grandparents
are known as Grandma and Grandpa High Elk; Lana's boy friend is named Andy
Brown Wolf; and the name of the holy man conducting a Lakota ceremony is Iron
Shell. In addition to using authentic
Lakota names, Sneve characters also use terms and phrases from the
culture. For example, readers learn that
pilamiye means thank you; Wicasa Wakan is the term used to refer
to the holy man who will conduct a Lakota ceremony; and that wojoape is the chokecherry pudding
dessert. The attire and clothing Lakota
ancestors wore is also included in the story.
Young readers learn that when the Lakota tribe moved between
reservations, the "white ladies" taught Lakota women how to sew cloth
into shirts and dresses, so there was no longer a need for Lakota members to
use buckskin or animal hide to make their clothes.
References are also made to Lakota folklore as well as
traditions tribal members observe. For
example, Grandpa High Elk tells Lori and Lana about the mythical character,
Iktomi. This character from Lakota
stories is described as a practical joke, who "tricked animals and people
into doing things he wanted, but then he'd end up in trouble. Yet he never learned." Sneve also spends much of the story having Lana
and Lori learn about a right-of-passage ceremony they will participate in known
as the Naming Ceremony. Grandma High Elk
tells the two cousins they will receive new Lakota names to honor their
ancestral roots and finally recognize them as women members of the tribe. Lori is given the name Pejuta Okawin while cousin Lana is given Skanskanwin; both girls ask for the blessing of their Lakota
community to bring honor to their family members. The detailed description given by both girls'
grandparents allow young readers to understand the significance of the ceremony
as well as imagine the sights and sounds occurring as the girls step into
womanhood.
The motif of four is also used in the story to mirror the
Four Directions as well as the four seasons.
As Lori and Lana prepare for
their naming ceremony, they work with Grandma High Elk to create quilts they
will use to present to Lakota community members. In great detail, she tells the young girls
that yellow is used in quilts to represent the East: "The East represents
birth and children who are just beginning to learn to live in the circle"
of life. Red is the color for the South because "this direction stands for
midday, noontime, and for adults who are in the prime of their life in the
circle." The North is symbolized
with the white color, not only because of the winter season, but also to
symbolize the "hardships that endured" during the winter months. Finally, black is the color of the west;
"Autumn is its season" and it is the "time when the leaves on
the trees and other plants die and when people die of old age." These detailed descriptions help students
make connections with the four seasons of the year and the various stages of
life all humans go through.
Although this story does provide very accurate and
thoroughly described cultural markers, the storyline is weak. It seems the characters are not
well-developed because Sneve has spent much time focusing on describing Lakota
traditions to young readers. Although
this is an admirable goal, many of the characters lack depth and development
which may not help students identify with the story's main characters. Also, it seems that Sneve rushed through her
story to fit it into the twelve chapters that symbolize the Lakota moons. Readers may be surprised to learn that within
the last three chapters of the story, young Lana is stricken with cancer and
receives treatment for it, but loses her battle at the end. I believe that if Sneve had spend more time
developing the emotions and thoughts of these young Lakota members, the story
would have an even stronger impact on readers.
REVIEWS AND AWARDS:
BOOKLIST: "The interweaving of traditional culture is
sometimes heavy-handed ("We, the Lakota, believe"), but the mix of
Great Plains history with the contemporary scene (including occasional e-mails)
rings true... Lori's lively personal narrative will draw readers as she copes
with anger, guilt, sorrow, and, finally, the loss of her sister, even as she
realizes that, in the Lakota way, the girls will always be connected."
CHILDREN'S LITERATURE: "Sneve, author of two previous
books about the Lakota for young readers, weaves Lakota lore into a completely
contemporary coming-of-age story. Though there are a few places where the
character development seems a little weak, the language remains vivid and
poetic. By the end of the story we have learned a great about Lakota culture
and have come to like Lori and her extended family a great deal."
FOREWORD REVIEWS: " Sneve has created a story that is
both a tribute to her heritage and a poignant chronicle of the end of
adolescent innocence."
CONNECTIONS
Have students read books that specialize in the Lakota Indians
to learn about culture and traditions:
Goble, Paul. BEYOND
THE RIDGE. ISBN 0689717318
Goble, Paul. LOVE
FLUTE. ISBN 0689816839
Big Crow, Moses Nelson.
HOKSILA AND THE RED BUFFALO.
ISBN 0689432801
Reed, Melissa Ann.
RAVEN BRINGS TO THE PEOPLE ANOTHER GIFT.
ISBN 0689819994
(These titles and more can be found at http://www.lakotabooks.com/children_books.html)
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