Culture 6 Inclusive Literature

LS 5653-20

Genre 6 Inclusive Lit

Shannon Hicks 

Darius the Great is Not Okay

 

Bibliography

Khorram, Adib. Darius the Great is Not Okay. Dial Books, 2018. ISBN 978-0-525-55296-3

Plot Summary

Darius is a teen who enjoys tea and spending time with his little sister, so he struggles to fit in to the typical high school crowd. His mother is Persian, and his father is not; he shares very little with his dad except the struggles of mental health and a common interest in Star Trek. When Darius’ Babou is diagnosed with a terminal brain tumor, his family travels to Iran to visit. Darius experiences a totally different world in his mother’s homeland; one with family, a new friend, and celebrations unlike anything he’s experienced in the states. While he tries to understand his bouts of depression and loneliness, he finds acceptance in Sohrab, his new Iranian soccer friend. Darius is a likeable teen with whom many readers will relate.

Critical Analysis

 Darius the Great is Not Okay opensto Darius describing his Persian makeup on his mother’s side. He works in a tea shop and believes Persians are “genetically predisposed to like tea” (p. 2). Throughout the story, Darius references tea; in the present he brings to his grandmother, to sipping tea with his grandfather and the lessons he receives on the correct way to brew Persian tea. These instances allow the reader to experience tea in different ways, while also connecting the important beverage to his ethnicity.

Darius also struggles with his mother’s native tongue, Farsi. His younger sister is fluent and yet Darius’ mother did not speak to him in Farsi, so he has not had the opportunity to learn it. Short phrases in Farsi are provided, which lend itself to credibility in authentic writing. After Darius’s sister uses a Farsi phrase for “how are you?” he explains that “chetori toh” would only be used for those people with whom one has a close relationship. “Farsi has different ways of talking to people, depending on the formality of the situation and your relationship to the person you’re addressing” (p. 20). Darius explains that his knowledge of Farsi consists of familial relations, food, tea and politeness phrases. He even discusses the holidays Chaharshanbeh Suri and Nowruz and the types of Persian foods served.

Darius often feels like the outsider in his own family. He does not speak Farsi, he feels he disappoints his father frequently, and begins to explore romantic feelings for his new friend, Sohrab. While in Iran, surrounded by family and accepted by Sohrab, Darius feels a bit braver and is able to build confidence to be true to himself.

Review Excerpts

“Debut author Khorram presents meticulous descriptions and explanations of food, geography, religion, architecture, and English translations of Farsi for readers unfamiliar with Persian culture through characters' dialogue and Darius's observations.”  

“Darius the Great is Not Okay.” School Library Journal 64.8 (2018): 73. Novelist, EBSCOhost, (accessed December 1, 2020).

 “While the book doesn’t sugarcoat problems in the country (unjust imprisonment and an outdated view of mental illness are mentioned), it mainly stays focused on the positive—Iran’s impressive landscape and mouthwatering food, the warmth of its people—as it shows how a boy who feels like an outcast at home finds himself and true friendship overseas.”

“Darius the Great is Not Okay.” Publisher’s Weekly 265.23 (2018): 15. Novelist, EBSCOhost, (accessed December 1, 2020).

 Awards

·        Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards – honor 2019

·        Rainbow List: Top Ten GLBTQ Books for Children and Teens – commended 2019

·        William C. Morris Debut Award – winner 2019

·        Lambda Literary Award – finalist 2019

·        Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature – winner 2019

·        Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award – finalist 2019

·        Indies Choice Book Awards – honor 2019

·        CCBC Choices selection – 2019

·        Middle East Book Award – winner 2019

·        Junior Library Guild Young Adult Selection - 2018

 

Connections

·        Read Patron Saints of Nothing by Randy Ribay.

·        Collaborate with the history teacher to study Iran’s geography, culture and religions.

·        Read the newest release, Darius the Great Deserves Better, the sequel to the novel.

·        Working with the guidance department, discuss depression, the signs and treatments.

 

Pet

Bibliography

Emezi, Akwaeke. Pet. Make Me a World, 2019. ISBN 978-0-525-64707-2

Plot Summary

The town of Lucille is without monsters, they were eliminated years ago, or so they believe. Jam’s mother is an artist and after working on a particular piece of art for weeks, Jam sneaks in the room to look at the canvas. As she peers over it, she cuts her hand and bleeds on the painting, which brings it to life. Pet emerges with horns and claws and warns Jam that it is hunting a monster; one that can be found inside her best friend Redemption’s house. Jam must decide if she will join in the hunt and if she should warn her friend of the potential danger in his house.

