Inspired by a True Native American Indian Story - Return of the Bones

Book was very enjoyable. Had lots of twists and turns and at times was a bit hard to follow. The depictions of the villages and of the life in the past and now were amazing and I could actually see them. It was written very truthfully. I would recommend this to anyone who has a thirst for knowledge of the native american cultures and just to anyone who likes to read!

The topic covered by this book is an important one and deserves to be handled in a genre rather than historic fiction. I have read several other books by this author and she seems a bit loose with factual information and often includes false information and anachronisms that show poor research on her part. Early in the current book she portrays the main character as stumbling into a den of 'ridge-nosed rattlesnakes' and a resulting bite she received on the face. However, this particular species is found only in a very tiny area in the boot heel of New Mexico, hundreds of miles from either Pecos or Jemez. When one encounters such bloopers it casts a shadow of doubt over the credibility of the entire book.

The book is not easy to read as it is difficult follow a story that bounces from present reality, to childhood memories, to ancient memories and then onto dreams. I have yet to complete the book and have doubts I ever will. The author has lost credibility with me. I very much want to read a genuine story about the atrocities committed by archeologists working in New Mexico but this is not the book that will do that. As far as I am concerned, the entire book is nothing less than pure fiction..

I thought this book would hold my interest more. The way it was described maybe I was expecting something. I did not like the way it kept going back to the past & had problems with following story. I skipped quite a bit of i.

I really wanted to like this book because the subject seemed very interesting and relevant. But the interplay between characters and startup of the story was tedious, boring and so uninteresting I just couldn't stay with it. I'm disappointed.

Since we vacation in Anasazi country each year, retracing the trails of that interesting time in history, I thought this would be a great book. I noted a few cultural references back to the 15 and 16th centuries but didn't connect to them well. Perhaps I need to read the book while on the ground being talked about for a better association with the book.

I read until Hollow Woman and her grandfather's second day on their trip. That's all I could handle. I find the desecration of any burial site a travesty. I do have a Cherokee ancestor and wanted to follow along on the journey, but just could not stick with it.

We all should be reminded of the thoughtless cruelty of European Invaders to the Americas. Why do people not respect or try to appreciate other cultures. This is something we all need to think about if humanity is to survive. Return of the Bones addresses this problem and ends with a message of hope.

This is the shocking true story the enslavement torture, murder and betrayal of Native Americans by waves of invaders (and the actual theft of the bones and artifacts of the First American People by archaeologists and grave robbers!) This fictionalized account as told by the last descendant of the Pecos Pueblo tribe, tells of her final recovery and burial of the bones of her ancestors. I was saddened to read this dark but educating story, but my heart is larger for it and I now can better understand those who refuse to forgive the crimes of the past.

While I did not find the writing very compelling, I did enjoy -Return of the Bones- and strongly recommend it. I found the dialogue leaden, the repeated use of dreams, visits to historic sites, and quotes from a supposed diary got a bit tiresome as ways to weave the past into the present story. But--a big but--the book is very interesting. Belinda Vasquez Garcia has carefully researched her material; she has a lot to tell a reader about Pecos (Pueblo) history, the role of the Spaniards in early American history (earlier than the Pilgrims), and why archeologists were interested in the bones of the Pueblo Indians. Her understanding and respect for Indian life and for the work of the of archeologists are admirable. For me, this book was this book was a real eye opener: its presentation of Pueblo life is interesting and its account of the Spanish Church and its brutal efforts to convert the Indians is stunning. I also appreciated the fact that this book is really an electronic book: the links to articles and photos--items a reader can easily jump to while reading--enlarge the reader's experience.

Gives us a glimpse of how Native Americans were really treated when Europeans, especially religious zealots, started fanning out across the West. Terribly sad, but it provides deep insight. We need more stories like this, both past and present, giving us realistic, eye-opening news about the settlement of the Americas and its effects on the lives of Native American Peoples.
The story in this book would be a worthy movie making endeavor.

Interesting, well researched story about a real episode in American history. I have visited the sky city of Acoma years ago and this book added many new learnings about the Pueblo experience. I felt as though I was still on their sacred grounds and could personally identify with what the main characters were going through

Before I read this book, I knew very little about Pecos Indians. I found this story to be heartwarming as well as educational. I really enjoyed the visualization of Native American traditions and history.

Hard to read through the descriptions of how the Pecos Indians were treated throughout history.These stories are spun by a dreamcatcher that spins counterclockwise for nightmares bringing the historic stories of abuse.

This was an excellent book chronicling some important historical events. It was well written and informative. It was another book that I was sad to finish. I look forward to reading more books by here. Yes, I would recommend it.

Well researched, but unevenly written, this book tells the story of Pecos Indians. The last of the clan travel to Washington, then Boston to return the bones of their ancestors to their native land. The bones were removed and taken to Yale where they were used to study the progress of osteoporosis in a closed population. The story is told in the trip the two, Grandfather and Hollow Woman, make by truck and train to receive the bones. Grandfather, a shaman, causes Hollow Woman to have dreams along the way. It is these dreams and the way they are blended with the rest of the narrative that make the book confusing and difficult to follow.