LSSL 5361
Book Reviews
Culture # 4
Book #1
Alexie,
S., & Forney, E. (2015). The absolutely true diary of a part-time
Indian. London: Andersen Press. ISBN 9780329653165
a) The
Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian follows
the story of 14 year old boy, Junior, who lives with his family on the Spokane
Indian Reservation in Washington State. Junior suffers from
hydrocephalus, which is the reason for his short stature, seizures, poor
eye-sight, stuttering, and lisping. Because of this condition, Junior has
been picked on for most of his life. The story is written in a diary form
which starts at the beginning of the school year and ends at the beginning of
summer. The main plot of the story is that Junior is frustrated with poor
conditions his school is; which comes to light when Junior receives a geometry
textbook which his mother had used when she was in school. Angry and
upset, Junior lashes out by throwing the book at his teacher, which breaks his
nose. When his teacher, Mr. P. visits Junior at his home; he convinces
Junior to transfer to a high school that is 22 miles away, which is wealthier
than his own school. The majority of the story deals with how Junior
interacts and deals with his new classmates where Junior; which have different
rules and values compared to the those he had witnessed in the
reservation. The book also examines the family struggles that Junior
faced during his year in school; which include the death of his grandmother by
a drunk driver and a family friend being shot in the face after a fight over
alcohol.
b) The
book is written in an episodic diary format. It is told through Juniors
written account of what occurred along with cartoon drawings that comically
depict on his situations and other illustrations that are more serious in
nature depicting important people in his life. The story is a modern
realistic novel that is contemporary and uses humor to convey its
message. This book is a great example for students to explore a different
culture, other than one that they are familiar with. They can also
experience consequences vicariously through Juniors decisions. This is a
great book that helps transmit culture; and Sherman Alexie does an excellent
job in portraying Native American life.
c) The
following review excerpt can be found at https://www.theguardian.com/books/2008/oct/04/teenage.sherman.alexie
Some books are like
living organisms. They seem to breathe, laugh, weep, joke, confront, meet you
eye to eye. Maybe it's the combination of drawings, pithy turns of phrase,
candour, tragedy, despair and hope that makes this more than an entertaining
read, more than an engaging story about a North American Indian kid who makes
it out of a poor, dead-end background without losing his connection with who he
is and where he's from. The writing occasionally relies too heavily on the
cartoonesque quip, but mostly it is muscular and snappy with a knack for capturing
the detail and overview with wrenching spareness. One chapter is a gem of love
and heartbreak. "And a Partridge in a Pear Tree" covers barely two
pages and yet it evokes so much as it describes Junior's dad's return from a
drunken binge over the holiday period, then the offer to his son of a
five-dollar bill scrunched in his boot: "Man that thing smelled like booze
and fear and failure." Opening this book is like meeting a friend you'd
never make in your actual life and being given a piece of his world, inner and
outer. It's humane, authentic and, most of all, it speaks.
d) Readers
also enjoyed If I Ever Get Out of Here by Eric
Gansworth; After Tupac and D Foster by Jacqueline
Woodson; A Step from Heaven by An Na; American Born
Chinese by Gene Luen Yang; and Claudette Calvin: Twice Toward
Justice by Phillp M. Hoose
Book #2
Sneve,
V. D., & Himler, R. (1993).The Navajos. New York: Holiday House. ISBN 09780823410392
a) The book tells the story of how the Navajos
came to be. In the beginning there were
four gods, the Water Bearer, the House God, the Fire God and the Talking God. These four gods were the ones that together created
the earth and the first man and woman. Man
and woman had a child who was responsible for creating four clans of people
from which the Navajo descended. The
entire book tells different aspects of the history of the Navajo; from their
meeting with the white man; to family life; to the battles they endured. We are also able to see where the Navajos are
today.
b) The book tells stories that
were passed down from generation to generation as well those that are written
in history books. The pictures are
inviting and uses colors that are soothing and be found in the southwest.