Critical Analysis

I want to know more about Jam’s mother and why she included the razor blades into the canvas. It was stated that this was not the first painting of hers to come alive, so she must have understood the dangers of inserting a dangerous object into her work. And while the forward to Pet was intriguing, I thought the story tried too hard to include too many elements (elective mute, sign language, Igbo phrases, gender identification, sexual abuse, and prison reform) all within in a middle grade selection novel.

At times, Jam uses sign language to communicate. While walking with her friend Redemption, Jam expresses her frustration and “her hands were a blur as she signed” (p.4). Although when she wishes to communicate with the librarian, she uses a notecard to write her thoughts and slides it to him. He replies on the same card and hands it back to her. Jam is glad that they do not have to speak with one another.

Aloe is Jam’s father and is the one who realized Jam’s frustration at being called a boy when she identified as a girl. Aloe held Jam tightly while her temper flared, saying, “ewela iwe” (don’t be angry). Shortly after this outburst, Aloe researched puberty blockers and hormones. Her parents were supportive of her reveal, Bitter even teaching her how to conduct breast exams and fertility options. When Jam approaches her father about surgery, he tells her she is a girl with or without surgery. Jam’s parents love and accept her while also allowing her to take the lead in her bodily decisions.  

Redemption is a kind and loyal friend. Jam is distraught at the thought of a monster living in Redemption’s house. While Redemption was a trained boxer, he fought for “the beauty of what his body could do, for the frailty of being human…it wasn’t personal; it wasn’t about his ego. It was about being alive” (p. 56). It is not until toward the end of the novel that Redemption wants to use his fists to hurt, to injure, and to protect his little brother, perhaps bringing out the monster that may live inside all of us.

Subtle descriptions are given describing Jam. Her hair can be twisted into styles, she uses shea butter on dry patches, the moment she realizes her hips are widening and her chest is beginning to develop. While it can be inferred that Jam may be of African American descent, it is not definitive.

Parts of the story are thoughtful and make the reader examine their own thoughts about good verses evil, monsters and villains, and how real darkness can be hidden. The angels who tried to rid Lucille of monsters did so by believing the victims, counseling and giving rehabilitation to the monsters. It was a tough process of pulling back the covers of evil and seeing the true number of monsters in the town, “…the public ones, the freestyle solitary ones, the charismatic smiling ones” (p. 79). Monsters were not necessarily the ones similar to Pet with unsightly horns, blood and scabs, but neighbors and loved ones and those in positions of power who sometimes abused others. Pet explains to Jam that “the truth does not change whether it is seen or unseen…a thing that is happening happens whether you look at it or not” (p. 95) so Jam is forced to realize that Redemption’s brother is being abused by someone in Redemption’s family, someone that is a trusted adult to Jam. Whether she chooses to acknowledge it or not, it is still occurring. In the end, Jam asks that Hibiscus not be killed for his monstrous ways, “I know I can’t stop you if you don’t want to stop. But the town will learn nothing this way, the families will learn nothing. They’ll keep pretending all the monsters are gone; they won’t remember to look for them. They might not believe us” (p. 185). Jam has come to the conclusion that alludes many adults; that fear and monsters must be confronted head on.

Review Excerpts

“Jam’s language is alternatingly voiced and signed, the latter conveyed in italic text, and Igbo phrases pepper the family’s loving interactions. Emezi’s direct but tacit story of injustice, unconditional acceptance, and the evil perpetuated by humankind forms a compelling, nuanced tale that fans of speculative horror will quickly devour.”

“Pet.” School Library Journal 266.4 (2019): 26. Novelist, EBSCOhost, (accessed December 1, 2020).

 “Jam's parents strongly affirm and celebrate her trans identity, and Redemption's three parents are dedicated and caring, giving Jam a second, albeit more chaotic, home. Still, Emezi's timely and critical point, "monsters don't look like anything," encourages our steady vigilance to recognize and identify them even in the most idyllic of settings. This soaring novel shoots for the stars and explodes the sky with its bold brilliance.”   

“Pet.” Kirkus Review (2019). Novelist, EBSCOhost, (accessed December 1, 2020).

