Deaths of Sybil Bolton:, The : An American History

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Summary: Haunting real-life mystery makes you think about your past
Review: I came upon this book accidentally when it first came out, while I was working in a large bookstore. It was the most fascinating story about Native Americans that I had read in a long time. With a plot better constructed than any mystery novel that tells an important and largely unknown part of our country's history, I couldn't figure out why the book didn't catch on and make it big. It certainly deserved to. Rarely have I read a family history in which the author was able and willing to look at his own shortcomings while he explored his family's past. An amazing, wonderful book on many levels. A true shame it has gone out of print. One day it will be brought back and find the audience it deserves.

Rating:
Summary: I couldn't put the book down until I finished reading it.
Review: Mr. McAuliffe reveals, once again, the ugliness of the White Man take-over of Native Americans. The appalling truth is presented in a style that leads the reader as through a well-written mystery novel. For those who don't understand the desire of Native Americans to retain their culture,or White Man to pompously declare themselves "better" than most, this book is insightful

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Summary: Good Resarch, Ridiculous "Racial" Views
Review: This book provides valuable information regarding the legal status and psychology of mixed-blood "white" members of Indian tribes. The author, a journalist, started out by investigating the death of his maternal grandmother, who was part-Osage Indian and an enrolled member of the tribe. Concentrate on the history and ignore the author's attempt to impose a "one drop of Indian blood" rule on himself and his family - using the "one drop of black blood" myth to justify it. I note that in the many book reviews that appeared when the book was first published, McAuliffe's historical research was praised but no one took his claim of being a white "Indian" seriously - quite the opposite of what happens when whites claim to be "black" (e.g., Gregory Howard Williams).