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Code Talker: A Novel About The Navajo Marines of World War Two |
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| Author: |
Joseph Bruchac |
 Book Review
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| Format: |
Hardcover |
| ISBN: |
0803729219 |
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From School Library Journal
Grade 5 Up–In the measured tones of a Native American storyteller, Bruchac assumes the persona of a Navajo grandfather telling his grandchildren about his World War II experiences. Protagonist Ned Begay starts with his early schooling at an Anglo boarding school, where the Navajo language is forbidden, and continues through his Marine career as a "code talker," explaining his long silence until "de-classified" in 1969. Begay's lifelong journey honors the Navajos and other Native Americans in the military, and fosters respect for their culture. Bruchac's gentle prose presents a clear historical picture of young men in wartime, island hopping across the Pacific, waging war in the hells of Guadalcanal, Bougainville, and Iwo Jima. Nonsensational and accurate, Bruchac's tale is quietly inspiring, even for... |
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Skeleton Man |
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| Author: |
Joseph Bruchac |
Book Review
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| Format: |
Paperback |
| ISBN: |
0064408884 |
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| Availability: |
Usually ships within 24 hours. |
From Publishers Weekly
According to the gutsy sixth grade narrator of Bruchac's (Heart of a Chief; Sacagawea) latest novel, the book draws from the traditions of Native American stories, especially one about a "skeleton man," for its spine-tingling effects. Not long after Molly's parents mysteriously disappear one night, her "great-uncle" shows up to claim her, with photographs of her family that convince the adults around her (but not Molly) that he is a relative. In fact, the photos look suspiciously like those that belonged to her father, who grew up on a Mohawk reservation. Each night, the bony guardian locks her into her room, allowing her to attend school during the day. Molly relies on the deciphering of her dreams, her "warrior-girl" courage and the support of her quirky but compassionate teacher to solve the mystery and rescue... |
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First Strawberries: A Cherokee Story |
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| Author: |
Retold by Joseph Bruchac |
Book Review
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| Format: |
Paperback |
| ISBN: |
0140564098 |
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From Publishers Weekly
This legend explains the origins of strawberries, grown by the sun to help the first man and woman patch a quarrel. "Spare text, an uncomplicated story line and gentle illustrations keep this quiet but resonant tale accessible to even the youngest child," said PW. Ages 4-8. Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Kirkus Reviews
A gentle story of the Sun's healing of marital discord by a gift of ripe strawberries that magically grow at the feet of an angry woman as she flees her husband's harsh words, thus halting her departure long enough for him to catch up and make amends. Thereafter, the story concludes, whenever the Cherokee eat strawberries, they are reminded to be kind to one another. Quietly luminous watercolors capture details of dress, dwelling,... |
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Thirteen Moons on Turtle's Back: A Native American Year of Moons |
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| Author: |
Joseph Bruchac |
Book Review
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| Format: |
Paperback |
| ISBN: |
0698115848 |
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From Publishers Weekly
To many Native Americans, the 13 cycles of the moon represent the changing seasons and the passage of time. Each moon has its own special name that, while varying among the tribal nations, is consistent with the legend that the 13 scales on Old Turtle's back hold the key to these moons. The authors present 13 poems that take readers through the year, from the "Moon of Popping Trees"--when the "cottonwoods crack with frost"--to the "Big Moon" of the Abenakis. The book's effective design consists of verses in vertical columns at the left of each spread, with the remainder occupied by Locker's ( Family Farm ; Catskill Eagle ) typically lush artwork. His oil paintings are eye-catching in their depth of color reflecting dramatic seasonal changes. Trees, skies and woodland creatures are rendered in vivid hues that... |
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Where Fish Go in Winter |
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| Author: |
Amy Goldman Koss |
Book Review
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| Format: |
Hardcover |
| ISBN: |
0803727046 |
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| Availability: |
Ships within 2-3 days. |
From School Library Journal
Grade 1-3-In 14 poems of 3 to 7 quatrains, Koss attempts simple explanations of natural phenomena ("Why do leaves change colors?"; "How do cats purr?"; "How do birds fly?"; "What is the Man in the Moon?"). While the questions will hold appeal for newly independent readers, the author's emphasis on end rhyme often pulls attention away from the poem's content and results in a cursory explanation rather than the sort of detailed description that would satisfy a young audience. Some of the vocabulary is too sophisticated for the intended age group. ("Gravity sensors/Within each young root/Teach it to follow/A straight downward route.") Attractive, brightly colored two-page paintings show the subject of the poem in its natural setting. Oddly, all of the people, animals, plants, and natural objects inside are... |
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Trail of Tears |
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| Author: |
Joseph Bruchac |
Book Review
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| Format: |
Paperback |
| ISBN: |
0679890521 |
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Book Description
In 1838, settlers moving west forced the great Cherokee Nation, and their chief John Ross, to leave their home land and travel 1,200 miles to Oklahoma. An epic story of friendship, war, hope, and betrayal.