 Awards

·        Walter Dean Myers Award for Outstanding Children’s Literature – honor 2020

·        Rainbow List: Top Ten GLBTQ Books for Children and Teens – commended 2020

·        CCBC Choices – selection 2020

·        Stonewall Children's and Young Adult Literature Award – honor 2020

·        Lambda Literary Award – finalist 2020

·        Junior Library Guild - middle selection 2019

·        National Book Award for Young People's Literature – finalist 2019

·        SLJ Best Books of the Year – selection 2019

 

Connections

·        The theme of good verses evil is prevalent in the novel. Discuss other works of art that showcase this same theme.

·        Do you think Hibiscus’ punishment was fitting for his monstrous crime? Write a persuasive paragraph describing why or why not.

·        Discuss what you think will happen to the city of Lucille now that monsters have returned. Will the city now recognize the monsters, or will they return to pretending they are gone?

·        Listen to the podcast https://teachnouvelle.com/pet/ with author H.D. Hunter to hear their take on the novel. 

A Friend for Henry

Bibliography

Bailey, Jenn and Mika Song. A Friend for Henry. Chronicle Books, 2019. ISBN 978-1-4521-6791-6

Plot Summary

Henry is a young child who is in search of a friend. His search is complicated by being on the autism spectrum even though it is not explicitly stated. The reader feels for both Henry, who desperately wants a friend and for the other children, who have their own personalities. Henry finds Katie looking at the class fish at the same time as he and they begin to forge a friendship based on mutual respect. A sweet tale of friendship and accepting others just as they are.

Critical Analysis

A Friend for Henry may be one of my new favorite books. Illustrations in the picture book are done in ink and watercolors. The facial and body expressions allow the reader to understand the characters’ emotions even when they are not explained in text. When a classmate of Henry’s disturbs his carefully arranged carpet pieces, Henry’s eyebrows raise, and his mouth is open in an oval to illustrate his frustration. When Henry is reprimanded and must sit next to the teacher, his eyes are cast down and he hugs his knees to his chest to show that he is sad, and perhaps embarrassed. Just by appearances, one is not able to infer that Henry is atypical or has a “disability” because his struggles are not on the outside, but rather, within.

As Henry and Katie both watch the class goldfish swim in the bowl, Henry begins to ponder Katie’s qualities. She smells like strawberries, she enjoys reading and even conquered the big slide on the playground. They begin to share their likes and dislikes while also finding common ground while playing with building blocks. They learn to appreciate their differences too. While Katie enjoys the big slide and Henry still does not care for it, he compromises by waiting at the bottom of the slide for her. While they both like reading, they choose different books. Katie is sweet and accepting and Henry finally finds a friend.

Review Excerpts

“Song’s ink-and-watercolor illustrations depict a multiethnic, play-centered school. The cartoon art includes many familiar classroom details and works well in conveying Henry ’s emotional frustrations. As the number of diagnosed children on the autistic spectrum increases, so does the need for informative and positive presentations such as this.”

“A Friend for Henry.” Booklist 115.12 (2019): 52. Novelist, EBSCOhost, (accessed December 1, 2020).

 “It is never stated that Henry has autism, but his actions and thought processes will be familiar to readers who know someone on the autism spectrum. VERDICT A simple, upbeat story that might inspire readers to seek out friendship, and a good addition to general picture book collections.” 

“A Friend for Henry.” School Library Journal 65.1 (2019): 79. Novelist, EBSCOhost, (accessed December 1, 2020).

 Awards

·        Schneider Family Book Award – honor 2020

 

Connections

·        Read We’re All Wonders by R. J. Palacio.

·        Discuss the qualities that make a good friend.

·        Have students work in groups to illustrate a friendship “how-to” booklet.

 

Culture 5 Asian Pacific American

 

LS 5653-20
Genre 5 Review
Shannon Hicks

Tea with Milk

Tea with Milk

 Bibliography

Say, Allen. Tea with Milk. Houghton Mifflin Company, 1999. ISBN 0-395-90495-1

Plot Summary

Masako, as she is called by her parents, and May to her friends, struggles to fit in to her new home when her family moves to Japan, her parents’ homeland. May is expected to adopt Japanese customs such as wearing a kimono, sitting on the floor and learning the tea ceremony, even though she grew up in America, eating pancakes and muffins. She resists the role of a proper Japanese lady and travels to Osaka where she takes a job in a department store. After helping an English family who did not speak Japanese, May becomes the store’s guide for foreign businessmen, which leads her to meeting a man who would eventually become her husband.

