As a teacher this is something I would use in the classroom for an assignment. Great detail for a very important period for the Ojibwe. Love that a timeline, glossary, and maps were included. The pages are formatted well enough to keep student attention.

I am always on the hunt for children's books about various indigenous groups that are not white washed but instead written by someone from within the given group. I love the design of the book. It included easy to read information with historical paintings and drawings, photographs of artifacts, maps, and quotes all combined with graphic design elements. This book was easily read by my nine year old and held her attention throughout. She was eager to share what she was learning. I appreciated this book as well because I also learned new information. I hope to see more books by this author.

Thank you so much to Capstone and Netgalley for the ebook to read and review.

Another heartbreaking story about the native tribes and the hardships they were put through. It’s really so sad knowing that these people have had to go through all these trying times all because people wanted their land.

This was a really fascinating fact file as I didn’t know about this piece of history before, but I’m always happy to learn more about what the native tribes had to go through. They’d signed a contract and stuck to it on their side, but then when the govementment decided it wasn’t good enough broke their’s for selfish gain. Making the entire tribes go further out in the wrong time of year, purging the groups of their family member’s and sending them on a harrowing journey.

I really enjoyed learning about this event that occurred to them in history. It was so detailed with so many extra facts and pieces of information. I hated what happened, but learning about it was great, they really struggled which was heartbreaking, but they knew right from wrong and had great leaders for their tribes that would go through anything to keep them safe and be given what belonged to them.

These are the pieces of ignored history that I wish were taught more, it’s so important for people and children to know what truly happened, to understand the struggles and difficulties that the native tribes had to experience. To learn what the governments did to them just because they wanted to. It’s all really sad and sometimes difficult to read about but so very vital.

The Sandy Lake Tragedy is a piece of history I was unfamiliar with. This book makes the history easy to access through clear writing and great text features. It breaks my heart that this is a part of history but I am grateful that books are being written to educate people about the past.

I live in Choctaw Nation in SE Oklahoma, so I am very familiar with the overall history of the Native American's struggle with the American Government. However, I was not familiar with the Ojibwe's personal experience of treaties broken and this particular incident where 400 tribal members perished due to American negligence. This was an informative and sobering read and I think it would be an excellent resource for middle schoolers learning about Native American history and relations.

Thank you to NetGalley, Capstone Press, and Emily Faith Johnson for the eARC of this book!

A very informative children’s non-fiction book, very readable for a non-American who knew nothing of this story! Making history accessible.

Powerful and Informative Look at a Forgotten Chapter in Native American History 🌲

Check out my review on YouTube! @lifewithladyO #TheSandyLakeTragedy #NetGalley

The Sandy Lake Tragedy is a deeply moving and eye-opening read that sheds much-needed light on a heartbreaking time in Native American history that many may not know about. 💔📚 Emily Faith Johnson did a wonderful job compiling and presenting the facts—her dedication to telling the truth of the Ojibwe people shines through on every page. 👏🏽

This book is full of insightful, heart-wrenching history that must continue to be told. 🗣️ We owe it to the Ojibwe and other Native communities to keep their stories alive so that history is neither lost nor repeated. 📖🪶

One piece of constructive feedback: while the content is rich and powerful, the format leans heavily toward a textbook style. 📘 To fully engage today’s young readers, I’d love to see future editions incorporate a more narrative or interactive approach to bring the events and emotions even closer to heart. 💡

That said, the meat is there. 🍽️ We walk alongside the Ojibwe on their version of the Trail of Tears, feeling the weight of broken treaties, governmental betrayal, and devastating loss. 💔 We witness the deadly impact of disease due to overcrowding and poor living conditions, and we end with a sense of hope as Chief Buffalo—joined by New York Senator George Briggs—bravely advocates for justice, ultimately gaining an audience with President Fillmore. ✊🏽🇺🇸

📚 Overall, this was a great read—a sobering but vital addition to the conversation around Indigenous history and resilience. Highly recommended for classrooms, libraries, and any reader committed to learning the full story of American history.

While I grew up in the land of the Ojibwe, I never knew the specifics of the Sandy Lake Tragedy. This book was very informative and easy to read. Definitely a great book for young readers.

I received a copy of this eBook from netGalley for a honest review.

This book is a moving memorial to the people who lost their lives in Sandy Lake and the people who peacefully made their way to Washington to fight for their rights. I learned a lot and was deeply moved by this book,

The Sandy Lake Tragedy details how the treaties made between the Ojibwe and the U.S. government led to the tragedy in Sandy Lake, Minnesota. The treaties they signed gave mining rights to the government in the Great Lakes area where the Ojibwe lived, while still allowing the Ojibwe use of the land for hunting and fishing purposes. The Ojibwe would also receive annual payments from the government for those mining rights. The Sandy Lake Tragedy is the story of how the governor of Minnesota hatched a scheme that violated those treaties and sought to remove the Ojibwe from their lands.

I was fascinated by this book! I knew a little about the Ojibwe people, and I was aware of the long and terrible history of broken treaties between the U.S. government and countless indigenous tribes, but I had no knowledge of the Sandy Lake Tragedy. Emily Faith Johnson tells the story clearly and engagingly, and she supplements the story wonderfully with timelines, vintage photos, and a glossary of terms. I highly recommend this book for school libraries and upper elementary classrooms. I'll definitely be getting a copy for my classroom.

