About the book
A young girl learns about friendship, betrayal, and the sacrifices made in the name of belonging in this poignant novel exploring the tragic legacy of forced assimilation and abuse at Native American residential schools in the early 20th century.
The award-winning debut novel by the author of The Nurse’s Secret is now available with new bonus content, including an interview with the woman who inspired it – Amanda Skenandore’s mother-in-law and a member the Lake Superior Ojibwe.
On a quiet Philadelphia morning in 1906, a newspaper headline catapults Alma Mitchell back to her past. A federal agent is dead, and the murder suspect is Alma’s childhood friend, Harry Muskrat. Harry—or Asku, as Alma knew him—was the most promising student at the “savage-taming” boarding school run by her father, where Alma was the only white pupil. Created in the wake of the Indian Wars, the Stover School was intended to assimilate the children of neighboring reservations. Instead, it robbed them of everything they’d known—language, customs, even their names—and left a heartbreaking legacy in its wake.
The bright, courageous boy Alma knew could never have murdered anyone. But she barely recognizes the man Asku has become, cold and embittered at being an outcast in the white world and a ghost in his own. Her lawyer husband, Stewart, reluctantly agrees to help defend Asku for Alma’s sake. To do so, Alma must revisit the painful secrets she has kept hidden from everyone—especially Stewart.
Told in compelling narratives that alternate between Alma’s childhood and her present life, Between Earth and Sky is a haunting and complex story of love and loss, as a quest for justice becomes a journey toward understanding and, ultimately, atonement.
Editions of Between Earth and Sky
- Paperback
- ISBN 9781496713667
- EBook
- ISBN 9781496713674
Read an Excerpt
A young girl learns about friendship, betrayal, and the sacrifices made in the name of belonging in this poignant novel exploring the tragic legacy of forced assimilation and abuse at Native American residential schools in the early 20th century.
The award-winning debut novel by the author of The Nurse’s Secret is now available with new bonus content, including an interview with the woman who inspired it – Amanda Skenandore’s mother-in-law and a member the Lake Superior Ojibwe.
On a quiet Philadelphia morning in 1906, a newspaper headline catapults Alma Mitchell back to her past. A federal agent is dead, and the murder suspect is Alma’s childhood friend, Harry Muskrat. Harry—or Asku, as Alma knew him—was the most promising student at the “savage-taming” boarding school run by her father, where Alma was the only white pupil. Created in the wake of the Indian Wars, the Stover School was intended to assimilate the children of neighboring reservations. Instead, it robbed them of everything they’d known—language, customs, even their names—and left a heartbreaking legacy in its wake.
The bright, courageous boy Alma knew could never have murdered anyone. But she barely recognizes the man Asku has become, cold and embittered at being an outcast in the white world and a ghost in his own. Her lawyer husband, Stewart, reluctantly agrees to help defend Asku for Alma’s sake. To do so, Alma must revisit the painful secrets she has kept hidden from everyone—especially Stewart.
Told in compelling narratives that alternate between Alma’s childhood and her present life, Between Earth and Sky is a haunting and complex story of love and loss, as a quest for justice becomes a journey toward understanding and, ultimately, atonement.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Between Earth and Sky about?
A young girl learns about friendship, betrayal, and the sacrifices made in the name of belonging in this poignant novel exploring the tragic legacy of forced assimilation and abuse at Native American residential schools in the early 20th century.
The award-winning debut novel by the author of The Nurse’s Secret is now available with new bonus content, including an interview with the woman who inspired it – Amanda Skenandore’s mother-in-law and a member the Lake Superior Ojibwe.
On a quiet Philadelphia morning in 1906, a newspaper headline catapults Alma Mitchell back to her past. A federal agent is dead, and the murder suspect is Alma’s childhood friend, Harry Muskrat. Harry—or Asku, as Alma knew him—was the most promising student at the “savage-taming” boarding school run by her father, where Alma was the only white pupil. Created in the wake of the Indian Wars, the Stover School was intended to assimilate the children of neighboring reservations. Instead, it robbed them of everything they’d known—language, customs, even their names—and left a heartbreaking legacy in its wake.
The bright, courageous boy Alma knew could never have murdered anyone. But she barely recognizes the man Asku has become, cold and embittered at being an outcast in the white world and a ghost in his own. Her lawyer husband, Stewart, reluctantly agrees to help defend Asku for Alma’s sake. To do so, Alma must revisit the painful secrets she has kept hidden from everyone—especially Stewart.
Told in compelling narratives that alternate between Alma’s childhood and her present life, Between Earth and Sky is a haunting and complex story of love and loss, as a quest for justice becomes a journey toward understanding and, ultimately, atonement.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Between Earth and Sky?
Fiction > Historical fiction
Where can I read a sample of Between Earth and Sky?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781496713667
How long is Between Earth and Sky and how many pages does it have?
Between Earth and Sky has 304 page(s)
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Between Earth and Sky?
Amanda Skenandore
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Between Earth and Sky is available as paperback(ISBN 9781496713667) and ebook(ISBN 9781496713674)
Where can I buy Between Earth and Sky online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy Between Earth and Sky from below
Where can I buy Between Earth and Sky?