“Someone’s going to be king in this territory. No reason it can’t be me. It sure won’t be you.” Betrayed.Someone is tearing at the fabric of the Choctaw Nation while political turmoil, assassinations, and feuds threaten the sovereignty of the tribe, which stands under the U.S. government’s scrutiny. When heated words turn to hot lead, Ruth Ann Teller—a mixed-blood Choctaw—fears losing her … Teller—a mixed-blood Choctaw—fears losing her brother, who won’t settle for anything but the truth. Matthew is determined to use his newspaper, the Choctaw Tribune, to uncover the scheme behind Mayor Thaddeus Warren’s claim to the townsite of Dickens. Matthew is willing to risk his newspaper—and his life—to uncover a traitor among their people.
But when Ruth Ann tries to help, she causes more harm than good—especially after the mayor brings in Lance Fuller, a schoolteacher from New York, to provide a rare educational opportunity for white children. How does this charming yet aloof young man fit into the mayor’s scheme?
When attacks against the newspaper strike and bullets fly, a trip to the Chicago World’s Fair of 1893 is the key to saving the Choctaw Tribune and Matthew’s investigation. But Ruth Ann must find the courage to face a journey to the White City—without her brother.
“Sarah introduces many issues: race relations, the presence of Jews in the Choctaw Nation, the Lighthorsemen, the educated and civilized Choctaw, a few greedy white people, the struggle for women to have equal rights and be able to pursue careers, the political issues of the Nationals and the Progressives, the confusion and separation of the two tiered system for lawbreakers for the white man and the Indian in Indian Territory, morality, integrity, doing what is right and the Gospel message. These issues are all woven into the story of the Teller family. So much intrigue and mystery.”
-Beverly Hardy Allen, author of Back Then: A Choctaw Family’s Noble Legacy of Perseverance
About the Choctaw Tribune series:
The Choctaw Tribune series lets you explore the old Choctaw Nation with Matthew and Ruth Ann Teller, a Choctaw brother and sister pair who own a newspaper called the Choctaw Tribune. They’re in the midst of shootouts and tribal upheavals with the coming Dawes Commission in the 1890s. These changes in Indian Territory threaten everything they’ve known and force them to decide if they are going to take a stand for truth, even in the face of death.
A historical fiction series with a Western flair, the Choctaw Tribune series explores racial, political, spiritual, and social issues in the old Choctaw Nation—and beyond.
Books in the series:
1. The Executions
2. Traitors
3. Shaft of Truth
4. Sovereign Justice
more
“Traitors” is Sarah Elisabeth Sawyer’s second book in the Choctaw Tribune series. Choctaw sister and brother Ruth Ann and Matthew Teller face both business and personal challenges, as they strive to follow God’s callings, which includes publishing the informative and fair newspaper, the Choctaw Tribune. The Tellers are faithful to the true purpose of a newspaper, printing unbiased truth. But some people, especially those involved in local corruption, don’t want the truth to be uncovered, and will stop at nothing to prevent their secrets from being uncovered. Ruth Ann and Matthew must depend on their faith, wits and friends to deal with their opponents. As usual, Sawyer does a great job of not only telling an authentic story, but also including interesting info about both the Choctaw culture and historical info about the era. In this case, that includes an excursion to the Columbian Exposition, also known as the Chicago’s World’s Fair! It was an exciting, eye-opening fair that introduced new inventions such as the Ferris Wheel. I won’t give away any others, but if you buy this book, you will be glad! You will find yourself feeling empathy for the well-drawn characters, as well as occasionally giggling or shedding a tear with them or for them. Personally, I am a great admirer of Della Teller, Ruth Ann’s and Matthew’s devoted mother.. She is patient and gracious with even the most challenging people. I appreciate that Sawyer’s characters do not see the world “through rose-colored glasses.” They see the good and the bad, the prejudices and difficulties. Yet in spite of temporary setbacks or painful times, their faith, as well as the love of family and friends, help them to overcome, and to live with purpose and deep joy.
Sarah writes compelling stories that reflect the challenges and prejudices of the times for the Indian people and for women who dare to step out of their prescribed roles. Matthew and Ruth Ann pursue truth and face opposition and danger from both the whites and their own people as anger, fear, greed and politics rather than reason rule the hearts and actions of many. Family, faith and integrity keep them grounded and hopeful. A recommended read to enjoy and reflect upon.
