Madonna Swan: A Lakota Woman's Story

This heartwarming account portrays a spirited, modern-day Lakota Sioux woman's triumph over debilitating illness and depressing conditions on the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation in South Dakota. Madonna Swan-Abdulla, born in 1928, contracted tuberculosis as a teenager, lost a lung and spent a decade in sanatoriums. She speaks eloquently and without self-pity in these sometimes loosely connected sketches admirably edited by St. Pierre, sociology professor at Colorado Mountain College. Sustained by strong family ties, especially the love of her mother, Swan-Abdulla finds joy in simple ways and stands up to corrupt tribal leaders. Her life is fitting reminder that real heroes can be found in everyday life. Photos not seen by PW. (Nov.)