Surrounded

With this last semester I am severely displeased with myself. I normally read multiple books in that amount of time, however going to school and working full time I have had little to no time to read.  The one and only novel that I did read this semester was “The Surrounded” by D’arcy McNickle. I only read this book because it was a required reading for a class I’m taking, and I’m glad it was, this book enlightening and captivating. The book is about a young Indian boy from the Salish Indian Reservation who, after being away from home returns to his dysfunctional family. The family is based on distrust and secrets. The plot of the book was based here in the Missoula Valley and so it was easy to envision where everything was taking place. The Surrounded talks about the native culture and how the “old ways” are dying and a new way is being born, for better or for worse. This book showed light on the Indian perspective of Indian Policy, something that is normally taught with a non-native standpoint. I highly recommend this book for any reader interested in a good plot with an unforeseen yet predictable ending.