Card catalog description
Recounts how the Cherokees, after fighting to keep their land in the nineteenth century, were forced to leave and travel 1,200 miles to a new settlement in Oklahoma, a terrible journey known as the Trail of Tears.
See all Editorial Reviews
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Heroes and Heroines, Monsters and Magic |
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| Author: |
Joseph Bruchac |
Book Review
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| Format: |
Paperback |
| ISBN: |
0895949954 |
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| Availability: |
This title is not currently available. |
From School Library Journal
Grade 3-6 Bruchac presents a melange of creation stories, "why" stories and stories of magic and monsters which offer something for almost any reader. Taken together, they give a picture of Indian life in the Eastern woodlands that provides an excellent complement to nonfiction works such as Sonia Bleeker's Indians of the Longhouse (Morrow, 1950; o.p.). The stories are well told and are enhanced by the full-page pencil drawings that precede each tale. The book fills a definite gap: there are several collections, such as Erdoes' Sound of Flutes and Other Indian Legends (Pantheon, 1976; o.p.), which deal with Plains Indians' tales, but with the exception of the author's earlier Turkey Brothers and Other Tales (Crossing Pr, 1975; o.p.), no other collection focuses on the Iroquois. This one is worth having both... |
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Keepers of the Earth: Native American Stories and Environmental Activities for Children (Keepers Series) |
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| Author: |
With Michael J. Caduto |
Book Review
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| Format: |
Paperback |
| ISBN: |
1555913857 |
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Card catalog description
A selection of traditional tales from various Indian peoples, each accompanied by instructions for related activities dealing with aspects of the environment.
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Rachel Carson |
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| Author: |
Thomas Locker |
Book Review
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| Format: |
Hardcover |
| ISBN: |
1555914829 |
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| Availability: |
Ships within 3-4 days. |
From Booklist
Gr. 3-5. This handsome picture-book biography presents the life and accomplishments of Rachel Carson. After telling about Carson's childhood, her education, and her career as a writer, Bruchac writes lyrically about her love of nature, particularly the ocean, and concludes with an appreciation of her impact on the environment. Similar in format and layout to Locker's books John Muir: America's Naturalist (2003) and Walking with Henry: Based on the Life and Works of Henry David Thoreau (2002), this volume offers several lines of text on each left-hand page, facing a full-page illustration. Locker's paintings, particularly the landscapes, are dramatically lit scenes that capture the beauty and majesty of nature. The last page includes excerpts from Carson's writings about the natural world and a paragraph... |
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How Chipmunk Got His Stripes |
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| Author: |
Joseph Bruchac |
Book Review
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| Format: |
Paperback |
| ISBN: |
0142500216 |
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From Publishers Weekly
In Bruchac and his son's (When the Chenoo Howls) serviceable retelling of a Native American pourquoi tale, Brown Squirrel challenges prideful Bear to keep the sun from rising. When the sun does rise, and Brown Squirrel teases Bear, Bear threatens to eat Brown Squirrel, and his claw marks transform the fellow into Chipmunk. Though the prose occasionally falters (e.g., "Everyone was happy except for one animal. That animal was Bear" or the advice of Brown Squirrel's grandmother, "It is good to be right about something. But when someone else is wrong, it is not a good idea to tease him"), the dialogue is effective and invites audience participation--especially the repeated phrases with sound effects, as when the quarrelsome pair sit side by side all night chanting: "The sun will not come up, hummph!" and "The sun is... |
