Talking White Owl by Valerie Hagenbush follows the titular character, Viktor Talking White Owl, a teenager raised near his tribal homeland who is wholly unaware of his deeper connection to political forces shaping the region’s future. As he grows into adulthood, he gradually uncovers the role his mother, a military pilot, played in a covert initiative tied to Indigenous sovereignty. Behind the scenes, the Rawakota, an Indigenous group long assumed to be gone, has spent decades embedding itself in powerful institutions, building the capability to counter global powers and recover land taken under false promises. As Viktor builds a life within mainstream society, he is drawn back to unresolved questions about cultural identity, self-determination, and inherited duty, forced to consider how his path intersects with a broader struggle for his people's future.

“A day of reckoning is inescapable, but it won't be Indians who are caught off-guard; the Rawakota will see to that.” Talking White Owl by Valerie Hagenbush is a fantastic novel that goes a long way in maintaining the delicate balance between powerful storytelling and ethical, cultural responsibility. Hagenbush offers a depiction of life on a reservation and the weight of generational trauma, systemic neglect, and identity conflict that comes along with it. The linking of past atrocities to modern analogies taps into a huge range of injustices, referencing MK-Ultra, government-sanctioned experiments, and abuses. The writing is tight, and while the book is lengthy, there's little that slows it down. Viktor is the clear protagonist, but I love the strong female representation, particularly Lt. Col. Howling Wind, whose proactive responses and critical leadership roles defy stereotypical gender roles, with rapid and capable mobilization. Overall, an excellent read. Very highly recommended.

Talking White Owl by Valerie Hagenbush is a modern-day thriller that sees Native Americans organizing to take back the world of their ancestors that was stolen by the arrival of Europeans. Wars, treaties, and endless lies have seen the once proud and self-sufficient tribes reduced to government handouts and an often meaningless existence on marginal land in remote reservations. Fifteen-year-old Viktor Talking White Owl is unaware of the future mapped out for him by his Air Force mother, Constance Howling Wind, and a long-forgotten Native American tribe. The Rawakota were thought to be assimilated into the Lakota tribe over a century earlier, but they had a plan. Viktor, gifted both academically and physically, will be the lynchpin of an audacious plan to reclaim the tribes’ long-lost lands. The Rawakota have infiltrated the highest levels of American politics, the military, and business. They have the power to defy anyone once their plan is put into operation. 

Talking White Owl is a monumental exposition of what makes Native American tradition, culture, and folklore important and compelling. Author Valerie Hagenbush has created a deeply likable and commanding character in Viktor Talking White Owl. I particularly appreciated the character’s self-effacing and humble demeanor and attitude. Viktor certainly is a stunningly talented young man, but he was also able to rise above his obvious talents and show empathy, compassion, and love for those less gifted or successful. I loved that the depth of this book allowed the author to fully explore Native American rituals, lifestyle, and their complete reverence for their ancestors. The story arcs revolving around Viktor's great-grandparents, their lives, and their deaths were deeply poignant and sad but equally triumphal. Although the theme is based around gaining back the land and dignity of their forebears, ultimately, this story is about family, love, and maintaining those deep historical connections no matter the current circumstances. It is clear that Talking White Owl’s story is far from complete, and I hope the author is working on the next book. I loved this solid, powerful read and highly recommend it.