Well-written historical fiction based on real characters, a Crow Indian girl who willingly marries a fur trader white man in Montana in the mid 1800’s. They have three children and Crow Mary loves her husband, Abe Farwell, who because of a trial where he was on the Indians’ side was ostracized by white men. Abe fell into alcoholism and died. In the story we learn to understand Crow culture and see white poeple take over land and kill once plentiful buffalo. We see Crow Mary’s children stolen and sent to Carlisle for “education.” ( )

Kathleen Grissom is an author I will automatically read because she never disappoints. Her thorough research into pieces of history that were never taught in school (at least when I went!) is detailed and informative. She takes those slices of history and weaves them into multi-layered stories with characters you care about and root for. Crow Mary sounds like such a strong, determined, giving, caring, woman who didn't back down in a man's world.
This story will take you on a journey from Montana to Canada and back in the late 1800s, teach you a bit about the way of Crow Indian life, and the struggles of keeping their world as the white man took over their land. It's a book I'll read again and one I highly recommend! ( )

This novel had so much depth and I felt like I was on the journey right along with these characters. I really did not know anything about the Cypress Hill Massacre of the Nakoda in Canada, or Crow Mary. There was so much history in this novel and everything that Crow Mary endured was amazing. She had such strength and faith in who she was and where she had come from and she was never going to forget that or the ways of her people. Crow Mary's story also gives more depth and history into the land reservations that were forced upon them when the US Government stepped in to try and attempt to make them more "white" and "americanized". It is really sad everything that was taken from them and the rules that were force upon them just because their beliefs were not accepted or understood by the white man. I felt the author did an amazing job in telling Crow Mary's story and I didn't want this novel to end. This was another one sitting read for me! Thank you to Simon & Schuster for the free copy for review. This story will stick with me for a long time. This review is of my own opinion and accord. ( )

This book was inspired by the life of the real Crow Mary and endorsed by her great-granddaughter, Crow elders and Crow scholars. In 1872, Crow Mary marries a white fur trader, Abe Farwell in Montana and travels with him to Saskatchewan, Canada. In 1873, while preparing to return to Montana, they witness the Cypress Hills Massacre, in which forty innocent Nakoda are murdered. Crow Mary single-handedly rescues five Nakoda women who are being held captive and abused. An incredible story and hard to put down, I finished this book in one day. Highly recommended! ( )

I thoroughly enjoyed this book by Kathleen Grissom. It is a wonderful story about the life of a Crow woman who was actually present during the Cypress Hills Massacre which occurred on June 1, 1873, in the Cypress Hills area in what is known as Saskatchewan. Mary, or Goes First was a 16-year-old Crow woman who was happily living with her family on their lands in the frontiers of Montana. An English fur trader sees her when he is trading with her father and asks her father that she be allowed to marry him. At their wedding Goes First's name is changed to Mary, and because there were two Marys in the settlement where they started their married life, she was called Crow Mary. Mary is an independent, strong young woman who was up for any adventure. Her husband, Farrell wanted to go to Cypress Hills to set up a trading post and Mary goes with him. Mary and Abe make a life for themselves and have a child. Then, the horrendous events of the Cypress Hills Massacre happen, and Mary single-handedly saves four Nakota women from the depraved wolf hunters who have captured them and who are abusing them. Abe and Mary try to bring these wolf hunters to justice, and Mary and Abe travel all the way to Fort McLeod to Winnipeg for a court case against these men. Things don't go well and the result forever changes Mary's life. The couple and their family move back to Montana and set up a farm and ranch operation on reserve land that Mary is awarded as a settlement. The hardships that this woman endures, and her indomitable spirit make this a book that is hard to forget. Based on a true story and with true historical figures, Kathleen Grissom crafts a beautiful and unforgettable story about the strength of human spirit and the role that families play in shaping society. I loved the book. Highly recommended. ( )