
Spirit of the West tells the story of Jessie, a ten-year-old Nez Perce girl in 1911 who moves with her family from the reservation to work on a large Oregon ranch. Eager to impress her new friends and assimilate, Jessie initially tries to distance herself from her cultural upbringing. However, when a valuable Appaloosa foal gets lost and is threatened by a cougar, Jessie realizes that her traditional Nez Perce skills are exactly what's needed to find and protect it. This chapter book explores themes of cultural identity, self-acceptance, family loyalty, and bravery, all set against the backdrop of historical ranch life and the natural wilderness.
In 1911, when her family leaves the reservation to live and work on a large Oregon ranch, ten-year-old Jessie decides to forget her Nez Percé upbringing only to realize its value when she relies on traditional skills to find a lost Appaloosa foal and protect it from being attacked by a cougar.