Book Description

Within Cole Matthews lie anger, rage and hate. Cole has been stealing and fighting for years. This time he caught Alex Driscal in the, parking lot and smashed his head against the sidewalk. Now, Alex may have permanent brain damage'and Cole is in the Biggest trouble of his life.

Cole is offered Circle Justice: a system based on Native American traditions that attempts to provide healing for the criminal offender, the victim and the, community. With prison as his only alternative, Cole plays along. He says he wants to repent, but in his heart Cole blames his alcoholic mom his, abusive dad, wimpy Alex -- everyone but himself -- for his situation.

Cole receives a one-year banishment to a remote Alaskan island. There, he is mauled by Mysterious white bear of Native American legend. Hideously injured, Cole waits for his death His thoughts shift from from Anger to humility. To survive, he must stop blaming others and take responsibility for his life. Rescuers arrive to save Cole's but it is the attack of the Spirit Bear that may save his soul.

Ben Mikaelsen paints a vivid picture of a juvenile offender, examining the roots without absolving solving him of responsibility for his actions, and questioning a society in which angry people make victims of their peers and communities. Touching Spirit Bear is a poignant testimonial to the power of a pain that can destroy, or lead to healing

Reviews (67)

Touching Spirit Bear
Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelsen is a compelling story of a teenager's struggle with anger. He is beaten by his father, ignored by his mother, and struggles to understand how he fits into "family". His anger gets the best of him. He beats a classmate so severely that he has brain damage. This time his father can not buy him out of trouble.
Cole's only hope of avoiding a prison sentence is to enter into an alternative program known as Circle Justice. Banished to an isolated island off the coast of Alaska, Cole secretly vows that he will escape and return to civilization, and beat the system. He didn't plan on the mysterious, legendary white bear. Mauled almost to death, Cole awaits his fate and begins a life long journey of controlling his anger from with in. He learns humility and respect for those he once took his anger out on.
Ben Mikaelsen once again writes for the young reader, speaking to them from life experiences. Touching Spirit Bear calls to those readers who are struggling to find acceptance and respect among their peers.

"Touching Spirit Bear"
Cole has a really big anger problem. He is a Juvenile Delinquent and his anger has taken him way too far. After beating up his fellow 9th grade student, Peter Driscol, he was sent too many detention centers. Cole is about to be sentenced to a 'real' prison when his Native American friend comes to his rescue. Cole has two choices, to be sent to a prison or be sent banished to an isolated Alaskan island for a year. Cole has heard the horrible stories about the things that can happen in prison and he decides to try the circle justice thing that his Native American friend had told him about. Cole experiences good and bad changes while being banished that just might change him for the rest of his life. I rate this book a 5/5 stars. The reason is, because think that this book has great description and it could 'hook' anybody. This book is a great book and I recommend it for anybody.

Wow! This book is really amazing!
Touching Spirit Bear is one of the best books I have ever read. It all starts out with a juvenile delinquent who brakes into a store. He was bragging about it in school and a guy named Peter tells on him. After school Peter is badly beaten, he was punched many times and had his head smashed into the concrete. This causes Peter to have brain damage. Then Peter's parents sued Cole for the damage.
Cole isn't a very good kid. He seems to think that everything is below him and he is the dominant person of all the creatures on the earth. Cole really doesn't want to go to jail for the bad things that he has done so he decides to go to the Circle of Trust. The Circle of Trust is a program where instead of going to jail it's a chance for the people to sit and talk about what the person's punishment should be. Cole's and Peter's family went to the Circle of Trust meeting. They decided that Cole's punishment is to go to an island for one year without contact to anyone to find what he really is. He went to the island and as soon as the people who took him out on the island were gone he set the house they had built on fire. His plan was to swim back to the mainland and of on with his life with no one knowing. He soon finds out that it's not that easy and looses all of his energy. He then makes a spear. All of a sudden out of nowhere a huge white bear appears and Cole charges at him, the bear then started to beat Cole up. After the attack Cole lays there with a broken arm, broken hip, and shredded stomach. About a week later people came to bring him supplies, finding Cole lying there almost dead. After a while in the hospital they let Cole go. He wanted to go back to the island because he still didn't want to go to jail. He has to sell all of his belongings to pay for it. Also he has to build his own cabin this time.
If you want to find out what else happens to Cole you have to read the book! I would recommend thins book to anyone. I think the author did a very good job on this book. It doesn't matter if you're a girl or a guy you would both love this book.

