"Following the Native American belief that many voices are needed to tell a story, Glancy employs a multitude of narrators in this historical fictional piece about the Trail of Tears. There are the voices of Cherokee of all ages and clans, of white soldiers and preachers, and snatches from actual historical records. The central narrator, Maritole, emerges to tell her personal story of "pushing the bear," a dark heavy burden of anger, impending madness, physical distress and, above all, doubt in herself and her heritage as she perseveres in the grueling walk".MN Lang Arts 9.4.9.9 This Native author used source materials about the Cherokee Trail of Tears and transformed the info into a new piece of wrok. A great example of voice, as many characters' thoughts actions are used. The reader gets a perspective of all sides.