The
Navajos: A First Americans Book is a brief but broad overview of the history
and culture of the Navajos. I found it informative and interesting, and all of
the facts matched up with what I have learned about the Navajos from other
sources. The illustrations, too, seemed well-researched. It takes twenty
minutes tops to read, and would be very good for elementary kids learning about
the Native Americans.
d) Readers
will also enjoy Sioux by Kevin
Cunningham; The Navajo by Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve; and How the Stars Fell into the Sky: A Navajo
Legend by Jerrie Oughton.
Book
#3
Bruchac,
J. (2006).Geronimo. New York: Scholastic. ISBN
9780439353601
a) The book tells the story of famous
Native American Geronimo. In this book
Geronimo is telling his life story to his grandson. He recounts stories from
his entire life; that include his time fighting Mexican and American Soldiers; his
time appearing in President Theodore Roosevelt’s inauguration parade; and his
time in prison trains. He also recounts how he was betrayed by “White Eyes” as
well as his forced removal from the southwest to Florida.
b) The book tells the life of one
of the most famous Native Americans. We
lay witness to the treatment of the Apache Indians by Americans. Though not flattering, it is important that we
see how the United States government at the time treated them.
c) The
following review can be found at https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/joseph-bruchac/geronimo/
“You
will remember it all,” Geronimo says to his grandson at Fort Sill, Okla., in
1908. Imprisoned there, Geronimo is at the end of his long life, and Willie is
to remember and tell Geronimo’s story: the prison trains and the forced moves,
betrayals by the White Eyes, fighting against Mexican and American soldiers,
removal of the Apaches from the Southwest to Florida and Geronimo’s ride in
Theodore Roosevelt’s inaugural parade. But for Willie to narrate the tale is
limiting, distancing the reader and sometimes making Geronimo himself seem
peripheral to Willie’s own story; any potential drama is sapped from the
narrative. It’s a story told rather than brought to the great, dramatic life it
could have lived on the page. Also, since the heart of the narrative is the
journey to Florida, maps would have helped readers follow the trek. Overall,
though, this is an important, carefully researched work that will fill a gap in
most collections
d) Readers
also enjoyed Elijah of Buxton by
Christopher Paul Curtis, The Extra by
Kathryn Lasky; and No Easy Answers by
Donald R Gallo.
Book
#4
Dorris,
M. (1997).Sees Behind Trees. Livonia, MI: Seedlings.
ISBN 9780786802241
a) The
book tells the story of a young Native American by the name of Walnut. Unfortunately Walnut has a sight problem;
which is a problem with an upcoming test to see if he is ready to be an
adult. The test consists of shooting
arrows to a specified target; and with his visual impairment; Walnut is worried
that he will not succeed. He is able to
incorporate the use of his other senses and is able to pass the test to become
and adult; and in doing so receives the name of “Sees Behind Trees”. Though he passed the test, Sees Behind Trees
has a hard time believing in himself.
The books takes in a journey where Sees Behind Trees faces a difficult task
but we are witness to his triumph in this journey into manhood.
b) The story is marvelously written that is a coming
of age story. Traditions, customs and
folklore are abundant throughout this book that takes place in the 16th
century. This is a great book for young
girls and boys that are about to take their own journey of maturity.
c) The following review can be found at https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-7868-0224-1
Dorris's (Morning
Girl) eloquent, beautifully crafted coming-of-age tale centers on Walnut, a
near-sighted Native American boy whose uncanny ability to use his other senses
earns him the adult name Sees Behind Trees. Set in the distant, pre-colonial
past, the story finds the boy moving hesitantly into adulthood--gradually
gaining confidence in himself and his perceptions; learning humility when he
prizes his talents too highly; earning the respect of his tribe when he escorts
an elderly wise man on a dangerous journey. Both sharply and lyrically
observed, fraught with emotion, the first-person narrative should connect
strongly with a young audience, who will quickly learn that, no matter the
century or the culture, the fundamentals of growing up remain very much the
same. The authenticity of the characterizations and setting will ease readers
toward acceptance of the quasi-mystical adventure that crowns the story. It's a
thrilling read, with the pleasures compounding at every turn of the page.
d) Readers will also enjoy Enemy Pie by Derek Munson; Morning
Girl by Michael Dorris; Summer of the
Monkeys by Wilson Rawls and Children
of the Longhouse by Joseph Bruchac
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