Bird Girl and the Man Who Followed the Sun

Somehow, this book feels right. It's not great literature and that's a good thing.

I really enjoyed this book for many reasons . As a Native American it’s cool to dive into these indigenous stories and make connections to your everyday life.

I love anything this author writes. Looking forward to her next endevor.

This is a wonderful read for anyone interested in, and respectful of, folk oral storytelling. The book is a friendly read that develops the story at a moderate pace without leaving out important details. The nature of the characters is real and reminds us that individualism and independence are within any person regardless of ethnicity; however, how the different societies address these traits is what defines the specific group. The author develops the primary characters well and accurately and allows the reader to empathize with their predicaments while depicting the secondary characters' roles as vividly. The nature of human emotions is well-described in the ugliness of the Bird Girl's captor. The nature of human beings as followers is demonstrated by the members of the captor's band who see Bird Girl's suffering but choose to chastise her instead of helping her, is also well documented; but just as importantly, the strength and constitution of the female archetype as shown in the captor's only adversary, Ukpik, Daagoo's mother, his wife, Sunshine, as well as Bird Girl are what make this story so real and vivid. The strength and determination of the female who gives life, serves and teaches all, and endures the ravages of male domination combined with the unforgiving natural habitat, teaches us that in the end, doing the right thing and "trusting in the future" is what will allow us to prevail.NOTE: the author mentioned that she considered referencing Sunshine to the Yaqui people and I am glad that she did not. Daagoo's trek seemed to limit itself to the coast and the Yaqui people inhabit the Sonora-Arizonan desert. However, her referencing Sunshine to the Yaqui people for their intelligence and determination is certainly a compliment.Lastly, the story is served well by the artist’s drawings which allow the reader’s imagination to truly see the characters and the environment vividly and in detail.

I liked this book. It brought together several interesting things. It's tribal lore and history from long before first contact with Europeans. It's about 2 kids (1 boy, 1 girl) who don't fit in to their society and what that costs them. Do you ever get tired of stories about "just follow your heart and everything will be ok?" I surely do. i'm very bored with "follow your heart and find true romance." This book is different: it's a coming of age story about responsibility, freedom, community, survival. There are themes of slavery and murder. There are also themes of accepting responsibililty forming community, and friendship. It's definitely not a children's book, but I would recommend it for older, mature teens. The violence isn't gratuitous, but it is sometimes graphic. It's not a happy little story. It's about survival in the Arctic and what it takes to survive. It was interesting and well-written. It brings up a lot of topics that would be great for a book group to discuss.

This used book arrived promptly and in excellent condition. I'm very pleased. I also recommend this wonderful fable, along with another: TWO OLD WOMEN, both by Velmas Wallis

all good, loved the book, delivery was great

I found this book in Alaska and it was recommended to me by the owner of a small bookshop in Juneau when I asked for a book written by an Alaskan about life in Alaska. Based on some Alaskan legends, it is beautifully written and give insight into a way of life that not many know about in this modern world. After reading it, I gave it to my sister and upon my return to South Africa decided I wanted it for myself after all, so ordered it from Amazon. That says something!

Something of a masterpiece. More than a worthy follow up to this author’s previous book, which was also wonderful. There aren’t many books that are as culturally significant as this one. So few stories from oral cultures get written down - this is one of them. A wonderful, rich, warm, dangerous glimpse into another world. The world of only a very few generations ago. I loved it. I’ll be reading it again.

The story is well narrated. It is a combination of two old legends, which the author combined. Opening the windows to the past for her readers, Vilma Wallis is recreating the scenery of the tribal life long ago. Wilderness still belonged to the Native, yet no trays of white invaders. Between the different tribes battles of hate and urge to kill. In this surrounding two main characters a drawn to paper. A young girl, Bird Girl is her name, and a boy, from a different family band, Daagoo is his name.Both characters are represented as longing for independence and freedom of the old rules.The girl wants to hunt as she is told by her father and brothers, the boy doesn't want to hunt but he wants to go far and further because of the legends event sun always shines.Spoiler Alarm!Both grow up and become grown, members of their bands reject their behavior, demanding they must fit in get to the patterns as man has to behave or as women has to behave.Both decide to leave the band.Shortly before this decision takes place, both of them meet by accident in the middle of the nature, both of them recognising a common sense within each other, though separating without really talking to each other.Bird girl takes off one night then soon after that, leaving her band and her family, parents and brothers.Then her fate all the sudden changes drastically.Nearly the same time the young man, who wanted to set off leaving his band, ends up as survivor but all the hunters of his band, including his father get killed in the sleep by their enemies, a foreign eskimo tribe. After that his fate changes drastically as well.This story is very different from previous story which also is based upon a legend. "Two old women".Here is not a lot of confidence and happiness. Very hard times, strong battles for the two main characters. As reader you have to endure this. In the end it's not a big 'Happy Ending' , but it is realistic and both of them find peace. As white and European, this story wasn't a piece of cake for me. I didn't expect so many dead. But it's still a very good story. On one hand side it shows me how spoilt and pampered I am, on the other hand best strong advise is to be believing that the future will bring growth and that there was a sensible meaning to keep rules. I liked the story, I would read it again, but only recommend it to people, which are introduced to the brutal scenes. So that they can decide to read or not to read.