For readers grappling with themes of loss, resilience, and adapting to a rapidly changing world, this biography chronicles the poignant true story of Ishi, the last of his tribe.
A parent might reach for this book when their child is trying to comprehend profound loss or is grappling with feelings of being an outsider. This biography tells the true story of Ishi, the last member of the Yahi tribe, who emerged from a life of hiding in 1911 to face the modern world. It is a quiet, powerful exploration of grief, resilience, cultural identity, and the unlikely friendships that can form across vast differences. Appropriate for mature middle grade readers, this classic book offers a gentle yet unforgettable way to discuss historical injustice, empathy, and the strength of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable loneliness.
The story is a direct result of the genocide of Native Americans by white settlers.
ViolenceMild
Raids and massacres are described but without graphic or gory detail.
Sensitive Topics
The book deals directly with death, grief, and genocide. The approach is historical and secular, focusing on the human tragedy without being overly graphic. The violence against the Yahi is described in terms of its devastating results rather than with sensationalized detail. Ishi's personal grief is a constant, gentle undercurrent. The resolution is realistic and bittersweet: he finds a measure of peace and friendship but dies from disease, and his culture dies with him. The book is deeply sad but also hopeful in its portrayal of human connection.
Ideal Reader
A thoughtful, empathetic 11 to 14 year old who is ready for a story with deep emotional weight. It is perfect for a child interested in history, survival, and anthropology, or for a young person feeling profoundly different or lonely. It speaks to the child who asks big questions about justice, loss, and what it means to belong.
Parent Prep
Parents should be prepared to discuss the genocide of Native American peoples. The author's introduction provides essential context. Previewing the first few chapters, which describe the attacks on Ishi's village, is recommended. This is a book that benefits greatly from co-reading or at least an open conversation, as it deals with complex and sorrowful realities. A parent has just had a conversation with their child about a difficult historical topic like the treatment of Native Americans, and the child is struggling to connect the abstract historical facts with human emotion. Or, a child has expressed feeling like no one understands them, a deep sense of being an outsider.
Age Experience
A younger reader (10-11) will likely connect most with the survival aspects: Ishi's skill with a bow, his knowledge of nature, and the adventure of his life in the wild. They will understand his loneliness on a personal level. An older reader (12-14) will be better able to grasp the immense scale of the tragedy, the themes of cultural extinction, the ethics of the situation, and the profound historical implications of Ishi's life.
What Makes It Special
Unlike many historical books for this age, this is a biography written with deep personal connection and intimacy. The author's husband was Alfred Kroeber, the lead anthropologist. This gives the story an unparalleled tone of respect, authenticity, and gentleness. It avoids fictionalizing Ishi's interior life, instead showing his character through his actions and relationships. It is a quiet, meditative story, not an action-packed adventure.
Read plot summary
The book chronicles the life of Ishi, the last surviving member of California's Yahi tribe. It is split into two parts. The first details the Yahi way of life and the violent encroachment of white settlers that led to the tribe's destruction and forced the last few survivors into hiding. The second part begins in 1911, when a starving and solitary Ishi is discovered. He is taken in by anthropologists at the University of California, Berkeley, where he lives for his remaining years in a museum, sharing his language, skills, and stories with his new friends.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
Ishi had to follow many new 'rules' in the modern world. Which rule seemed strangest or hardest for him to learn? What rules from Ishi's Yahi world do you think his new friends found strange?
2
The anthropologists called Ishi their friend, but he also lived in their museum. Do you think their relationship was a true friendship? What makes a friendship equal?
3
At the end of his life, Ishi asked to be buried in the traditional Yahi way. Why do you think this was so important to him after years of living in a different culture?
4
Theodora Kroeber writes about 'the long concealment'. Why did the last Yahi stay hidden for so long, and what does their fear tell us about the world outside their hiding place?