Critical Analysis

Tea with Milk draws its name from the way American May enjoyed her tea at her friends’ houses in San Francisco, and the way Joseph drank tea when he attended an English school in Shanghai. Hot tea with milk is so much more than just a drink preference, it is also about the comforts of home and familiarity, the very things you carry with you, no matter where you make your home. Joseph explains to May that a home is not a place or a building, but rather what you make it. This picture book will resonate with anyone who has moved to another country and felt like an outsider.

The watercolors and overall artwork in Tea with Milk stirs emotions in the reader and is meticulously detailed, right down to the intricate depiction of the department store light fixtures and ornate elevator doors. Pages 7 and 9 both illicit the sadness radiating from May’s expression as she stands alone in her new home and on the school grounds. As May makes the bold decision to travel to Osaka, she dons a brightly-colored dress that makes her look like a gaijin, or foreigner. The vibrant red dress stands out in contrast to the muted colors of the people on the street. The kimono, tea ceremony and Japanese writing at the market all add to the cultural authenticity of Say’s book. Skin tones vary in shades of tan and all characters’ eyes are realistically drown without falling into the stereotypical, “slanted-eyes.”

Review Excerpts

“The pages are filled with detailed drawings featuring Japanese architecture and clothing, and because of the artist's mastery at drawing figures, the people come to life as authentic and sympathetic characters. This is a thoughtful and poignant book that will appeal to a wide range of readers, particularly our nation's many immigrants who grapple with some of the same challenges as May and Joseph, including feeling at home in a place that is not their own.”

“Tea with Milk.” School Library Journal 45.5 (1999): 96. Novelist EBSCOhost, (accessed November 2, 2020).

“Raised near San Francisco, Masako (her American friends called her May) is uprooted after high school when her parents return to their Japanese homeland. In addition to repeating high school to learn Japanese, she must learn the arts of a "proper Japanese lady"--flower arranging, calligraphy and the tea ceremony--and is expected to marry well.”

“Tea with Milk.” Publisher’s Weekly 246.10 (1999): 67. Novelist EBSCOhost, (accessed November 2, 2020).

Awards

·        Notable Children's Books - commended 2000

·        Notable Books for a Global Society – selection 2000

Connections

·        May feels different from the other children once she arrives in Japan. She speaks another language and had different experiences growing up. Discuss times that students may have felt like outsiders. What was it like? How did you handle it? What are some things that made you feel better?

·        Use a Compare and Contrast map to help see the differences and likenesses from life in America and life in Japan.

·        Read A Piece of Home by Watts, Jeri Hanel.

   Drawn Together

Drawn Together 

Bibliography

Le, Minh and Dan Santat. Drawn Together. Hyperion, 2018. ISBN 978-148476760-3

 Plot Summary

A young boy spends an afternoon with his grandfather. As they eat lunch together, they notice they have very different tastes, and as they watch a television show, their different interests is obvious. When the grandson begins drawing at the kitchen table, his grandfather pulls out his sketchbook and draws alongside the boy. It does not take long for the two to discover they have a shared interest and let their imaginations and artistic abilities soar. Lê uses very few words throughout the story and allows the artwork and comic book style panels to visually tell the story.

Critical Analysis

This picture book contains a few cultural markers that portray the Asian Pacific American heritage. As the story opens and the young boy and his grandfather are eating lunch, the artist illustrates the drastic difference in food on their plates. The boy has a hot dog with fries which are considered classic American staples, while the grandfather’s dish is that of noodles and eggs, vastly different from his grandson’s lunch. While the drinks are unidentifiable, it is evident that they are different from one another. Even the utensils are different; the child uses a fork, and the grandfather has chopsticks and a porcelain soup spoon.

The illustrations are the heartbeat of the story. While struggling to connect while watching television together and sitting far apart, the grandson moves to the table and begins to draw. Upon seeing this, the grandfather gathers his supplies and sits down to draw too. It is through the combined drawings between the two that their differences slowly ebb away, as they come to respect what each has to offer. The dragons are typical of the Thai culture, while the superhero is a classic American theme. The grandson begins his art in color, while the grandfather uses ink, but as the two come together, their mediums slowly, almost untraceably, switch and then combine, allowing both characters to realize their bridge to understanding one another starts with their art and acceptance of each other.

