Bruchac, Joseph. Of All Tribes: American Indians and Alcatraz. Abrams, 09/2023. 256pp. Nonfiction. Trade $19.99. 978-1-4197-5719-8. GRADES 7–12. ADDITIONAL.
The well-researched, involved, and diverse history of Alcatraz and American Indians is comprehensively presented. Bruchac summarizes centuries of problematic history, from the precolonial period though centuries of colonizers’ persecution and broken treaties, to the rise of Pan-Indian activism and the lasting legacy of the All Tribes’ 1969 occupation of “The Rock.” The narrative has many memorable aspects: The Choctaw Kid’s involvement in Alcatraz’s most famous jailbreak, the surprise of the Nixon administration’s enlightened Indian policies, and most significantly, the takeover’s lasting impact. Unfortunately, the account of the eighteen-month occupation feels unfocused. There are not enough examples of individual voices to get a sense of the central characters’ distinct personalities. Sensational unexplained events like deaths, fires, and miraculous healing steal the focus. A misleading sentence that references a contemporary Canadian scandal is sure to incite controversy, while stilted prose and conditional language keep readers at a distance. Despite textual distractions, the quality of the historic record, the local and national importance of the event, the comprehensive timeline, and the dozens of archival photos make this an important resource for Bay Area libraries. Reviewed from an ARC.
Melissa McAvoy—Retired