When the occupation and siege at Wounded Knee hits the news, Patsy’s classmates are annoyed or dismissive, but Patsy is worried for her aunt’s family, who live nearby on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.

When I was younger I was completely hooked on those Dear America diaries about girls living through turbulent eras of American history. There was something about getting an average girl’s perspective of historic events that really immersed me in the story. Brave Bird at Wounded Knee follows a similar format, though it blends diary entries with traditional narration from Patsy’s perspective.

In this short book we cover a lot of ground. Patsy is white-passing and doesn’t have much connection with her Lakota heritage, but over the course of the book she comes to become more interested in connecting with her roots and gains the confidence to talk openly about being half-Lakota. I liked how a young reader would learn about the importance of witnessing and recording history alongside Patsy, and how we got to see a plethora of perspectives on the occupation through various supporting characters.

However I did think that the story took a little while to get going, with Patsy not even leaving to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation until about the halfway point. While we learn plenty about the history of the Wounded Knee massacre of 1890 and the events on the reservation that led up to the occupation, Patsy and the reader remain rather removed from the whole situation. As such, this book felt like it was more about how the protest sparked Patsy’s increased interest in her Lakota heritage than about the protest itself – which is not a bad thing, but not what I was expecting from the story going in either.

Brave Bird at Wounded Knee is based on true events of what happened at the Pine Ridge reservation in 1973.
Patsy is a young girl whose family is getting ready to grow. Alongside this growth though she learns about her father's side of the family more. With this she learns about Wounded Knee as well as what is happening at the Pine Ridge Reservation and all that led to what was happening there. She learns why her father moved away from it and went to Colorado to get a job and start a new life with her mom and what led them to continue to stay in Colorado.

"Because history books are written by white people, and a lot of white people don't want to talk about Wounded Knee."

Overall I liked this book. It was interesting to see the perspective of what happened at Pine Ridge from a child's point of view. While this is a fictionalized version of it you can tell that the author did research and really looked into the matter to learn more about it to do the story justice. While Patsy's family lived in Colorado she still had family that lived right outside of Pine Ridge as that's where her dad was from. While she didn't know a lot about her own heritage before this event, it got her looking into it and wanting to share what she was learning with others. Patsy was cautious but also very interested in learning about her father's side of the family and the history that came with it. She was also incredibly intuitive when it came to a certain situation and was able to know what to do during it.

I'm interested to see where this new set of middle-grade stories will go that follows different people throughout history.


(I read a finished copy from the library.)

Will be posted on my Blog on March 22nd, 2023

Thank you so much to Jolly Fish Press and Netgalley for the ebook to read and review.

Patsy learns that the treaty between the Lakota people at Wounded Knee and those in charge of abiding by the treaty has been turned into a battle, an occupation. With stories on the Tv, newspapers, gossip at school start her thinking, wanting to know more and understand what her Lakota people were going through. When her dad has to go back to help his sister and mom she goes with him to get the answers she seeks.

Wow eye opening story, it is an incredibly well written story. Seeing the mistreatment of the native people always makes me so sad, the violence against them, yet they get the blame it’s so sad. It’s an important thing to learn about though, and I loved the way the story was handled and told within this book. I loved how we not only learn of what was happening in the 70’s but we learn what was happening previously, to get to that point.

I really loved Patsy she was a very insightful young girl, she was inquisitive and wanted to make things right, she wanted to understand the whole story before making a decision, which is exactly as her teacher had been telling them they should be doing. She was so incredibly brave and took a big risk, she learnt and experienced so much.

I was gripped into this story from the start and didn’t want to stop reading at all, it was incredible, it was sad, moving, thought proving and great to finally get a book tell the whole story, of this occupation. Unfortunately most native stories cut out the truth they tip toe around it, but this one shared it all. You also get an incredible look into the history in the back sharing more details about it and what became of it after.

I love this series, the stories are incredible, sharing of history not often spoken about. I loved getting to learn more, to understand a part of history I wouldn’t know otherwise. If you have a someone in your life that likes learning history, you want to get your children into history or you teach history this series of books are a must read.

A timely story that gives a perspective of a major historical event of the 1970s through the eyes of a young Lakota girl.
I think it’s a good introductory story for young readers.
The two issues I have with the book are first, the report written by Patsy was a bit too mature sounding for an 11 year old.
Secondly, it’s highly unlikely that Patsy’s mother would have been able to get a mortgage to purchase their house without her husband’s signature or credit in 1973.
Still, it’s a good piece of young adult historical fiction.

Brave Bird at Wounded Knee: A Story of Protest on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation

By: Rachel Bithell

Publish Date: 01 Jan 2023

Publisher: North Star Editions, Jolly Fish Press

Historical Fiction/Middle Grade

#BraveBirdatWoundedKnee#NetGalley

100 Book ReviewsProfessional Reader

I would like to thank both NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read and review this book.

