This is typical Andre Norton’s coming of age Science Fiction Books. It is about a young boy named Cory, who has left the state of Florida When his dad goes to the air rescue unit in Vietnam, and his aunt Lucy went to assist her grandmother recover from her operation in San Francisco. Rather than being home alone, he was given to operatically to visit his uncle Jasper who lives on a ranch in Idaho, and raised Appaloosa horses for rodeos. This was about as different in climate and people as Cory could imagine. He had never even seen a unpaved road before, and the mountains nearby were higher than he had ever imaged a mountain could possibly be.tCory Alder fists surprise was that he found that he was afraid of the large animals, and especially the horse he was expected to ride. After getting bucked off the first time, he disappointed Uncle Jasper by refusing to get back on and trying to ride again. He found he was also afraid of the night noise, animal sounds, and the wide open spaces.tThe next morning he came down for a jeep ride to a line camp with his uncle and a friend to look over the horse heard, and possible purchase some stock. He was to stay at the line camp to meat an old Indian that was over a 100 years old named Black Elk, and telephone for a jeep, or help him in what ever way that man requested.tWhile waiting for Black Elk, Cory has several unexpected adventures, seeing some Buffalo, a coyote, and what looked like an Indian medicine man doing some type of dance. He also falls in a covered crevice on top of a hide bag, that when he looks finds it is something Indian made, and possible belongs to Black Elk. Her returns it to where he found it, and later when Black Elk arrives, tels him about the find, and that he touched it.tBlack Elk insists that since Cory touched it, he must cleanse it, and puts some leaves in the camp fire making a lot of smoke. Cory is instructed to hold the medicine bag in the smoke until it is cleaned. He awakes later before a smoking camp fire far back in time as a beaver, with a spear, purse to hold items, etc. He hurries to water, and thus starts a grand adventurer that allows him to over come present and future fears. At the completing of this adventure which involves many different animals. He finally succeeds at his assigned task and returns as Cory Alder to the camp fire before Black Elk. They talk about the Indian spirit dream, and what it means, and how it can change a individuals life forever. This is a good book for young readers, and I encourage every one to read it a some time.
