Native Nations of the Great Basin and Plateau

Gr 3–6—This set looks at contemporary circumstances of Native tribes throughout the United States and parts of Canada. Each volume begins with a brief introduction, accompanied by a map of North America, and a general pre- and post-European contact history of the tribes that live there. Each title profiles about eight tribes in two-to-four page chapters that discuss ancestral and current lands, interactions with white settlers, current population, livelihoods, and efforts to keep the culture, traditions, and language alive. Most pages feature an attractive period or contemporary photo that doesn't always reflect the adjacent text, and there are no maps that illustrate contemporary tribal locations. These titles are on the dry side, and much of the information is superficial and can be found in reference sources or sections about contemporary tribal life in books about specific tribes.