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Lasting Echoes |
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| Author: |
Joseph Bruchac |
Book Review
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| Format: |
Hardcover |
| ISBN: |
0613218825 |
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| Availability: |
Usually ships within 3-5 weeks. We cannot guarantee availability of special order titles because publishers may run out of stock. We will notify you in 3-4 weeks if we are unable to get this title for you. |
From School Library Journal
Grade 5 Up?This noted author and poet presents a history of the treatment afforded America's original inhabitants as seen through the eyes of American Indians, from the first European settlements to the current day. The chapters are arranged to loosely correspond with the seven generations and the changes in attitudes and responses between the native and non-native populations. The narrative is enhanced and explicated by numerous poems, songs, speeches, and writings of Native Americans from each era. The beauty of the language is on display, as well as the strength of the words and the power of the emotions, as differences between the cultures in interpretation and approaches to life, the land, and one's own people are discussed. Compelling monochrome illustrations begin each chapter, and evoke a sense of... |
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Bowman's Store: A Journey to Myself |
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| Author: |
Joseph Bruchac |
Book Review
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| Format: |
Paperback |
| ISBN: |
1584300272 |
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The New York Times Book Review, Nina Jaffe
His book conveys the true experience of folk tale and myth: stories shared within a context of community, empathy and personal interaction.
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
edition.
From Kirkus Reviews
Bruchac (Eagle Song, 1997, etc.) tells of his life, with great compassion for those he loved and for the little boy he was, woven with Abenaki tales from his heritage. ``Sonny'' Bruchac lived with his grandparents in the Adirondack foothills of upstate New York, although his parents and younger sisters were not far away. In stories that spin out in the circular ripples of a pond, he chronicles his growing up, beginning each chapter with a First Peoples' story that illuminates what is to come. He was an undersized, bookish, lonely boy,... |
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Pushing Up the Sky |
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| Author: |
Joseph Bruchac |
Book Review
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| Format: |
Hardcover |
| ISBN: |
0803721684 |
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| Availability: |
Ships within 2-3 days. |
From School Library Journal
Grade 2-5-Anyone looking for an unusual way to introduce Native American cultures and stories might try this collection. The scripts are based on tales from the Abenaki, Ojibway, Cherokee, Cheyenne, Snohomish, Tlingit, and Zuni and are accompanied by brief introductions to each tribe and its culture. Many Native words and phrases are included in the dialogues, along with helpful pronunciations. The short, simple scripts are accessible to young, inexperienced actors. The casts include speaking and nonspeaking parts that can be adjusted to group needs. Suggestions are given for easy-to-make costumes, props, and scenery. A variety of pen-and-ink drawings illustrate the plays, as well as one lively gouache illustration per selection. Through color and style, the paintings reflect the regions and cultures of the... |
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At the End of Ridge Road |
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| Author: |
Joseph Bruchac |
Book Review
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| Format: |
Paperback |
| ISBN: |
1571312757 |
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| Availability: |
Ships within 2-3 days. |
The Gazette, July 10, 2005
"Bruchac mixes reality with events that are magical—or do not have a conventional explanation."
Spirituality & Health Magazine, September 22, 2005
"Bruchac sheds light on various dimensions of Native American spirituality including reverence for place.'"
