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Excerpts
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Reviews
In the late 1700’s, the Central Coast of California provided a good living for the Chumash– plentiful acorns from groves of oaks, and so many abalone and other shellfish that the shell middens still exist today. Then the Spanish came. The Padres wanted the souls of the Chumash . . . and their land. The military wanted their labor . . . and their land. But neither group cared about the culture of the Chumash — which was rich enough to include large villages and travel over 25 miles of open ocean to the Channel Islands — after all, the Chumash were only `savages.’
Willard Thompson’s Dream Helper is the story of Cayatu, a Chumash woman on the frontier of Alta California, pinned at the intersection of the fault lines between the Church, the Royal Presidio, and the traditional ways of her people.
Dream Helper is populated by well-drawn, believable characters whose struggles illustrate the early history of California — a time when the future of the West Coast was still up for grabs among the British in the northwest, the Russians at Fort Ross, and the Spanish conquistadores.
Mr. Thompson brings his characters to life with clear, readable prose that engages the reader from the first line. I look forward eagerly to Delfina’s Gold, the upcoming sequel to Dream Helper.
I just finished reading Dream Helper by Willard Thompson and thoroughly enjoyed every page. Thompson writes beautifully about mission life in Santa Barbara. His main character, Cayatu, is a beautiful Chumash woman who is proud of her heritage. She is a strong, independent woman who will not be intimidated by the mission priests. Dream Keeper is historically accurate which makes the book believable. I very much look forward to Thompson’s second book, Delfina’s Gold .
Terrible to know of the cruelty
Well written. Interestingly done from the perspective of the Indian. Terrible to know of the cruelty, stupidity, and greed.
Great book couldn’t put it down
it is nice to see realistic presentations instead of the pabulum that … Thompson has a realistic view of the Spanish in coastal California and their effects on the Chumash population. it is nice to see realistic presentations instead of the pabulum that is presented in CA schools and often celebrated in such stupidity as the Santa Barbara fiesta days. Good for the author – he deserves a wider audience for this book, which is both interesting and involving – I found it a good read, and most popular stuff I don’t like. I’d recommend it.
Informative and interesting.
Love anything well done on Calif. history!