Review Excerpts

“Beneath the dynamism, Santat matches the more delicate emotions the story hinges on; one glance at the boy’s face, dreading what’s ahead of him as he waits for his grandfather to answer the door, attests to this. The writer-artist collaboration’s success is also on display in subtle visual representation of the shifting relationship, as when the boy and grandfather, coming together in a final battle, exchange artistic “weapons.” Focus on an underrepresented culture; highly accessible emotions; concise, strong storytelling; and artistic magnificence make this a must-have.”

“Drawn Together.” Booklist 114.19 (2018): 109. Novelist, EBSCOhost, (accessed November 5, 2020).

“Their meeting is awkward at first since the boy doesn't speak Thai; the older man doesn't speak English. The reluctant narrator's entrance into his grandfather's home begins before the title page and continues wordlessly in a series of panels. Different foods and television programs exacerbate their inability to communicate verbally, all depicted in spare text and panels of translucent illustrations.”

“Drawn Together.” School Library Journal 64.6 (2018): 65. Novelist, EBSCOhost, (accessed November 5, 2020).

Awards

·        Charlotte Huck Award – commended 2019

·        Anna Dewdney Read Together Award – honor 2019

·        Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature – winner 2019

·        Notable Children's Books – commended 2019

·        Junior Library Guild Selections – arts selection 2018

·        SLJ Best Books of the Year – selection 2018

·        Lasting Connections – selection 2018

 

Connections

·        A large portion of Drawn Together is told through pictures only. Choose a piece of artwork and write a poem or short story about it. Share your story with a classmate and have them illustrate it. Then share the picture of art you used for your inspiration. Compare the two.

·        Discuss communication and the ways we communicate without words. Ask students if they have encountered a situation where they were not able to speak the same language. How did they communicate?

·        Play a game of charades or Pictionary.

·        Read another wordless book like, Lion and the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney. 

   Mulan Before the Sword

Mulan Before the Sword

 Bibliography

Lin, Grace. Mulan Before the Sword. Disney Press, 2020. ISBN 978-136802033-6

Plot Summary

Mulan’s younger sister, Xiu is bitten by a poisonous spider and is close to death. Mulan seeks out a healer to save her sister and together they embark on a faraway journey to gather the herbs and flowers needed to save Xiu. She quickly realizes that there is more to the healer than she knew when he transforms into a rabbit before her eyes. Mulan and the healer must act quickly before the evil White Fox destroys them both. Twists and turns abound and secrets are revealed as the story unfolds.

Critical Analysis

Chinese folklore is woven throughout the telling of Mulan Before the Sword. “Lord Rabbit” or “Jade Rabbit” is a popular figure in Beijing, especially during the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival. He is known as the Moon Lady’s companion, sent to Earth to help stop a plague. Lin uses this folktale to aid in the story of Mulan. The Jade Rabbit is also a healer in this story and shows up in time to help Mulan stop the poison in her sister’s system, with the added twist that the rabbit needs healing too. The folk stories told help to illustrate the characters connections to one another and provides background knowledge needed to understand what motives each character.

Mulan Before the Sword contains cultural markers that showcase Mulan’s Chinese heritage. The Jade Emperor is described as wearing “…Imperial robes with pearl tassels swinging from his hat…”p. 39. The theme of good verses evil is evident and will have readers cheering for Mulan and her companions and rooting for the destruction of Daji, who is based on an actual person from the Shang Dynasty. Food is rarely in the story, but rice is mentioned a handful of times. Mulan tried to imitate a story her father had shared with her by pounding rice into flour, except that one grain would not cooperate so she hit the rice with all her strength and broke the mortar in half, displeasing her mother who shouted at her to control herself. Mulan is reminded by her mother that “a girl brings honor by care. Not by boldness” p. 52 after Mulan explains that she will be going on a quest to find some way to help Xiu. Mulan’s family finds her ill-behaved and not fitted as a young lady because she does not fit social conformities. She wants to be her own person and often does not give much thought to what others think of her; even though she does want to please her family.

Review Excerpts

“In the midst of this fast-paced quest, Lin’s distinctive peppering of folkloric tales throughout the narrative adds engaging layers, providing backstory and fleshing out characters’ relationships and motives.”

