Red Bird Sings: The Story of Zitkala-èa, Native American Author, Musician, and Activist

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I remember the day I lost my spirit." So begins the story of Gertrude Simmons, also known as Zitkala-èa, which means Red Bird. Born in 1876 on the Yankton Sioux reservation in South Dakota, Zitkala-èa willingly left her home at age eight to go to a boarding school in Indiana. But she soon found herself caught between two worlds-white and Native American. At school she missed her mother and her traditional life, but Zitkala-èa found joy in music classes. "My wounded spirit soared like a bird as I practiced the piano and violin," she wrote. Her talent grew, and when she graduated, she became a music teacher, composer, and performer. Zitkala-èa found she could also "sing" to help her people by writing stories and giving speeches. As an adult, she worked as an activist for Native American rights, seeking to build a bridge between cultures.The coauthors tell Zitkala-èa's life by weaving together pieces from her own stories. The artist's acrylic illustrations and collages