See all Editorial Reviews
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Journal of Jesse Smoke: A Cherokee Boy: Trail of Tears, 1838 |
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| Author: |
Joseph Bruchac |
Book Review
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| Format: |
Hardcover |
| ISBN: |
0439121973 |
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| Availability: |
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From School Library Journal
Grade 4-6-Fully researched, written by an outstanding Native American author, and without minimizing the horror and the genocidal nature of the Cherokee removal on the Trail of Tears, this story about Jesse and his mother and sisters has many strengths. Unfortunately, while being praiseworthy and authentic in terms of the history, the characters are bland. Bruchac is capable of lovely language and biting metaphor, but often simply recites the continuing horror in ways that numb rather than touch readers' hearts. Several references to attachments (such as between a slave and Jesse's sisters) are made just as they end. Because readers never see the relationships unfold, the separation isn't affecting. The characters are names only. Jesse's family seems forgotten by him for long periods of time as... |
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Arrow over the Door |
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| Author: |
Joseph Bruchac |
Book Review
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| Format: |
Paperback |
| ISBN: |
0141305711 |
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| Availability: |
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From School Library Journal
Grade 4-6?A thoughtful and eminently readable work. The story takes place during the summer of 1777 and is told in alternating voices by two young men from different cultures. Samuel Russell, a Quaker, wrestles with his faith's pacifism. He hates being called a coward by neighbors whose tolerance for the Quakers has been strained by their refusal to fight for independence. Stands Straight is an Abenaki whose family was killed by colonists. As British troops move toward Saratoga, he joins his uncle in a scouting party as the Abenaki try to decide which side to support. When the scouts reach the meeting house where the Quakers are worshipping, the two boys meet and each one grows as a result of the encounter. An author's note recounts Bruchac's research into the varying accounts of this true event and... |
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Jim Thorpe's Bright Path |
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| Author: |
Joseph Bruchac |
Book Review
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| Format: |
Hardcover |
| ISBN: |
158430166X |
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| Availability: |
Ships within 2-3 days. |
From School Library Journal
Grade 1-4–Thorpe, who was named "Wa-tho-huck," or "Bright Path," by his Pottowatomie mother, spent a childhood marked by remarkable physical prowess until he was sent to an Indian boarding school at age six. He lost his twin brother (pneumonia), his mother ("sudden illness"), and his father (snakebite), but persevered, finally proving himself on the Carlisle Indian School football field in his teens. Bruchac ends this picture-book biography here. He sticks to the facts, occasionally employing bits of dialogue. He includes details about the unfair treatment of Native Americans, such as the mandatory Indian boarding schools that had unsanitary living conditions and educated students only to be maids and laborers. The theme of overcoming personal and societal obstacles to reach success is strongly... |
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Skeleton Man |
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| Author: |
Joseph Bruchac |
Book Review
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| Format: |
Hardcover |
| ISBN: |
0060290757 |
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| Availability: |
Ships within 2-3 days. |
From Publishers Weekly
According to the gutsy sixth grade narrator of Bruchac's (Heart of a Chief; Sacagawea) latest novel, the book draws from the traditions of Native American stories, especially one about a "skeleton man," for its spine-tingling effects. Not long after Molly's parents mysteriously disappear one night, her "great-uncle" shows up to claim her, with photographs of her family that convince the adults around her (but not Molly) that he is a relative. In fact, the photos look suspiciously like those that belonged to her father, who grew up on a Mohawk reservation. Each night, the bony guardian locks her into her room, allowing her to attend school during the day. Molly relies on the deciphering of her dreams, her "warrior-girl" courage and the support of her quirky but compassionate teacher to solve the mystery and rescue... |
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The Warriors |
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| Author: |
Joseph Bruchac |
Book Review
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| Format: |
Paperback |
| ISBN: |
1581960220 |
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| Availability: |
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From School Library Journal
Grade 5-8-Contemporary realistic fiction that incorporates background information on a specific Native American culture but does not overwhelm readers is far too rare. In Warriors, Bruchac introduces Jake Forrest, a young teenager who leaves the Iroquois reservation where he was raised to live with his mother, a lawyer in Maryland, and attend a prestigious private boy's school. Like many kids his age, Jake wrestles with the difficulties of moving to a new city, fitting in at a new school, and trying to make the best of his one-parent family. Additionally, he endures many little offenses, like the nickname "Chief," and bigger ones, like the biased presentation of events in history class. Throughout the novel, the author mixes just the right amount of universal teen experience and culturally specific... |
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