The Sacrifice    by Diane Matcheck Order:  USA  Can Sunburst, 2005 (1998) Hardcover, Paperback Read an Excerpt     Reviewed by Hilary Williamson The story opens as a girl with bloody hands savors the wilderness beauty around her. She has joined the buffalo hunt against her father's wishes. Born with a twin brother, she has been named Weak-one-who-does-not-last and valued little by her father (her mother died in childbirth) and by her Apsaalooka (Crow) tribe. She is desperate to prove herself as a warrior and to be respected by her people. Her father, Chews-the-bear warns her that the 'true warrior hates to kill' and worries about her lack of respect for the animals she hunts. What drives her? We learn of a prophecy that one of the twins would die young but the other would be 'one of the greatest Apsaalooka ever to live'. The girl's brother, Born-great, was thought to be the one, but he died as a four-year-old, and her feelings of guilt have overshadowed her life since. She has to believe that she is the 'Great One' foretold. After a Lakota attack, Weak-one-who-does-not-last follows the warriors seeking revenge, but gets lost. She finds herself in the Land of Boiling Waters (Yellowstone), where she discovers an obsidian cliff, is attacked by a bear, and eventually captured by the Pawnee. Over time, she enjoys being with them, even as a captive, and becomes close to Wolfstar, who calls her Danger-with-snarled hair. But only after betrayal and sacrifice, does this brave, troubled young woman understand her life's direction and find her real name. The Sacrifice is a powerful coming of age tale of an unhappy, driven adolescent in mid-eighteenth century America. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Teens books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews