Tail Feather: Adventures of a Mohawk Paddler on the River-That-Flows-Two-Ways(1 The River Quintet: Young Lives in a Changing World)

Tail Feather the first book in The River Quintet series, is the story of a young Mohawk who leaves his village in the Adirondack Mountains and paddles down what we now know as the Hudson River to the Island of Manhattan. We learn it is the year 1613 when the canoes in his trading mission come upon the Dutch ship of Adriaen Block in the Tappan Zee. Woven into the narrative are Iroquois traditions regarding storytelling, farming and hunting, interactions with the natural world, and long‐distance trading with other tribes. What Tail Feather learns along this journey is more than new places and new people; he learns to rely on himself and to become more confident in his decisions. As Tail Feather journeys down the length of the river, the narrative includes colorful descriptions of the geographic features that are still recognizable today. Part II of the book is a reference section, NOTES ABOUT THE STORY, which offers a wealth of pertinent to the people, places, historical events, wildlife, and cultures described in the novel.

Review :
"Over the years, I've had the pleasure of reading Dr. Ray's stories as they developed. His latest work is The River Quintet. This is a series of five interrelated, stand-alone novels set in a time and place when my ancestors first met Europeans arriving in the northeastern part of what they called the New World. Dr. Ray's works are gripping, adventurous, and educational, while sensitive to the indigenous viewpoint, with an understanding of the human spirit and cultural practices of the time, and our relationship to Mother Earth. I invite all people, their children, and their grandchildren to read Dr. Ray's historically detailed series called The River Quintet. The stories show how Mother Earth's people share more common traits and needs than differences, and how to live with respect." Kenneth Little Hawk, Mi'kmaq-Mohawk musician and storyteller "Tail Feather is an interesting, historically accurate and absorbing tale of a young Mohawk Indian as he begins his coming-of-age maturation through native customs and rites of passage. Dr. Phillips's storyline includes representations of nearly all aspects of Native American culture during the early 17th century. The first of a set of five historical novels, Tail Feather provides the groundwork needed to introduce the reader to the discoveries, settlement, development, and expansion yet to come.... it acts as the touchstone that ushers in the interconnectedness of Indian village life, foreign lands, onboard ship voyages, and the colonial period -- parts of our history that start all with a young Mohawk boy. As an educational tool, Tail Feather would be very appropriate for middle school learners. This first book of The River Quintet introduces a subject matter that will proceed with the development of the reader." Stephen Linehan, Retired teacher of Social Studies, Albany City School District