Bleed Into Me
Jones, an English professor and Blackfoot author with three novels to his credit, here brings his stinging commentary to 16 stories, each one illuminating a small part of what it's like to be an Indian in contemporary America. In one bittersweet tale, two white kids mistake an Indian's red pickup for their uncle's as they hop in for the trip to school. Not-so-subtle prejudice runs high as everyone he encounters in his role as unwilling abductor presumes his guilt. Drugs and alcohol infuse many stories, some ending tragically in their portrayal of the harsh realities of life on and just off the reservation. The concluding story, "Discovering America," brilliantly encapsulates the whole collection, as a young man writing a play travels from Florida to Arkansas, Texas, and New Mexico. Guilty of "Driving While Indian," he is greeted with suspicious glances, called "Chief," and asked if he has "scalped anybody today." Jones' sardonic tale reveals the sort of casual stereotyping and prejudice that never seems to disappear. - Deborah Donovan (Booklist)
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