Touching Spirit Bear
The book that I am reviewing is Touching Spirit Bear and it is about a fifteen year old cole gaets beaten by his father.Just as cole's father was beaten by his father. Now cole himself is turning violent. He robbed a tool store and he got away with it for a couple of days. until peter his classmate told on him so cole beat him and peter was hospitaized. So cole's parents send him to angermangment classes that didn't help so he gets sent to an island in alaska. They give cole a little hut and supples to survive for a month. He goes walking around the island and he see's the spirit bear and think's that he can beat up the bearlike he did peter the bear broke his arm and leg. Then a few days later the two guys come back and find him on the beach and immedalty take him to a hospital and after he recovered they sent him back to the island for another month and survived.

Touching Spirit Bear
Touching Spirit Bear is a spectacular book. The book was about a boy, Cole Mathews, who has a very hard time controlling his anger. Cole Mathews steals possessions from stores a lot. One day Peter Driscal, a kid from Cole's school, found out that he had broken into the store that the police were trying to find a suspect for and reported it. When Cole found out who told on him, he chased Peter down after school and beat him very harshly. It was so bad that Peter now has problems thinking and has mental problems. When Cole got arrested, he went to court and the judge gave him a chose. The chose was either he could go to jail or Justice Circle and wouldn't have to serve as much time. Like any other kid would he decided to go to Justice Circle. The Justice Circle had some meetings and finally Garvey convinced them to send him to an island for one year so that he could think things out by himself. As he is left at the island he decided he would try to swim island to island and try to get to the United States again. After he was a ways out and starting to cramp up he turned around. At the island he now had no shelter since he burned it down before he left. After a nap he decided to go get some food. He then saw the Spirit Bear and Cole tried to kill it. Yet the bear ripped him to shreds. In fact Cole couldn't move. So when the guy that brings him his supplies saw what had happened he took him back to a hospital. Finally, after he recovered, the Justice Circle had some more meetings. They had to meet with each other to see if they should allow Cole Mathews to return to the island. If you want to see if Cole Mathews gets another shot at the island or if you want to see if Cole can change his life around. Read Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelson. ... Read more

Book Description

This resource is directly related to its literature equivalent and filled with a variety of cross-curricular lessons to do before, during, and after reading the book. This reproducible book includes sample plans, author information, vocabulary building ideas, cross-curriculum activities, sectional activities and quizzes, unit tests, and ideas for culminating and extending the novel. ... Read more

Reviews (338)

Pretty good but a little old fashioned and slow
I am an Elementary education major and had to view the video and compare it to the book for a lesson plan. I thought it accurately depicted a lot of things but was incorrect in a lot of other ways. It did bring the characters to life but left out some key scenes. Rontu in the movie was not one of the wild dogs from the island but was left by the Aleuts whereas in the book he was described as one of the wild dogs. Other than that I found it a bit slow and old fashioned. Overall I thought it was good and would use it with a class to view critically and to compare to the book.

Island of the Blue Dolphin
You Know what a good book is? Island of the Blue Dolphins. Scott O'Dell does a wonderful job telling this girls story of survival, physically and emotionally. This young girl's tribe is forced to leave their island after the Alutes came and killed most of the men in their tribe. The day they are set to leave, this girls little brother is not on the boat and the boat is already pulling away from the cove. So she jumps off and swims to the island to stay with her brother. Soon after she is abandoned, her brother is killed by a pack of wild dogs. Now she is all alone on the Island of the Blue Dolphins.
Scott O'Dell does a wonderful job with this book. This young girl is truly pushed to the limits. Seeing as she is living on her own for years. Her character is such an inspiration. She over came many obstacles to survive. She definitely faces conflict when her brother dies. This was probably her biggest obstacle.
I personally enjoyed this book. I found it truly inspiring. I have never read any of Scott O'Dell's books before. I believe that his other books will be just as good as this one. This story has such a good story line to it. It kind of reminded me of Cast Away. The main characters both had to survive by them self's for a while before getting rescued.

Goes beyond the typical survival book
"Island of The Blue Dolphins" is a classic in every sense in my opinion. After most of her people are killed by some Russians called the Aleuts, Karana has to live on The Island of The Blue Dolphins. While there, she has to learn how to survive alone by making shelter, her own food, etc. She also has to find a way to fend herself of the wild dogs should they turn to attack her, while also watching the seas to make sure the Aleuts don't come back. Will she be on the island alone forever? Will she be rescued by a ship? Karana has to find a way to survive long enough to find out.

