Book Reviews of Broken Pattern.

1. "Whether for entertainment or historical knowledge, Broken Pattern is absorbing reading. Its central character is Sevansi, an Indian maiden whose life of sunlight and shadow is traced from childhood through courtship, marriage, family life, and death, through the coming of the white man and the disruption it brought. The ancient ways of the Hopi, their intricate and meaningful rituals and patterns of daily living are accurately portrayed through the lives of Sevansi and her family. She grinds the corn into meal until she has enough to present to the mother of Hohtski, the young brave she desires as a 'sleeping mate,' and is accepted by her future mother-in-law. Then comes the long ritual of preparing for a Hopi ceremonial marriage....The time-honored customs must be followed before the couple can be declared man and wife, then they are expected to fulfill all the duties of adult Hopi. Sevansi takes up the work of the women in the tribe, and Hohtski becomes a full-fledged brave, going on hunting expeditions and on trips to catch the young eaglets used in their sacrificial rites, training as a dancer for their colorful rain dances and other ceremonies, planting the corn and beans that make up much of their daily fare.

"On one foray, Hohtski is killed in a fall, leaving Sevansi with an infant daughter to raise alone. She eventually marries another brave and has other children, but her love for Hohski is still a part of her. She and Kahzro build a bright future, but it is broken by raiding Utes who kill him and their son, among others. The Hopi pattern is further broken and forever doomed by the coming of the Spanish invaders. The traditions and environment of the colorful Hopi Indians are authentically portrayed in this lovely story of a vanished era." (Thelma Scott Kiser, The Sunday Independent (Ashland KY), March 2, 1986)

2. "Vada Carlson, in her newest book Broken Pattern has written both an enchanting story that will entertain most readers, and a complete history of the life and times of the Hopi Indians. The story hinges around Sevansi and Hohtski who, from childhood, are destined to be 'sleeping mates' although Lamana, one of Sevansi's closest friends has other plans.

"Mrs. Carlson left nothing to chance, and because of her thoroughness in talking with Hopi historians, her book provides an authentic look into the traditions of the Hopi. The reader shares Sevansi and Hohtski's courtship, marriage, their happiness and sorrow. It is an enchanting love story, and one will find in the characters many of the traits so evident in any of life's many classes. There's Dawa, Sevansi's lifelong friend and confidant, So-oh the older one who also is the village gossip, and Honwayma, the unwanted suitor.

"Although I enjoyed the simplicity of the love story, the book was fascinating to me because of the authentic portrayal of Hopi life, and anyone with a speck of interest in our native Americans will learn valuable information regarding the Hopi's beliefs and time-honored customs. I was surprised to learn of the gentleness of the Hopi people; their life for the most part was one of tranquility and tradition. Winters sometimes handed them suffering, but their devotion to 'Great Being,' 'Cloud People,' 'Rain People,' and 'Father Sun' seemed to instill them with a calmness and optimism that made things turn out right, much of the time....

"The book is loaded with Indian names and words, but the author obviously was aware that not knowing what these meant would detract from the tale. She thoughtfully provided the reader with a glossary of about 100 Hopi names and definitions, handily placed in the back of the book. Only a few minutes reading and you know that asquali is the feminine way to say thank you;  aduu is an adult's shoulder blanket; meh-we means daughter-in-law and piki is tissue thin corn bread. In fact, learning these Indian words is nearly as pleasurable as reading the book.

"The manner in which food was prepared and clothes made is almost a story within a story and is bound to please anyone with the least interest in American history. You may be able to tell that I truly enjoyed this book and recommend it highly to those bent on this type of reading, which is aptly described by the author: 'Sunlight and Shadows on Hopi History.' " (Hale G. Joy, Ellsworth American (Ellsworth, ME), March 6, 1986)

3. "Despite the subtitle, this is a novel. Twenty years ago Carlson and Qoyawayma (Elizabeth Q. White) teamed up on White's autobiography which provided an insider's view of the conflict between being Hopi but raised, educationally, in the Anglo world. This novel has the same informed insight. The setting is that almost mythical time when the Spaniards first came to Hopi." (W. David Laird, Books of the Southwest, no. 330, May 1986)