The Rainmakers

School Library Journal

Gr 4-6-Bird begins with a foreword explaining his interest in the Anasazi, and his artist's vision of their possible way of life, blending known fact and his own suppositions. Then he tells the story of young Cricket, who is returning home from a trading journey with his grandfather, Song Maker. Pleased by a trade for a fine flute, he is even more delighted to encounter an orphan black bear cub, which he adopts. Cricket and his friend Sheep raise the bear, and discover during a rain dance that when the animal dances, rain follows. Entreated by neighboring groups with thirsty fields, Song Maker, Cricket, Sheep, and Bear travel from canyon to canyon, dancing rain wherever they go. On their travels, they see many new things, meet many new people, and even solve the disappearance of one of the young women of their own tribe. Unfortunately, it is hard to feel much emotion for these characters, who never become three dimensional. Even the bear, with his mysterious spiritual power over rain, remains a shadowy figure. Conversations are stilted and wooden, and readers will find it difficult to become involved. The novel carries a lot of cultural assumptions, and it is impossible to determine which are anthropologically accepted, and which are the author's own personal deductions.-Patricia Manning, Eastchester Public Library, NY

Karen Hutt

Bird provides a speculative glimpse into the everyday life of the Anasazi Indians, who lived in the U.S. Southwest and mysteriously disappeared around 1300 A.D. The story revolves around 11-year-old Cricket, whose carelessness indirectly results in his sister's being kidnapped by the "cruel" Indians from the north. Cricket's position in the tribe is re-established when he discovers that his pet bear's dancing can bring rain to the parched lands of his people. Details of the Southwest abound, but the telling lacks the drama and vitality that the story events suggest, and it reinforces the stereotype of the Indian in simplistic harmony with nature. Still, Cricket's story may inspire young readers to learn more about the ancient Anasazi people or their modern-day descendants, the Pueblo Indians.