Runs with Horses

by Brian Burks

Book Overview

Sixteen years old in 1886, Runs With Horses is a member of the last small band of Apaches continuing to resist the U.S. Army. His training for manhood as a Chiricahua Apache has been difficult but thrilling, and he is eager to accomplish the final two of the four raids required to become a warrior. Sadly, this is not possible when they at last surrender to the U.S. Army. "With its compact size, terse sentences, large print, and action-packed plot,...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0152009949
• ISBN13: 9780152009946
• Release Date: November 1995
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
• Length: 128 Pages
• Weight: 0.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 4.9" x 7.8"
• Age Range: 11 to 15 years
• Grade Range: Grades 6 to 10

Customer Reviews

Runs With Horses

Runs With Horses had always dreamed of becoming an Apache warrior, but knew of the numerous trials he would have to pass before he became one. Ever since he could walk, Runs With Horses had trained to become a warrior, and fight the Mexicans and White Eyes that tried to put his people into reservations, like his father, Red Knife, and his tribe leader, Geronimo. To prove him self he had to pass many tests to go on a raid. After completing four raids he would be considered a warrior, and eligible to smoke, drink, and marry. His tests ranged from running to the most distant mountains and back without being seen to dodging rocks slung at him by his father. Shortly after Runs With Horses went on his third raid, with had failed, Geronimo decided to surrender to the White Eyes and go to the reservations to be with his people. Runs With Horses never became a warrior, and was now trained to live like a white. Although this book had plenty of action, it was too close together in the story line to keep my attention. It was worth reading because of everything I learned from it, but it could have been better. Many of Runs With Horses' quests were very exciting, and fun to read. On one of his missions, Runs With Horses had to sneak into the distant mountains to get information from a scout, and return back to his tribe undetected. While on his trip he spotted a small group of Mexicans camping in the valleys. He waited for them to fall asleep and planned to steal their three mules, donkey, food, and two of their rifles. After untied the animals and grabbing one rifle, one of the men woke up. He shot at the boy and scared of the animals in the process. Runs With Horses had to run all night before he knew he was a safe distance from the Mexicans. Exciting scenes like this are what kept me reading this book. Another thing I liked was Runs With Horses' desire to succeed. When Red Knife told Runs With Horses that a lot of the tribe was surrendering, Runs With Horses replied, "Geronimo is not a coward! He will not give up. He will fight until the end." Runs with Horses had a lot of faith in his tribes ability and believed that they could defeat the Mexicans and White Eyes that "are more than the stars." This book's biggest downfall is the amount of action it tries to shove into its pages. Good suspense stories have action then rest then have action again, but not this book. From cover to cover this book was action. If the author would have written about the time in between Runs With Horses' trials then it probably wouldn't have been as bad, but instead they went straight from trial to trial. The action was great but I would have enjoyed it more in moderation than all at one time. Runs With Horses is a good book because of its educational value, excitement, and the characters. I would like to see a sequel so that I know what happens to Runs With Horses after he is trained to live like the whites, but it is unlikely that will happen. I recommend this book to anyo