Montana 1948

To break up the Old English in Oliver Twist, I looked to my brother's meager book collection for something short to alternate with. Just glancing at the cover of Montana 1948 (by Larry Watson) brought to mind images of high school sophomores lugging around tattered copies. It was never assigned to me, but I had assumed it was a boring cowboy story that students used to begrudgingly search for symbolism.

I was very pleased to discover that this was not a dry cowboy tale as previously anticipated. An adult David Hayden narrates his tumultuous summer at age twelve. The relationships that reshaped or shattered during this time forever changed his view of the world, specifically those of his parents and extended family.
Marie Little Soldier, David's young, Indian housekeeper suddenly dies after suffering from pneumonia. Through investigation, David's father Wes, sheriff of the town, comes to find that his brother Frank has been sexually assaulting all of his female Native American patients.

"First, he was charming, and my mother was suspicious of charm. She believed its purpose was to conceal some personal deficit or lack of substance. If your character was sound, you didn't need charm," (32).

It was a unique story and kept me reading, however I found the ending a bit abrupt and unfinished.