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Anpao: An American Indian Odyssey
by Jamake Highwater (Drawings: Fritz Scholder)
Product Group: Book
Publisher: J. B. Lippincott (1977-01-01)
ISBN: 0397317506
EAN: 9780397317509
Binding/Media: Hardcover - 256 pages
Edition: First Edition
SKU: 04345
Condition: Collectible: Good
Comments: SIGNED and inscribed by author. Dust jacket has edge wear and small tear.
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Editorial Reviews
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Product Description
Traditional tales from North American Indian tribes woven into one story that relates the adventures of one boy as he grows to manhood.
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Customer Reviews
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Native American Chopsuey
Rating  (3)
Date: 2009-07-04
2 out of 2 customers found this reveiw helpful
Let's start with the bottom line: this is an attempt at a collage of Native American stories united around a single, fictional hero (a hero who isn't found in any ACTUAL Native American myths or stories). I don't think it's all that successful, but it's a very interesting idea. The end, dealing with the coming of the Europeans, is the most original part of the book. I found it the most moving too, for I hope that the peoples of the Americas will live, will return. As an attempt to describe Indian thought, ways, and values, ANPAO has its moments, but I felt that a lot of European (white man) values had got mixed in, a lot of influence from that direction no doubt absorbed by the author over the course of his life.
On looking at the reviews on Amazon, I was surprised to find that it is being used as a text or reading assignment in schools. I think that this is a very valuable way to utilize the author's obvious ability, but being "slightly beyond" school, I had a different reaction on reading it. I bought the book to learn more about some specific Native American culture, but realized on reading it that it was more like a potpourri. Let's imagine a similar, potpourri-type effort to present European values and thought. Can you imagine a hero called "Justice" or "Señor Sacrifice" wandering through a mythical Europe on a quest, meeting Thor, Zeus, Don Quixote, King Arthur, and Beowulf ? I don't think such a concoction would do much for me. Should we then accept this book because it's about Native Americans and we want to support their efforts to preserve their cultures and garner more respect for who they are ? I think Native American literature should be judged by the same standard as the rest. No condescension. Momaday, Erlich, Alexie and Silko---top writers by any standard. I'm not sure about ANPAO; it's original, but it has an artificial flavor. As a magical mystery tour of American Indian culture, it could open kids' minds to new ways of thinking and so be very valuable. As purely literature for adults, I have my reservations.
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Gorgeous collection that does not always romanticize the Native American spirit.
Rating  (5)
Date: 2008-05-07
What an incredible, in-depth leap into the world of Native American mythology. While there are certainly plenty of collections of Indian folk tales, this one manages to make a single boy the hero of so many--truly, "odyssey" is the best way to describe the book. Anpao is still treated as a real, soulful character, but Highwater still writes in the simple, beautiful way that well-suits the stories.
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Native American thinking for children and adults
Rating  (4)
Date: 2003-04-10
1 out of 1 customers found this reveiw helpful
This book is an excellent resource for teaching children and adults about Native American culture. Specifically, this book focuses on the philosophy of how Turtle Island children are guided through learning as a circle of experiences. People of a western mind frame can appreciate this book as a collection of traditional stories compiled from several Native American nations woven into a story about one boy's quest to find wisdom and eventually earn the privilege of marrying the object of his desire. Without an understanding of the Medicine Wheel, many crucial events of this book will confuse the western mind. This book is meant to be read more than once in order to grasp the depth of all that it can teach children about gaining wisdom while evolving from children to young adults. This book is best used with middle school students whose age is equivalent to that of Anpao at the beginning of the book. If used in a classroom, it's recommended that the teacher read "Seven Arrows" by Hyemeyohsts Storm or the "Native People Native Ways" series by White Deer of Autumn in order to gain an appreciation for the complexities of Anpao as a cultural resource.
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My Favorite Book
Rating (5)
Date: 2002-08-31
1 out of 2 customers found this reveiw helpful
This is my favorite book. Not only was it written with the exact precision I strive to imitate, but it was captivating in all ways. I could relate to the hero so much that I could have been the hero, and everything seemed to make sense, like it was written to me. I love Native American culture, but you don't have to in order to appreciate this book; it isn't about that. I would call it the greatest adventure novel of all time.
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Interesting Yet Confusing
Rating (4)
Date: 2001-08-15
1 out of 3 customers found this reveiw helpful
Being in PACE (Plano Acdemic Creative Edcation) it is required that students like me must read 9TH grade material.( this year im in 7TH grade) Me, being SUPER catious of what I read, was forced by my parents to read this (how diabolical) . When I started reading this material, I wont say it was bad BUT it was a little confusing starting from the book to the part where the woman hangs in air from a something... Gets killed by the sun... a litte boy survives... (read the book) I would not regecomend this book for 7TH graders and anyone below that...
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