Ned Giles is a seventeen year old orphan during the Depression in the USA and chooses to seek a career as a photographer on an Apache hunting expedition in Mexico rather than being taken into care on the death of his parents. On his adventure he meets beguiling, funny, bewitching and interesting characters all of whom shape his experience. The other lead character in this story is Chideh, a young Apache girl, who witnesses her nearest family being slaughtered while she is preparing to celebrate her coming of age ceremony. Her life cannot be more far removed from Ned's yet they form a connection and relationship which defines this story.
This is a very readable and enjoyable book. It is evocotive of a time and place most of us have no knowledge of and as such it is captivating. The style of writing is gripping, beautifully descriptive and thought provoking in many ways.
I would recommend this as an excellent choice for a holiday read or for a long journey. The time will fly and you'll be left wanting to know more about the Apache culture and the suppression of the Native American cultures in the United States.
