FROM THE PUBLISHER

A noted teller of the traditional tales of the Adirondacks and of Native peoples everywhere, Joseph Bruchac has performed throughout the world. That gift for narrative informs this revealing autobiography. Tracing his progression from a child in the Adirondacks to self-confessed "nature nut" to jock to acclaimed writer, Bruchac mines his own rich history and the wisdom from his Abenaki culture to teach life lessons. At the End of Ridge Road begins with a request that readers remove their watches in order to "live time" rather than be ruled by it, and from there explores, through Bruchac's own experiences, the enduring wisdom that native cultures from Africa to America have long known. Embracing "the circle as a way of seeing," learning a new way of understanding time, being a keeper rather than a user of Earth - these are some of the timeless truths in this powerful book.

FROM THE CRITICS

VOYA - Tracy Piombo

In the first chapter of this memoir, Bruchac invites readers to take off their watches and free themselves of the restraints of time-at least for a while. What follows is a non-linear telling of how he came to live a short walk away from where his Abenaki grandfather was born. Along the meandering way, Bruchac discusses his transformation from nerd to jock to poet to publisher. He also briefly touches on his marriage, their relief work in Africa, and how he reclaimed the Native American heritage his family tried to ignore. Bruchac's book is part of the Credo series, which seeks to "explore the essential goals, concerns, and practices of contemporary American writers whose work emphasizes the natural world and human community." The circular narrative style is initially confusing but essential to Bruchac's themes of perseverance and interconnection. The memoir covers a lot of ground in scant pages at the cost of depth, and skims over many complex topics that deserve more attention. Series editor Scott Slovic's essay Native American Literature, Contemporary Environmental Scholarship and Activism, and the Work of Joseph Bruchac, will be of possible interest for curriculum development. The selected bibliography helpfully divides Bruchac's prolific output into genres. Bruchac's Bowman's Store (Dial, 1997/VOYA February 1998) provides a more complete self-portrait while addressing many of the same themes. It is an additional purchase for author studies collections. VOYA CODES: 3Q 2P S (Readable without serious defects; For the YA with a special interest in the subject; Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12). 2005, Milkweed Editions, 143p.; Biblio. Source Notes., $14 Trade pb. Ages 15 to 18.