Uplifting stories from the billings gazette local news. Counting coup chronicles the senior season of high school basketballer sharon laforge, a fullblooded crow indian living in the land where custer made his last stand. Ultimately, colton reports, sharon laforge has counted many coups. Counting coup won the 2000 international e book of the year award, and the frankfurt ebook award in nonfiction in 2000. In the book counting coup, colton, who has written for sports illustrated, chronicles the season of the hardin high girls basketball team in the mid1990s. Sep 22, 2019 patrick radden keefes new book explores the abduction of jean mcconville, a mother of 10, from her home in 1972, while also offering a broader history of the troubles. Counting coup in this extraordinary work of journalism, larry colton journeys into the world of montanas crow indians and follows the struggles of a talented, moody, charismatic young woman named sharon in native american tradition, a warrior gained honor and glory by counting coup touching his enemy in battle and living to tell the tale.
Ian frasiers on the rez, and this better book by larry colton. Counting coups sharon laforge, larry colton reunite 25 years later for a healing embrace sharon laforge and larry colton reunited two decades after the the controversial 2000 book counting coup changed both their lives. There was a time when counting coup meant literally touching ones enemy in battle and living to talk about it. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading counting coup. Capturing the divisive racism between whites and native americans and the hardscrabble existence of a small rural town, counting coup tells the story of the. Montanapbs the great montana read week 9 delves into the. But when he saw graceful sharon laforge shooting hoops, he was drawn to her athleticism and fascinated by the dichotomy between her oncourt focus and her. His description didnt make it sound like mucha book about high school girls basketball on a montana indian reservation. On the surface, sharon laforge had everything going for her. The girl is sharon laforge, the daughter of a longabsent father and a hopelessly alcoholic mother. A true story of basketball and honor on the little big horn kindle edition by colton, larry. Coltons third book, counting coup, chronicled a dramatic season of a high school girls basketball team in montana that was competing for a state championship. A true story of basketball and honor on the little big horn 1st edition by larry colton paperback, 434 pages.
Books walking lifes tightrope as a basketball player on the. Oct 30, 2000 books walking lifes tightrope as a basketball player on the crow reservation. In plains indian tradition, a warrior gained honor and glory by counting coup, touching his enemy in battle and living to tell the tale. She is a gifted athlete and will lead her school team to a state championship, but no college recruiter will ever show an interest in her.
But its real strength is in coltons depiction of the lives lived off the playing floor on the crow reservation. When my book first came out, they displayed it on the sports shelves, said larry colton last night at carroll college in a group discussion regarding his controversial book, counting coup. Counting coupin this extraordinary work of journalism, larry colton journeys into the world of montanas crow indians and follows the struggles of a talented, moody, charismatic young woman named sharon laforge, a gifted basketball player and a descendant of one of george armstrong custers indian scouts. Counting coup is ostensibly about senior sharon laforge and the hardin lady bulldogs basketball team.
Katherine dunn, author of geek love, observed that colton placed his subjects in the intricately tangled social contexts that lend weight and meaning far beyond the game. The book told an intimate story of her life, polarized the crow. Sep 21, 2000 counting coup in this extraordinary work of journalism, larry colton journeys into the world of montanas crow indians and follows the struggles of a talented, moody, charismatic young woman named sharon laforge, a gifted basketball player and a descendant of one of george armstrong custers indian scouts. He focuses on the playersespecially talented sharon laforge and their relationships with their teammates and coaches, but he also explores. A true story of basketball and honor on the little big horn, which went into poignant detail about life on. Sharon laforge moves on the basketball court with fluidity and grace driven by an intuitive understanding of the game. The great montana read week 9 delves into the story of sharon laforge, in larry coltons book counting coup.
Laforge was the daughter of a teenage mother, who eventually becomes her absentee mother and torturer. Theme counting coup by larry colton the theme of the book would have to be the competitiveness of sports. In native american tradition, a warrior gained honor and glory by counting coup touching his en. Counting coup by larry colton posted on march 20, 2016 by luvtoread synopsis. Although colton manages to give a face to the different players, he is particularly fascinated by 17yearold sharon laforge, an extremely talented american indian who hopes to earn a college basketball scholarship, but whose future is threatened by several factors, including an absentee father, an alcoholic mother, a possessive and abusive. Counting coup in this extraordinary work of journalism, larry colton journeys into the world of montanas crow indians and follows the struggles of a talented, moody, charismatic young woman named sharon laforge, a gifted basketball player and a. But counting coup is far more than just a sports story or a portrait of youth. Genre nonfiction written documentaryjournal history larry colton, a retired professional pitcher turned journalist, set out to write about the hardin bulldogs basketball team on the crow reservation. The only sign of energy in the town is the ubiquity of basketball. Counting coup in this extraordinary work of journalism, larry colton journeys into the world of montanas crow indians and follows the struggles of a talented, moody, charismatic young woman named sharon laforge, a gifted basketball player and a descendant of one of george armstrong. Say nothing unearths buried secrets in northern ireland. Sep 21, 2000 counting coup might not have ever appeared on my to read list, described on its cover as, a true story of basketball and honour on the little big horn, primarily because i have little knowledge of either competitive basketball or life on an indian reservation, but appear it did, and upon reading i am left feeling grateful that this story was written and that it found its way into my hands.
