Cowney Sequoyah

Cowney Sequoyah is a Cherokee Indian who grew up on the reservation. His mother, Ga-lo-ni, died shortly after Cowney's birth. His father Cowney Sequoyah Sr., died during World War I, when Cowney was just a few months old. (For the sake of clarity in this guide, Cowney's father is identified as Cowney Sr. or as “Cowney's father. The name Cowney always refers to Cowney Jr.) His grandmother, Lishie, raised him. His father's brother, Uncle Bud, has been an ever-present part of Cowney's life. Whereas Lishie is wise and kind, Bud is demanding and condescending. Cowney has little affection for Bud because of his attitude and demands, but Cowney softens slightly when Bud is dying and reveals that he is Cowney's biological father.

Cowney has graduated high school and spent a few months in college as this novel opens. Summer has arrived in Cherokee, and he takes a...