The Place at the Edge of the Earth

by Bebe Faas Rice

Moving to Fort Sayers, an army base built on the site of an old Native American school, with her mother and new stepfather, Jenny discovers that her room is haunted by the ghost of a boy named Jonah Flying Cloud, who died at the school in 1880, and she must uncover the dark secrets of the past in order to free his spirit.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Young Adult

192 pages, Hardcover

First published October 21, 2002

Reviews

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the way the author paralleled the problems of the three main characters--Jonah, Jenny, and Arnold. All three were trapped in cycles of their own creation, born out of ignorance and inability to see a way out. The history of the fictional Indian boarding school was interesting and sad. The only thing I didn't like about the book was the fact that some of the dialog seemed too grown-up for 13-year-olds. Aside from that, I enjoyed this very much. It would pair nicely with Marlene Carvell's Sweetgrass Basket. Recommended!

[Luthien · Rating 3 out of 5]

Also on my blog, Luthien Reviews.

More like 3.5/5

Jonah Flying Cloud is a thirteen-year-old Lakota boy taken from his home, along with thousands of other Native children, and forced to attend a government-run boarding school intended to "civilize" them and assimilate them into white society. Lonely and homesick, he struggles to adapt to his new reality. He also finds himself haunted by the "spirit-ghost" of a white girl. This girl is Jenny Muldoon, who has moved onto the former campus of the Fort Sayers Indian School with her mother and stepfather. She takes an interest in the army base's history and discovers that she, in turn, is haunted by the restless spirit of Jonah Flying Cloud.

The Place at the Edge of the Earth was an intriguing little read. The dual narration was kind of tricky. I was much more interested and invested in Jonah Flying Cloud's story than in Jenny's. I didn't find her to be a particularly likable or sympathetic narrator; her character probably bumped it down from a 4-star to a three-and-a-half-star book for me.

That said, I did like the idea of the two of them "haunting" each other simultaneously. I wish Rice had played with the idea of time more. She hinted at it, then dropped it, maybe because she ran out of a plot and therefore out of pages.

The only other thing that bothered me was the dialogue in Jenny's time. She and Arnold speak much too maturely, almost archaically, for modern preteens; even their parents have an old-fashioned way of talking. I'm not a total stickler for realistic dialogue, but it became almost painfully stilted towards the end. (I did appreciate Arnold's "secret," though. Alcoholic mothers are not something you see a lot of in YA fiction.)

I would also have liked to hear more of Jonah Flying Cloud's history - his life among his own people - even if it had been in flashbacks. I'd also liked to have known what his real name was. He was only ever called "son of Flying Cloud."

Oh, well. I guess you can't have everything unless you write it yourself.

Still, Edge of the Earth is a solid novella that, if there was more of a story behind it, could be expanded to make a very good longer novel.

[Kyrianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE THIS BOOK.

This was the first book I read where the story went back and forth between two different people. Even though this is a fiction story, the things that happened to this Native American boy did happen. You feel for the characters; they seem real to you.

It's a story of truth, love, life, death, and growing up. It's one of my top favorites ever! It's a short read, but it is a book you will never forget!

[Akshita R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It's very inspiring.

[Carol Cline · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best historical fiction I've read!! Totally recommend for adults & MS/HS.