Summary

The year is 1977. Harley Wind Soldier, Frank Pipe, and Charlene Thunder are all members of teacher Jeannette McVay's eighth-grade social studies class at St. Mary's School on the Dakota reservation. Jeannette is very earnest in her desire to become a real part of her Indian students' world. She tries very hard to understand their culture, even to the point of trying to transform herself physically to look more like them. She is naturally a very light-skinned blonde, but she has dyed her hair black so it is more like her students'.

Harley and the other students find Jeannette's attempts funny and sad at the same time. Harley notices Jeannette has bruises on her face that she has tried to cover up with make-up. It is clear to Harley Jeannette's Indian boyfriend has beaten her.

During one of the class periods, Jeannette asks each student to tell...