Book Review: Through Rushing Water by Catherine Richmond

Sophia Makinoff is humiliated. When her believed-to-be beau proposes to her ditzy roommate instead of herself, Sophia signs up with the Foreign Missions Board hoping to be sent to a far-off land, such as China. When she is sent to Dakota Territory instead, she considers returning to her homeland, Russia.  After being the teacher to a small, run down community of Ponca Indians, she adores the tribe. Despite warring tribes, horrid conditions, and her anger towards the unjust government, she stays with the Ponca Indians, and finds herself falling in love with a carpenter.

I loved:

• The cover. Oh my goodness, this has to be the most beautiful cover I have ever seen. It so describes the book, and it was one of the first things that made me want to read the book. Absolutely lovely.
• The truth. Though hard to believe that the Native Americans were deprived of necessities by the government, it is true. This is a real eye-opener.
• The vivid descriptions. I could really imagine myself being in Sophia’s shoes. I loved her thoughts, as well as being where she was, so to speak.
• The bilingualism. I loved when she would speak in a few different languages! It was so funny, and interesting to me!

I disliked:

• Nada. I wished there would have been a French/English Glossary at the end, but it wasn’t too hard to simply look words up online.

Overall:

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone with an interest in history. I simply adored it, and it will be a favorite in my library for years to come!

Thanks to Thomas Nelson Publishers for giving me this book in exchange for a review.