To Spoil the Sun

by Joyce Rockwood

Book Overview

A classic about the devastation of smallpox is back in hardcover after many years ""'You cannot imagine what it [smallpox] is like. It falls on everyone and soon there is no one who can stand. It is like a fire that sweeps through the town, an invisible fire. People begin to fall with fever, and blisters rise on their skin and turn to running sores, and there is no way to give them comfort.'" "I reeled at the force of it, horror-struck, unable to imagine it."" It is the sixteenth century and Rain Dove, a young Cherokee girl, lives in Mulberry Town. If things continue the way they always have, she can look forward to choosing a husband (her grandmother advises picking a young warrior) and raising a family. But after smallpox strikes, life for the people of the Seven Clans will never be the same.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 080503465X
• ISBN13: 9780805034653
• Release Date: January 1994
• Publisher: Henry Holt & Company
• Length: 180 Pages
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 7.6" x 8.8"
• Age Range: 9 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 4 to 7

Customer Reviews

First book I ever read

This is the first book I read, and it started my love affair with books. I was 11 when my mom bought it for me, after reading it 15 time the book finally fell apart. Now I'm looking for a copy to buy for my daughter. Plus, I'd love to read it again.

An Excellent Story

As an adult I hesitated to purchase this "juvenile" book but the description was enticing. This isn't just a book for juveniles. Rockwood describes a young girl's journey into adulthood in a time period & setting we seldom give any thought. Wonderfully told, this story gives a good sense of the native world view and the terrible destruction wrought on Cherokee society by European diseases. Even though filled with foreboding the story is heartwarming and inspiring.

Wonderful, Simply Wonderful

One of the best books I have ever read. Its a childrens book, but hey, "If not, why not??" You will love it I promise.

A Wonderful heartbreaking story about native americans in th

A wonderful heartbreaking story of native americans in the 16th century. A book that will touch your heart and tear at your soul. It's the untold side of the Europeans coming to settle America. It is about their ruthlessness twards the native Americans. It made me feel horrible about what my ancestors did to the native americans. We choose to ignore this side of history because we knew what we were doing was and is wrong but we did it anyway. In short we are ashamed of what we did which we should be but instead of saying we were sorry we lied and said untrue things about the native Americans already living here when we came. You can't discover something if people are already living there. I for one am ashmed of who I am and what my ancestors did to the native Americans. It is a wonderful story that tells the untold sisde of history which had been chosen to be ignored untill now. I give it five stars!!!!