I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the Tellers and their friends better in this second book of the Choctaw Tribune series. Sarah truly has a gift for writing characters in a way that make you feel as though you know them! I also loved the sweet and unexpected ending that involved Ruth Ann! I can’t wait for the next one!
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book but was not required to write a review. All opinions are mine and 100% honest.
Traitors by Sarah Elisabeth Sawyer is another epic Christian historical novel. It is the second book in the Choctaw Tribune series which I am loving.
The action is set in 1893, concerning the Choctaw people who are still receiving abuse and being viewed as second class citizens. “God created only one race – the human race.”
Those building their lives on wealth and power go to extraordinary lengths to silence the truth. “My brother stands for truth… makes him unpopular with a great many.” We don’t need the affirmation of man. We need to speak the truth and live with a clear conscience.
Once again we follow our plucky young heroine who is ahead of the times in her thinking and actions. Not content with just writing the truth, she is concerned with tracking down the perpetrators of crime and bringing them to justice.
Names are important. Family names produce both positive and negative connotations as characters try to conceal their true identity.
The World’s Fair in Chicago features. The vivid descriptions help the place to come alive for the reader.
I am loving this series. It’s on to book three for me now.
I would like to leave you with my favourite quote:
“Jesus Christ isn’t just a good way; He’s the only way.”
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
The previous story included veiled threats against the siblings. In this story they are more direct. Some names are connected to previously unknown assailants and the question of where the loyalty of some is answered.
It’s a great story. Our young heroes really grow up over the course of these months and it’s a joy to see.
Choctaw Tribune Series:
The Executions #1 – Set in Dickens, Indian Territory, in September, 1892, this historical novel follows the lives of a Choctaw family, their friends and the happenings in and around their territory as far away as Paris, Texas. The interesting storytelling brings together the struggles of a Choctaw family and their community blended with the history of that time. The fight for and against statehood; the treatment of ethnic groups and sexes; and the fight for truth, honor and doing right, make a tightly woven story difficult to stop reading.
The characters run the gamut and fit all the mindsets, common and disruptive for that period and place. The events range from good to extreme barbarism. In the midst of all the turmoil, strife and just surviving, a young Choctaw woman faces maturity as she struggles to save the family business, overcome her fears and deal with the atrocities she sees and experiences while learning to be a newspaper reporter. 4*
Traitor #2 – This story picks up around August, 1893, in Dickens, Indian Territory and follows the storylines set in Executions. More storylines and characters are added and there is a lot of happenings, discoveries and even redemption. While history plays a big part, the Teller family is strong and survive much. While most readers will know the basics of what the Native Americans faced from the white man, their everyday life after placement on reservations is not commonly known. Executions is a good story but Traitor is meatier and more substantial in contents. 5*
Danger on the Red River – This short story takes place on Christmas Eve in 1893, about a month after Traitor ends. More family members of the Grandmother are introduced and there are two men close to death in the Red River. 4*
Choctaw Tribune Series end.
Anumpa Warrior: Choctaw Code Talkers of World War I – This is the first book I read by this author and I like it. While the code talkers of WWI were new to me, the rest of the history of that part of France was correct. I had read a lot about the Choctaw people, and other Native Americans, as a child, teen and adult but never came across anything about their military service as code talkers.
I married a Choctaw but he did not know about the Trail of Tears. His family never talked about their heritage, their customs or spoke their language, although he, his father and his grandfather went to the yearly meet in OK until the mid-Sixties.
Anumpa Warrior is a must read whether from a historical point of view or as a novel. The lives of these Americans and what they still faced in the early 1900s is interesting, intriguing and heartwrenching. To experience their lives from childhood through WWI is educational to those who do not know American or Native American history. The writing style does not harp on about the injustices but presents the historical events in an easy to understand storytelling style. No whiners in this story.
The story is well thought out and carries the reader along through history at a steady pace. It is difficult to put this book down. The characters are real. Their dialogues are real. Their emotions are real. The horrors from many different sources are experienced by the reader as if there in time.
I cannot say enough about how well done, how accurate and how much this is an important read. It is easy to turn this into a book report but it would be so unfair to the interested readers. Step back in time and read about how many overcame the times they lived in and became the people for all Americans to be proud to have as fellow Americans. These people helped make our country great even after the horrors their Nations endured from the arrival of the Europeans to the Americas. I found this book on Booksprout. 5*