“Mulan Before the Sword.” Publisher’ Weekly 267.5 (2020). Novelist, EBSCOhost, (accessed November 10, 2020).

“As usual, Lin artfully develops captivating characters with rich histories. Traditional tales are interspersed throughout the tightly written narrative to gradually reveal a complex web of legends and adventure that seamlessly blend together into one alluring saga. (A partial bibliography of Chinese tales and traditions is appended). A legendary tale for a legendary figure.”

“Mulan Before the Sword.” Kirkus Reviews (2020). Novelist, EBSCOhost, (accessed November 10, 2020).

Awards

N/A

Connections

·        Read the author note. Lin mentions her inspiration for Mulan and lists several books for additional reading. Choose The Eight Immortals Cross the Sea by Koh Koh Kiang or Tales of the Dancing Dragons by Eva Wong and discuss the similarities to Mulan.

·        Write an additional chapter or short story about Mulan’s next adventure.

·        Listen to Grace Lin read from Mulan at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kwCXObIlrw

 

Culture 4 Native American

 LS 5653-20
Genre 4 Review
Shannon Hicks

 

 

Talking Leaves

 

Talking Leaves

Bibliography

Bruchac, Joseph. Talking Leaves. Dial Books for Young Readers, 2016. ISBN 978-0-8037-3508-8

Plot Summary

Talking Leaves is the story of one family in the Cherokee Nation. Uwohali is thirteen years old when his father returns from Arkansas. It has been years since Uwohali has seen or spoken to his father and now that he has returned, rumors flood the community about Sequoyah’s strange ways and suspicion that he is dabbling in witchcraft. As Uwohali decides to visit his father and hopes to learn the trade of blacksmithing, he soon discovers his father’s true quest; to develop a written language for the Tsalagi people. Sequoyah puts himself and his family at risk as he spends time creating the syllabary, while others plan to put a stop to his “crazy ways,” even if it means murdering Sequoyah.

Critical Analysis

Joseph Bruchac is the highly acclaimed children’s author whose work in novels, poems and short stories revolve around the Native American people, and in Talking Leaves he focuses on the Cherokee. Readers are immersed in the Tsalagi culture from the beginning pages. Uwohali explains that a Tsalagi child belongs to the mother’s clan and “…it is the women who are the heads of our households. They are the owners of the house” (p.190). The women also have to agree to the chosen leaders before they are able to take office.

Descriptions of hunting and food are also rich in cultural details. We first meet Uwohali as he hunts a squirrel with a long blowgun, and after killing it, he gives thanks for his capture so as to appease Awi Usdi, the Little White Deer, the guardian of the game animals. Later, Uwohali’s mother prepares succotash for dinner. “My mother’s blend of corn and beans—cooked with fresh churned butter, seasoned with just the right amount of black pepper—is nothing less than perfect” (p. 100). He continues to describe the tasty corn pones and sassafras tea he also enjoys. Through these descriptions, readers experience the sights and tastes of the time.

Sequoyah was away at war for over three years and has not spoken of his time fighting. Eventually he sits with Uwohali and recalls when he joined his friend Turtle Fields to fight with Sharp Knife Jackson. He openly tells Uwohali his reasons for going, one being he wanted to help his friends, and the other was to further his quest in developing a written language. The recount of the Battle of Horseshoe Bend is full of the terrors of war but also infused with funny commentary on the white man, Big Drunk, Sequoyah’s friend.

Review Excerpts

Publisher’s Weekly: “Wrenching descriptions of the 1814 Battle of Horseshoe Bend help transform an ostensibly simple story into a profound cautionary tale of what can happen without a language of one’s own. “

“Talking Leaves.” Publisher’s Weekly, May 2016. Novelist, EBSCOhost (accessed October 24, 2020).

Kirkus Reviews: “Bruchac gives readers a vivid look into the life of a Cherokee boy in 1821. His extensive research is evidenced by details such as Tsalagi women's prominent social status and a survivor's retelling of the Battle of Horseshoe Bend.”

“Talking Leaves.” Kirkus Reviews, May 2016. Novelist, EBSCOhost (accessed October 24, 2020).

Awards

·        Notable Books for a Global Society – selection 2017

·        Junior Library Guild Selections – middle selection 2016

Connections

·        Read How I Became a Ghost: A Choctaw Trail of Tears Story by Tim Tingle.

