Lonesome Road
by Mary Louise Clifford

    LONESOME ROAD by Mary Louise Clifford
    Category:  Contemporary
    Age Recommendation:  Grades 6+
    Release Date:  4/21/05
    Publisher:  PublishAmerica
    Reviewed by:  Carrie Spellman
    Rating:  4 Stars


    Tom Benedict, freshman at William and Mary college, has decided to write his anthropology paper about Native
    American folk medicine.  His research leads him to Charles City County, Virginia, and the Chickahominy tribe.  
    He is further directed to Granny Blow, the tribe's wisewoman.  Standing between him and the information he seeks
    is Luney, Granny's likely successor and protector.   Luney is sure that Tom is going to exploit their ways and make
    a public laughingstock out of them.  It wouldn't be the first time. Tom's offer of books and information on other
    early Americans, and Granny's willingness to cooperate, are the only things that slightly relax Luney's animosity
    towards the outsider.

    Slowly, a shaky trust and an almost-friendship develop between Tom and Luney.  Though both can fall apart
    unexpectedly at any given moment.  Nonetheless, they begin to lean on each other in ways neither of them ever
    expected.

    Just when things seem to be settling a little, another newcomer appears.  A woman, who begins holding rituals and
    gathering followers.  Tom doesn't trust her; he thinks she's part of a cult.  Luney doesn't necessarily trust her either,
    but is fascinated by her.  It soon becomes very clear that much more than Tom and Luney's newly formed
    friendship may be threatened.

    LONESOME ROAD was a good story.  I liked the story line a lot, and the relationship between Tom and Luney
    was very well done.  With a bit more depth and involvement, I think this would have been one of the better books
    I've ever read.  If you have an interest in Native Americans, this is a book that's worth taking a look at.