Good Reads Synopsis:

It’s 1973, and in Denver, Colorado, Patsy Antoine doesn’t usually give much thought to her relatives living on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. After all, her classmates don’t even know she’s part Lakota. Then she learns the tiny town of Wounded Knee has been occupied. Now Patsy’s relatives are stuck amid the conflict between American Indian Movement activists and Oglala Lakota tribe members on the one side, and federal marshals and FBI agents on the other. When Patsy visits her relatives on Pine Ridge, she learns more about her heritage and the clashing perspectives on the Wounded Knee occupation. As she connects with her roots, Patsy must grapple with the complexities of the conflict and of being biracial. It’s the storytellers that preserve a nation’s history. But what happens when some stories are silenced? The I Am America series features fictional stories based on important historical events about people whose voices have been excluded, lost, or forgotten over time.

Book Review:

I gave this book 4 stars. It was a quick read and hard to put down. This is a great way for children to learn about history because it is simple and brought to them in a real-life context. I would also recommend this book for adults if you wanted to brush up on some history in a simple and easy way.

This event really happened but the main people are made up. I really liked the way that Patsy wasn’t sure of herself when it came to her heritage and feared how her peers saw her. I enjoyed the family stood behind and taught her things that she didn’t know. Once things came out, they didn’t hold back telling her.

In the end she learns about her heritage and wants to continue to learn so she can maybe share it with those she cares about.

Brave Bird at Wounded Knee
A Story of Protest on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation
by Rachel Bithell
Pub Date 01 Jan 2023
North Star Editions, Jolly Fish Press
Historical Fiction | Middle Grade


I am reviewing a copy of Brave Bird at Wounded Knee through North Star editions, Jolly Fish Press and Netgalley:



Patsy Antoine doesn’t usually give much thought to her relatives living on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota, in 1973, Denver Colorado. After all, her classmates don’t even know she’s part Lakota. Then she learns the tiny town of Wounded Knee has been occupied. Now Patsy’s relatives are stuck amid the conflict between American Indian Movement activists and Oglala Lakota tribe members on the one side, and federal marshals and FBI agents on the other. When Patsy visits her relatives on Pine Ridge, she learns more about her heritage and the clashing perspectives on the Wounded Knee occupation. As she connects with her roots, Patsy must grapple with the complexities of the conflict and of being biracial.



The storytellers are the ones that keep a nation’s history. But what happens when some stories are silenced?



I give Brave Bird at Wounded Knee five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

I am ashamed to say that I knew next to nothing about the protest at Pine Ridge, South Dakota, in 1973. Thanks to this book, I learned a lot.
This book would be an excellent tool to use in middle-grade classrooms; it could really inspire students to research more about Pine Ridge. I’m certainly going to research this fascinating topic for myself!
*I received a digital copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.*

The following review was published on Goodreads on 10.28.22:

I enjoy learning about events in history I didn't know about, so BRAVE BIRD AT WOUNDED KNEE is right up my alley. The Pine Ridge Reservation standoff happened before I was born and I've never heard a word about it. I appreciated the chance to learn about the incident. Patsy is relatable in both her shyness and her struggles with her mixed identity, especially in the wake of the Pine Ridge Occupation. Watching her change and learn to be proud of her heritage is the best part of the book. As far as the plot goes, Patsy is only an observer at Pine Ridge, which makes the action feel removed. I would have liked a more intimate, firsthand look at what happened, why, and how it affected the people on the reservation. I prefer the diary format in the Dear America series, which lets kids really FEEL history. On the whole, though, I enjoyed this book. It's a quick read, but one that is thought-provoking and eye-opening. It's important for kids (and all of us) to learn more about Native American history, so I'm glad books like this are being written.

Impressive. Patsy Antoine may be a fictional character but the events are real. As one with some Native ancestry, it's a story I knew but seeing it through the eyes of 11-year old Patsy, who is half-Lakota, made it all the more real to me.

Author Rachel Bithell not only knows her material, but how to bring it alive to her audience, in this case ages 8-12/grades 4-6. She presents the material in a variety of ways, including letters, news clippings, and a journal Patsy begins when she visits the reservation with her father. There are illustrations interspersed throughout which, in their simplicity, add greatly to the mood, plus real photos at the end (of the digital version I read).

I liked the book's straight-forward approach, one that neither elevates not derides the events of the occupation. It does, however, take the stance, via Patsy's belief, that violence isn't an answer. In the process, we learn a bit about life on the reservation in 1973 -- many still had only outhouses! -- as well as some words in Lakota. We're also gently directed to two excellent sources of information via a short research paper Patsy is urged to do for "extra credit" for her social studies class: "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee" and "Black Elk Speaks". Both are on my own bookshelves.

Excellent work and one that should be shared. Reminders like Patsy's Lakota father having to hide his identity while her white mother goes to the bank to apply for a home loan are a reminder that equality touches many. And, that journal? Given to her by an understanding, caring teacher.

Thanks #NetGalley and #NorthStarEditions - #JollyFishPress for allowing me to reexamine the story of Wounded Knee. It's a story more should know about.