The Sandy Lake Tragedy takes the reader beyond the Trail of Tears to discover who the Ojibwe people are, what really happened to them, and why it is still important today. I learned so much about this dark stain on U.S. history and was reminded that it is vital to learn about these events to ensure they never happen again. Photos and illustrations bring the text to life. Perfect for all readers middle elementary and above. Highly recommend!
*I received a complimentary copy of this e-book courtesy of Capstone Press through NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is the first book of this type about our Native American neighbors that I have come across. I loved it. I read the ARC out loud to my kids and we had some really great discussions about what they experienced and how it is mirrored in other, later minorities in our country. I didn't know anything about the Ojibwe people, and I loved learning about them. What strong, resilient, intelligent people they were. I absolutely love that they would not be controlled. Five stars. If you want to teach your kids about diversity and inclusion, this is a great book to add to your list.

The author, Emily Faith Johnson, wrote a clear and concise book about some of the forgotten “American” history. It is perfectly explained for the young minds who will be reading it and for the older minds who are Interested in learning about who occupied this land initially. It is easily understood and not boring, so the kiddos will stay engaged for sure.

This is a part of history that has been forgotten or is just simply overlooked. I am happy that Author Emily Faith Johnson put this wonderful book together, in remembrance of these fine folks who sacrificed so much and did it while maintaining their honor.

Thank you NetGalley, Emily Faith Johnson, and Capstone for the ARC of this wonderful book! This book is also a reminder of the injustices that are still present this day (Unfortunately).

In The Sandy Lake Tragedy, Emily Faith Johnson details the Ojibwes' tribulations regarding broken treaties and loss of life as well as discusses their victories regarding keeping Ojibwe land and hunting rights. Johnson uses short, titled chapters, quotes from Ojibwe leaders for each chapter, and vocabulary words in bold font to aid young readers' reading comprehension. Johnson retains readers' attention through Native American pictures, artwork, maps, and fun facts. The book is well-organized consisting of a table of contents, titled chapters, a time line of Ojibwe events, a glossary, and additional web links to deepen the readers' knowledge regarding the Ojibwe people.

Mark your calendars for August 1, 2025 and add this to your library. This is suitable for upper elementary and middle-school students.

Thank you #Netgalley and #CapstonePress for my advanced reader copy. I appreciate being a part of this book launch.

Most people, in the United States, have heard about the Trial of Tears, where Native Americans were removed from their homes and forced to walk to new lands the that government had assigned to them.

Like that great tragedy, this book, about the Sandy Lake Tragedy, talks about something not quite as horrible but with the same intentions, to kill off the native people, and remove them from their lands.

The books talks about how the Ojibwe people, who lived in the Michigan area, were forced to travel to meet with the Indian Agent, to get the supplies they had been promised by the government. However, the government had no intention of giving them the supplies or money, and hoped they would all just die, or move away.

This did not go over well.

Written from researched documents, as well as stories that were passed down byt he Ojibwe people, who still commemorate the tragedy, where so many people died, waiting for provisons that never came.

This easy to follow book is written by a member of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa.

Good to have a book out that talks about this horrible point in history.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review. This book is coming out the 1st of August 2025.

After finishing "The Sandy Lake Tragedy," I would recommend it for a younger age group, particularly children living on a reservation. They would be able to understand and relate to the historical facts presented in the book. It would be a good fit for a school curriculum that teaches Indigenous history, such as those in California. I believe the content is more suitable for junior high students and above, as well as for basic Native Studies programs at the university level. I found the book informative and straightforward. I think that those unfamiliar with how the U.S. government treated Indigenous people might struggle to understand the atrocities described in the book. For example, it would be like explaining blood quantum to someone who is non-Indigenous.

One of the tragic stories of how Native Americans were treated by the US government. The text is easy to understand but does an amazing job covering the events, and the illustrations really let you see what it was like, as there are numerous photos of the people and places involved.
This is a great book for kids to learn about this particular tragedy, and also to learn how there are so many sources still available to learn from.
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this

The Sandy Lake Tragedy is a great book that everyone should read to understand early American history. Many people do not understand the extent of the government's wrong doings when it comes to Native Americans. I had never heard of the Sandy Lake Tragedy before, and it was heartbreaking to read about.

This book does a great job of presenting the information in an easy to read and understand format. It also does a great job at the end of mentioning fishing issues that some Native Americans have encountered showing that the issues are not all in the past. It is important to honor the treaties even now and allow them to live their lives as they choose.

I would definitely recommend this book for young readers or readers who want to learn more about this time period.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a digital ARC. This did not impact my opinion. I teach predominantly Native American students, and I know I will be getting a copy for my classroom because this is often left of of history books.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me review this book. It’s crazy how the US Government cane in and made treaties, only to break them and never intending to honor them. This was an informative book about this tragedy.

As an European, I know very little about the history of Native Americans and / or USA. So this was a good starting point for me.

The book very briefly describes a tragic event of the Ojiebwe tribe after the US government does not fulfill its agreements. A story that should not exist, but should not be forgotten either...