·        Read the picture book Sequoyah: The Cherokee Man Who Gave His People Writing by James Rumford. Compare the information in this book to Talking Leaves.

·        In the novel Talking Trees, the boys play marbles and explain how they make them from clay. Watch the short video on Cherokee marbles https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ox960M1034. Ask a member of the Cherokee tribe teach students how to play. 

 

Chickadee

 Chickadee

 Bibliography

Erdrich, Louise. Chickadee. HarperCollins Children, 2012. ISBN 978-0-06-057790-2

Plot Summary

This endearing story centers around a family of the Objibwe tribe. Chickadee and his twin brother Makoons are the best of friends and spend all their time together doing chores for their family. After playing a trick on a mean old man, his sons take revenge by kidnapping Chickadee in the middle of the night. As Chickadee struggles to break free and try to find his way home, his family starts a massive search for him, including his aunt Two Strike, known for carrying two “knives between her teeth, two knives in her hands, a knife in her hat and knives in her socks.” The longer the brothers are separated, the weaker Makoons falls, waiting for his brother’s return. 

Critical Analysis

Chickadee takes place throughout the Great Plains but begins in the family wigwam that was “crowded and noisy, and everyone ate and told stories late into the night” while the boys slept warmly under a fluffy rabbit-skin blanket. Erdrich paints a warm and rich mental picture of the family home and does so through cultural accuracy and without fanfare. Food is also discussed in different parts of the story, adding to the reality of the time period. “…picked through some manoomin, wild rice…She boiled the last of their meat over a small fire” p. 3 and as the family settles into a new log cabin home, Makoons and his cousin whittle fishhooks from wood and fished so they could bake them in a fire, “seasoned with maple sugar.” p. 111 These descriptions give enough detail to be interesting and yet not overwhelming the reader with superfluous information.

Chickadee ponders his namesake and wonders why he was named after a small bird. After his grandmother reminds him that small things have great power and illustrates all the ways the chickadee survives and cares for others, Chickadee finds honor in his namesake. Erdrich takes great care in incorporating the Ojibwe culture without preaching it.

The Sisters and priest found in Chickadee are portrayed as “white saviors” bent on saving the souls of Chickadee and members of the Ojibwe tribe. When the nuns stumble upon Chickadee, they even view their timing as a blessing to find the poor and filthy savage in order to save him even if “he could kill us in our sleep” p. 87. Chickadee and his family need help reuniting with one another but have their own customs that do not involve Christianity. In fact, Mother Anthony is cruel and treats Chickadee roughly and without compassion.

Many words in the Anishinabeg language are used during the story and their meanings can be interpreted from context clues and also through the use of the glossary at the end of the book. The author’s note states that Ojijbwemowin was a spoken language so the spelling in the story are done phonetically. Bizindaan, Nashke, gaawiin mashi and miigwech are all terms of the Ojibwe people that readers encounter in just the first twelve pages of Chickadee. Incorporating these terms gives the reader the ability to see and hear authentic language while drawing the reader in.

Review Excerpts

School Library Journal: “Erdrich's storytelling is masterful. All of the characters, even minor ones, are believable and well developed, and small pencil drawings add to the story's charm. The northern Minnesota setting is vividly described, and information about Ojibwe life and culture is seamlessly woven into every page.”

“Chickadee.” School Library Journal 58.9 (2012): 143. Novelist, EBSCOhost, (accessed October 16, 2020).

Booklist: “In 1866, when Omakayas’ son, Chickadee, eight, is kidnapped, his twin, Makoons, and his family take off across the cold, snowy Great Plains to find Chickadee, who escapes his captors and then encounters white English settlers, including a kind priest who wants to save Chickadee’s soul, and racist Christians, who view Indians as pagan “filthy savages.”

“Chickadee.” Booklist 108.22 (2012): 76. Novelist, EBSCOhost, (accessed October 16, 2020).

Awards

·        Scott O’Dell Award – winner 2013

·        Junior Library Guild Selection – elementary selection 2013

·        CCBC Choices – selection 2013

Connections

·        Chickadee is the fourth book in the Birchbark House series and readers follow the family though several generations. Discuss genealogy research methods and then create a family tree for Chickadee’s family.

·        Create a missing persons poster for Chickadee. What physical and personality traits would you list?

·        The illustrations in Chickadee help the reader to better understand the story. Create your own pencil illustration for one event in the book.

