Mary and the Trail of Tears: A Cherokee Removal Survival Story

by Andrea L. Rogers, Matt Forsyth (Illustrator)

Overview

Twelve-year-old Mary and her Cherokee family are forced out of their home in Georgia by U.S. soldiers in May 1838. From the beginning of the forced move, Mary and her family are separated from her father. Facing horrors such as internment, violence, disease, and harsh weather, Mary perseveres and helps keep her family and friends together until they can reach the new Cherokee nation in Indian Territory. Featuring nonfiction support material, a glossary, and reader response questions, this Girls Survive story explores the tragedy of forced removals following the Indian Removal Act of 1830.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781496587145
Publisher:	Capstone
Publication date:	01/01/2020
Series:	Girls Survive Series
Pages:	112
Sales rank:	655,326
Product dimensions:	5.30(w) x 7.60(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Andrea L. Rogers is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma and a graduate of the Low Rez program at the Institute for American Indian Arts. She teaches art at an all girls public school and is the mom of three daughters. She grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and she currently lives in Fort Worth, Texas, where she serves on the board for the Fort Worth Public Library.

Alessia was Born in southern Italy in 1990 but she grew up in Rome, where she still lives. She has wanted to be an illustrator since she was a child. After a Degree in the Animation course of the International School of Comics based in Rome in 2013, Alessia has worked as Background Artist for some of the most important roman animation studios. She currently works as a freelance artist on various Animation and illustration projects.

Interviews

History made personal by experiencing it through a fictional character. Survival stories are perennial favorites. Focus of female main characters allows girls to see themselves (and boys to see girls) as integral parts of history.

Editorial Reviews

Highly Recommended. Andrea L. Rogers is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation. Her book, Mary and the Trail of Tears: A Cherokee Removal Survival Story came out on February 1, 2020. I've read it and I've followed conversations about it amongst citizens of the Cherokee Nation and am hoping for a review from a professor, soon. In the meantime, I want to make sure people order it for their children, or their classroom, or their library.

Dr. Debbie Reesen Indians in Children's Literature

When kids need reassurance in tough times (like now, for instance), we often point them to examples from the past, to moments of resilience and courage. Mary and the Trail of Tears is ideal for that. The book was lovingly crafted by Cherokee author, mama and educator Andrea L. Rogers. It’s a window to the forced relocation of Cherokee people from what’s currently called Georgia to Indian Territory. But more than that, the story offers an opportunity for kids to really get to know and care about Mary and her family, to relate to the Cherokees of their era as human beings. (For ages 8 to 12)

Cynthia Leitich Smith, author of Hearts Unbroken - NPR's Book Concierge Best Books of 2020