One Real American: The Life of Ely S. Parker, Seneca Sachem and Civil War General

Gr 6 Up--Bruchac's outstanding biography chronicles General Ely S. Parker's remarkable life as a Sachem for the Seneca nation, a civil engineer, a lawyer, a general, Commissioner of Indian Affairs, and an investor. Prior to the narrative, Bruchac, who is of Abenaki ancestry, discusses how Native American stereotypes taught in school differed from his personal life experiences. Readers then learn about the surrender of General Lee to General Grant at Appomattox in 1865. Parker, the highest ranking Native American in the Union Army, wrote the official terms of surrender for the Civil War. The text subsequently follows a chronological sequence. Each chapter begins with a quote from Parker, allowing readers to contextualize primary source material. Bruchac excels in detailing Parker's life and the history of the Seneca people and other Native Americans. The text also dispels myths about Native Americans within the context of U.S. history. Parker's character and abilities are juxtaposed against the racism and injustice he faced, whether it be by loss of land or discrimination in professional settings. Well-chosen and effectively captioned black-and-white photographs and illustrations further aid readers in understanding Parker's life, and they are credited in the back matter. The bibliography and notes sections, with both primary and secondary sources, reflect Bruchac's research efforts. VERDICT A well-executed biography that all libraries serving middle and high school students need to have.--Hilary Writt, formerly at Sullivan Univ., Lexington, KY

Employing historical photographs and first-person quotes, Bruchac (who is Abenaki) uses straightforward language in this lively biography of Ely S. Parker, an Iroquois engineer and lawyer who served as both a Seneca Grand Sachem and a Civil War general and wrote the "official terms of surrender marking the end of the Civil War" at Appomattox. Born in 1828 on the Tonawanda Seneca Reservation and educated tuition-free by Baptist missionaries before studying law, Parker's knowledge of English saw him translating, at age 16, the Seneca Nation's efforts to preserve tribal lands. Though the bar exam was denied to him due to racist policies that didn't extend citizenship to American Indians, he became an engineer during the Civil War, rose to the rank of general, and eventually served as Ulysses S. Grant's secretary. Appointed the first Native American Indian Affairs commissioner, his enemies eventually used his race to discredit him and force him from the position. Parker faced much prejudice, injustice, and hostility, never becoming well known, despite his many accomplishments. By providing a highly detailed portrait of a complex man, Bruchac's well researched book goes far to correct that oversight. Ages 10-14. Agent: Barbara Kouts, Barbara Kouts Literary Agency. (Oct.)