The People of Twelve Thousand Winters

Ten-year-old Walking Turtle is of the Lenni Lenape tribe. He lives with his family in a small village alongside the Passaic River in what will become northern New Jersey. They have a relatively peaceful life, with nature offering up a bounty of resources for food and shelter, amply meeting their needs.

Walking Turtle is close to his younger cousin, Little Talk. He feels protective of Little Talk, who has a difficulty walking. Together they roam the forests near their village, with Walki…