William Styron, an American novelist believed that “a great book should leave you with many experiences, and slightly exhausted at the end. You live several lives while reading.” When a person reads a book, he or she experiences the sights, actions, and feelings of the characters. He or she is transported to another world and culture. One author, Susan Power, takes the reader to a reservation and exposes him or her to the beliefs of Native American culture. In Susan’s novel, The Grass Dancer, she displays the cultural ideas of Dakota Indians which includes their belief in magic, their interpretation of dreams, and the important meaning of dance. Magic plays a significant role throughout The Grass Dancer. Charlene Thunder, one of the main