Patsy, half Lakota, visits her grandmother during the Wounded Knee occupation and riots over the United States breaking of treaties. Great discussion starter for junior high social studies classes.

This is a well done historical fiction book telling the story of the AIM occupation of Wounded Knee through the eyes of Patsy Brave Bird Antoine, a Lakota girl who begins the story unsure of herself and her voice. Patsy is Lakota, but many of those who know her in school don't know that and she's hesistant to talk about it because she hears the way some of her classmates talk about Native Americans. Patsy's family on her father's side is living in the Pine Ridge Reservation where the AIM occupation of Wounded Knee is taken place. Bithell is able to handle this situation in a respectful way and I felt as though she did not give into stereotypical depictions of Native Americans. She portrays the key events of this time period particularly for Native Americans, including the Oscar's speech of Sacheen Littlefeather. One thing I found particularly good about Bithell's writing about this, is that she portrays the fact that Native Americans, even those from the same tribe and reservation, will likely have different opinions and thoughts about current events and who they are. Patsy's character development throughout the story is also handled well and I really enjoyed reading about and seeing this little girl grow into herself by the end of the story. Overall, this is a book I would recommend for young readers and the adults in their life wanting to learn more about the experiences of Native Americans seeking their rights and the AIM occupation of Wounded Knee in an age appropriate, but honest way.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me review this book. I thought this was a quick read and I liked the fact that Patricia learned more about her heritage. I do like the fact that this book sheds light on the plight of Native Americans. The drawings were a nice touch. It’s a shame that the US Government broke every treaty with the various tribes. This book is a good way to get kids interested in a part of Native American history.

Brave Bird at Wounded Knee is an outstanding middle grade novel based on a historical event that is rarely studied or written about. In the story, eleven-year-old Patsy has a Lakota father and a white mother. That fact has never really impacted her until protesters occupy the town of Wounded Knee on the Pine Ridge Reservation where her father grew up. She dives into the history of the reservation, learning its past and her own family heritage. When her aunt reaches out for help, Patsy and her father travel to the reservation, and Patsy decides to embrace her heritage, but she may not be ready for the risks it may bring for her and her family.



Patsy is a realistic protagonist who shows the realities of biracial life in 1973. For her, her Lakota father and white mother are simply Mom and Dad, while to others, her life seems unusual, her father untrustworthy, and her mother a rebel. Readers will see Patsy as real, believable, and courageous. Even more, I hope they will see her life bridging two cultures as normal, with the fascinating advantage of having two cultures to base her life on.



Bithnell’s writing voice is engaging and her plot is well paced. She incorporates letters, news stories, and journal entries to break up the reading load, and these add credibility and interest to her story. Her characters are people readers can relate to, and readers will love Dad’s peaceful strength, Mom’s acceptance and love, Miss Ashman’s empathy and insight, and the Lakota’s rich traditions. I highly recommend this novel for middle graders.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Rachel Bithell for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for Brave Bird at Wounded Knee coming out January 1, 2023. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I will post my review to Goodreads when it’s on there. I will post it to Amazon when the book is published on January 1, 2023. I usually do a review on TikTok when it gets closer to the publish date.

Patsy Antoine is a young mixed race girl growing up in Denver, Colorado in 1973. Her mother is white and her father is Lakota. Her classmates don’t know she’s part Lakota. At school she learns about the battle of Wounded Knee. She realizes it happened near Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota where her relatives live.

Patty’s extended family needs her father’s help in South Dakota, so Patty accompanies him on the trip. While they’re there, they find themselves caught up in the protests. The American Indian Movement (AIM) activists and Oglala Lakota tribe members are on one side, and the US government is on the other side. Will Patty be able to connect to her roots and find a place in the world?

I really loved this book! It reminds me a lot of the Dear America series I read when I was a child.

I love that there was a connection made to Wounded Knee. It’s a conflict I’m really interested in learning more about. I don’t know a lot about the Pine Ridge protests, so it was interesting to learn more about it. I thought Patty making the connection to her ancestors in the past was profound. I love that she saw the parallels to her present time.

I’m not Native American, but I’m mixed race Samoan and white. So I somewhat understand Patty’s struggles with fitting in and finding your roots, especially when they’re two different cultures. It’s easy to try and blend in at school when you look a certain way. Because you think people will make fun if they knew, but I really loved the journey Patty took in discovering her heritage and learning from her family. She spent time with her aunt and grandma to learn from them. She tried learning the language and how to make fry bread. She learned beadwork. Then she was able to share that part of herself with her class and while they didn’t understand completely, they still accepted her.

I would recommend this to middle school age teens or anyone wanting to learn more about Lakota and US history.

Dear America, My America, I am America...all of these book series bring to light important events in American history for younger readers in a way that is both educational and accessible. In this story, a young, half white, half Lakota girl has the opportunity to connect with her ancestral roots and learn a bit about her heritage during a tumultuous time in modern Native American history. Not many people outside of this geographic region, or a certain age group, know about the AIM organization or the events that unfolded at Wounded Knee, and this story brings them back to light for a new generation.