Blaze of the Great Cliff

First Place, Arizona Book Awards, Children’s Literature, 2004 !!!

More than anything, young Blaze wants to be a man of his Sinagua tribe. He dreams of being a great hunter and warrior. But his people of the Great Cliff are a peaceful farming tribe and believe that learning the skills of war will anger the gods and worsen the drought that already threatens all the peoples of the desert. And then, on his first great journey, Blaze discovers the great Hohokam people and their game of guayball, a brutal and exciting sport played by both boys and men. Drawn to that culture which respects fighters above all others, Blaze must decide where his true spirit lies. Enjoy the excitement, passion and danger of the final days of America’s great cliff dwellings. In a world threatened by drought and war, one boy strives to grow up, and do the right thing for himself and his people. While this is a work of fiction, the Great Cliff is an actual cliff dwelling known as Montezuma Castle. The Sinagua people lived in Montezuma Castle from approximately 1100 AD to 1400 AD. No one knows why the cliff dwellings were abandoned or what occurred in the final days. This novel tells what might have happened.

Click here to read the first two chapters.

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Blaze of the Great Cliff cover illustration by Sara DuBois

To find out about other books written by Mark Fidler, return to author’s home page