The book told an intimate story of her life, polarized the crow community, and incensed hardins nonnatives for portrayals of racism. A true story of basketball and honor in the little bighorn was recommended to me by my stepdad when he and my mom visited last month. A true story of basketball and honor on the little big horn. Laforge was a star basketball player from hardin in the 1990s and the subject of the controversial book counting coup. The social dilemmas faced by presentday native americans are revealed in this journalistic look at a high school girls basketball team in crow, montana. Although the books format follows her high school basketball. Did the authors depiction of life on the reservation seem true. Counting coup in this extraordinary work of journalism.
Oct 01, 2001 set on the banks of the little big horn river, counting coup is sharon s unforgettable storyand the story of todays forgotten americans fighting for the victories that count. Sharon laforge was the reluctant focus of counting coup, a story about basketball on and around the crow reservation. Counting coup, by larry colton, is available new in trade paperback from warner books, 448 pp, isbn 0446677558. Counting coupin this extraordinary work of journalism, larry colton journeys into the world of montanas crow indians and fo. Should a white male outsider write a book about a teenage crow girl. While an informative look at life on a crow reservation in montana, counting coup had too much basketball. A nonfiction account set on a crow reservation in montana, this tells the story of high school student sharon laforge, a powerful basketball player and her and the lady bulldogs quest to be state champions. Books walking lifes tightrope as a basketball player on the crow. Counting coups sharon laforge, larry colton reunite 25 years. A true story of basketball and honor on the little big horn by larry colton about the book winner of the frankfurt ebook award for best nonfiction book in native american tradition, a warrior gained glory by touching his enemy in battle and living to tell the tale. In native american tradition, a warrior gained honor and glory by c. Counting coup in this extraordinary work of journalism, larry colton journeys into the world of montanas crow indians and follows the struggles of a talented, moody, charismatic young woman named sharon laforge, a gifted basketball player and a descendant of one of george armstrong custers indian scouts. In native american tradition, a warrior gained honor and glory by counting coup touching his enemy in battle and living to tell the tale. A true story of basketball and honor on the little big horn by colton, larry author paperback 2001.
Counting coup a true story of basketball and honor on the little big horn. And, despite the great skills, courage, and teambuilding attitude she has, she appears destined to fall into the maze of traps set before her. Counting coup in this extraordinary work of journalism, larry colton journeys into the world of montanas crow indians and follows the struggles of a talented, moody. What can women like sharon laforge do to escape the cycle. Counting coups sharon laforge, larry colton reunite 25. Did the authors depiction of life in a small town seem true. Sharon laforge, star of the hardin basketball team, is the books focus.
I found it a great story of triumph that sharon could rise above her circumstances and. The book told an intimate story of her life, polarized the 18 years after pulitzernominated book rocked hardin, sharon laforge is counting coup one day at a time girls basketball. The story of sharon laforge reminded me of a student at inchelium high school. This is a modern story of counting coup that follows a talented young woman named sharon laforge, a gifted basketball player and a descendant of one of george armstrong custers indian scouts. Sharon laforge and larry colton reunited two decades after the the controversial 2000 book counting coup changed both their lives. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and.
Sharon laforge stands on the land surrounding her home on the crow agency. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. The team is comprised of both crow indian and white girls, and is led by sharon laforge, a moody, undisciplined, yet talented. Whatever became of sharon laforge not afraid, who was written. A true story of basketball and honor on the little big horn author.
What forms of racism did you encounter in this book. Shes intelligent, attractive, stoic, tough and determined. Talk focuses on controversial, lauded book counting coup. Open library is an open, editable library catalog, building towards a web page for every book ever published. The team is comprised of both crow indian and white girls, and is led by sharon laforge, a moody, undisciplined, yet talented native american who hopes to be the first female player from hardin to earn a basketball scholarship to college. However, the books title, counting coup, refers to a plains indian tradition, in which a warrior can gain honor by touching an enemys chest in battle without killing him. It was the early 1990s, and colton had gone to the crow reservation in montana to puzzle. In other words, it wasnt my cup of tea at all, but it was an eyeopener. Counting coup a true story of basketball powells books. Theres a book for that with plenty of extra time at home, and a lot of us in search of a sports fix, now would be the perfect time to pick up a new book. Counting coup in this extraordinary work of journalism, larry colton journeys into the world of montanas crow indians and follows the struggles of a talented, moody, charismatic young woman named sharon laforge, a gifted basketball player and a descendant of. Now it means playing winning hoops and dominating ones opponent. Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers. He focuses on the playersespecially talented sharon laforgeand their relationships with their teammates and coaches, but he also explores.
Counting coup is the story of the girls varsity basketball team of hardin high school in crow, montana. Counting coup by larry colton grand central publishing. She is a gifted athlete and will lead her school team to a state championship, but no college recruiter will ever. Still part of the native american tradition, today the phrase means playing winning hoops and dominating ones opponents. Books walking lifes tightrope as a basketball player on. Mar 29, 2005 i found my copy a flawed and sometimes frustrating book, but one that gave me a look at the world that i havent found anywhere else, for what thats worth. We all make bad choices, and sharon laforge is certainly no exception.
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