"Engaging time travel romance"

The Brookstone Foundation provides a $2.5 million grant to movie director Jesse Spotted Horse to film a documentary on the "Stolen Children, Stolen Culture: The Story of the off- Reservation Schools". To fulfill a promise he made to Grandma Boo to find what happened to her relative Tokalu Sapa at the DuBois Indian School, Jesse obtains permission to film at the now closed school, whose museum is part of the Dubois Academy.

Jesse meets the museum curator Kathleen Prescott whose family goes back several generations to when the founder ran the school. She believes her ancestors were caring individuals trying to help while he feels that they destroyed families and individuals. When they begin filming, suddenly smoke breaks out. When it clears the two combatants find they somehow are back in 1886 where both will learn the truth about the salad days of the DuBois Indian School even as they fall in love with one another.

This engaging time travel romance is at its best during the squabbles over what happened as handed down by generation to generation by the lead protagonists' respective families. As Jesse and Kathleen observe the truth, their misconceptions seem foolish, adding to a historiographic feel to the plot. Though the time travel device remains shaky, the use provides the audience with a deep look at a questionable practice from a bygone era.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted August 25, 2003

Summary

In her acclaimed time-travel romances, award-winning author Judie Aitken "brilliantly brings history to life" (Alicia Rasley) by blending "a timeless tale of love and destiny" (Kathleen Eagle) with actual Native American lore. ... "A powerful mix that proves Judie Aitken is a creative force with a wonderful future" (Midwest Book Review).

Jesse Spotted Horse had every good reason to shoot a documentary on the history of Native American boarding schools -- he promised his Lakota grandmother he would reveal the true story.

Kathleen Prescott had every good reason to stop the film from being made -- she inherited one of the schools from her ancestors and fear bad publicity.

But neither Jesse nor Kathleen had any reason to expect the power of mutual attraction -- or the magic of an heirloom brooch -- to bridge the gap between them. Now, as the sparks begin to fly, the handsome Lakota and the prim young beauty are swept through time to the distant year of 1886, where the echoes of the past are as real and alive as the beating of their hearts. Together, in this forgotten time and place, they must face the truth -- about their heritage... and their desire.