   House of Purple Cedar

 House of Purple Cedar

Bibliography

Tingle, Tim. House of Purple Cedar. Cinco Puntos Press, 2014. ISBN 978-1-935955-24-5

Plot Summary

House of Purple Cedar revolves around a Choctaw family and their live in Skullyville. Rose, a young Native American, discovers racism at a young age as her Choctaw boarding school is purposefully burned down and twenty lives are lost. A trip into town with her grandfather, Amafo, turns violent when he is attacked by the white town marshal. Amafo makes the decision to not fight violence with violence but takes a stand against the marshal and exposes his evil ways that have been ignored for far too long by the townspeople. Amafo seeks help from Maggie, a one-legged store clerk who has her own problems with a demanding boss and a love affair with a felon. Spirituality and religion intertwine with mystical elements of protection, especially in the form of a panther that seems to be the spirit of Rose’s grandmother, Pokoni.

Critical Analysis

House of Purple Cedar offers a balanced look into the Choctaw culture by displaying a variety of social attributes. After Amafo is hit with a board by the marshal, many of the other Choctaws want to take punitive revenge on Marshal Hardwicke and yet, because of Amafo’s kind demeanor and thoughtfulness over the situation, he decides to employ a different tactic. He wishes to expose the evil within the Nahullo man by following the path of forgiveness and approaching the situation with patience.

Humor also plays a small role in this work of literary fiction. The pastor’s children often run wild. and at one point. steal a baby Jesus from the Nativity. They bury it so they can see if He truly rises from the dead! In another scene, one of the pastor’s sons is sprayed in the face by a skunk. These comedic acts lighten the sometimes-heavier mood of social injustices that occur against the Choctaw people.

Rose’s family attends church each week and the church families rely on one another. While Bible verses are quoted and hymnal songs are sung, there are also mystical elements that appear. After the death of Rose’s grandmother, Pokoni, a wild panther is spotted during various times of danger. When Marshal Hardwicke is determined to show the Choctaws who is in charge, and mistakes the pastor’s daughter for Rose, he ties Berta Jean to a tree while he goes to find something with which to kill her. Upon his return, Hardwicke is attacked by a panther and yet Berta Jean is unharmed. On a different night, Rose is traveling with her mother and younger brother when they are seemingly stalked by a panther on their way home. After gaining safety inside their home, they realize that the panther was offering protection after they were followed by Hardwicke, who wished them harm. Rose understands that she gained “the sight” from Pokoni and can see spirits who still surround them.

As Hardwicke’s domestic violence toward his wife becomes obvious, the Choctaw people surround Ona Mae, offering her protection, and eventually an alibi. It is clear that the Choctaw people look after one another and are a tight-knit group, as seen when they lend help to Amafo and later, Ona Mae.

Review Excerpts

Kirkus Review: “Tingle writes of cultures clashing, certainly, but hatred from Nahullos (whites) like Hardwicke is counterbalanced by the goodwill of others like John Burleson, railroad stationmaster, and one-legged store clerk Maggie Johnston. Despite assimilating elements of white culture, including Christianity, Tingle's Choctaws maintain mystical connections to the land and its creatures.”

“House of Purple Cedar.” Kirkus Reviews, November 2013. Novelist, EBSCOhost (accessed October 24, 2020).

“Tall tales and fabulous characters intersperse with a story that unfolds, highlighting the racial tension and violence that festers in the Marshall. Told in retrospect by Rose, this tale will transport readers back to the dusty plains where life is hard, and where racism allows acts that can scar a town, even as it brings it closer together.”

“House of Purple Cedar.” School Library Journal 60.10 (2014): 127. Novelist, EBSCOhost, (accessed October 24, 2020).

Awards

·        American Youth Indian Literature Award – winner 2016

·        CCBC Choices – selection 2015

·        Notable Books for a Global Society – selection 2015

Connections

·        Plan a field trip to the National Museum of the American Indian in D.C. in tandem with the social studies department.

·        In groups, visit https://www.choctawnation.com/history-culture and choose one aspect of Choctaw life to give a brief synopsis on for the class. Include important facts, people and two interesting facts.

·        Hymnal lyrics were often used in the House of Purple Cedar. Choose one passage that includes a hymnal and research the history of it including an analysis of why you believe the author chose that hymnal and its significance in the novel.