The Caregiver at Wounded Knee follows Rose Rushing Water, a member of the Lakota tribe who had been educated in Boston to be a nurse. While in Boston, Rose's experiences included the pains of prejudice against her people as well as the joys of learning nursing, discovering new authors, and making a best friend. Rose was ready to liver her dream of returning home to her brothers and serving the Indians and settlers residing there. She also was excited to reconnect with her language and traditions, something that was far more difficult than she had ever anticipated. The story of Rose's life leads to her presence at the Wounded Knee Creek on the day of the infamous massacre.
The theme of understanding how an all-powerful and loving God allows people to do horrible things to one another, sometimes in the name of Christianity, and that of justice unrealized are at the center of The Caregiver at Wounded Knee and are well-developed. There is a particular analogy the author uses that goes a long way in explaining why we should not give up on God when people do terrible things.
For the most part, I truly enjoyed this novel. There were a few places where the dialogue or the descriptive prose seemed to be that of a less mature writer, but that certainly wasn't a consistent feature. I enjoyed the story and may seek out others based on this time period in the American West. I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of The Caregiver at Wounded Knee from Barbour Publishing via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.
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