"Island of The Blue Dolphins" is one of the best books I've ever read. Unlike many stories of survival, the author, Scott O'Dell doesn't ever sympathize much with what Karana has been through. In the end, it makes the book even better that he didn't reflect too much on Karana's losses. Once you get to a certain point in the story, it will grip you into reading it and not let go until the book is over. There's a lot of things about the book that you probably won't ever forget once you read it. It's pretty much a great and unforgettable book about survival and it couldn't have been written any better if you ask me.

I recommend anybody who likes great books that are about survival to get "Island of The Blue Dolphins." It's so good that it goes beyond the typical survival book, and you'll know what I mean when you finish reading it. It has elements of many other kinds of stories, and it's very compelling. It's a 5 star book without a doubt.

Pretty Darn Dull!
My daughter had to read this book this year in the 4th grade. She was so bored by it, that I had to read it aloud to her so that she could pass the weekly chapter quizes. About the only interesting or exciting events were Karana's experiences with the wild dogs. Her trip away from the island in the canoe went on for about 10 pages, and all it was about was the canoe leaking. If these are the types of books that are supposed to motivate kids to become interested in reading, I'm afraid we are going to alot of non-reading adults. UGH!

Not Quite Perfect
I read Island of the Blue Dolphins for a required reading book. The book is really good and exciting most of the time, but the end is really bad. It literally ends right in the middle of the book. Nothing is explained and it really doesn't make sense. That is why I give this book 3 stars. ... Read more

Product Description

A story about a boy and a girl growing up on a Bahamian island in 1492. A story of coming-of-age. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Powerful!
It is incredibly powerful and emotional. Morning Girl and herbrother Star Boy are full-dimensional characters - Taino people in1492. The book shows several aspects of their lives before the Europeans come along. Children should read this book to understand other cultures.

A confusing and boring book, not recommended by kids.
The book Morning Girl was about two Taino children named Morning girl, who is polite, mature, smart and an early riser, and her brother Star Boy, who is childish, playful, always hungry and likes the night, and their life on a Bahamian island, in 1492, before the arrival of Christopher Columbus. One day Star Boy pretends to be a rock because he is afraid his father will get mad at him for not pulling the canoe onto the shore. The canoe nearly got pulled away with the tide. Father accuses Morning Girl, and Star Boy decides this is not fair, so he comes back. Morning girl wants to know what she looks like, so she goes to mother and compares the feeling of mother's face to the feeling of her own face, and then she goes to father and sees her reflection in his eyes. The wind is strong one day and there is going to be a storm. Unfortunately, Star Boy gets stuck in the storm, which blows him to next to a tree, where he talks to the spirit of grandfather. Then there is exiting news. Their mother is going to have a baby, but they are all disappointed when their mother has a miscarriage. There is a food festival and Star Boy humiliates himself by running around and eating all the food, but Morning Girl saves him by doing the same thing. After that, Morning Girl is swimming in the ocean and sees two people in a canoe. They seemed to be from a different place.

This was not a good book. It was very boring and had not only a lame plot but also a slow-moving plot. The plot was that their life is going to be ruined by the Spanish. But the book didn't even say what happened to them. It was incredibly confusing. You have to read the beginning over and over to understand what is happening with the first few chapters. After awhile, you finally figure out that the chapters rotate. If you are a child, don't read this book. It is an adult book. I don't recommend it even for adults. It was just boring and there is no way to change it. Don't waste your time on this book.

Beautiful
This book spoke to me on a higher level than that of a history lesson or of good literature, and surely this book is both of those things. However, anyone who has seen the magic and mystery in his own children will understand and appreciate the soft spots of this tenderly crafted tale. The words are lovely, the characters are realistic, and the tapestry Mr. Dorris attempts to weave with his words comes out as a masterpiece of the human condition.

abouslutly TERRIBLE and really should be 0 stars,
When I first picked up this book, I thought it would be an interesting historical ficiton novel. I thought I would enjoy it, and maybe learn a little too. I didn't enjoy it, and I don't remember learning much except that Morning Girl is a great book to read when you have insomina. The thing I reallly hated about this book is that there is NO plot whatsoever. I understand that the author wantend to make the book feel realaxing and idalyicc, but he went a little to far. The basic rules of fictional stories are that there is to be a promblem that the main charecter(s) should have to solve. I leanend that in about second grade.Apprently the author never learnend this. Maybe he was writing this book during english clas, but his manuscript was so boring he fell asleep. Another thing that really annoyed me is that on the back cover (or at least on the copy that I had)it said the book takes place when Columbus comes to the island. That was really what peaked my intrest in the first place. I was looking to see the peaceful indians clash with the powerful european explorers. Alas, this was not to be. Columbus didn't come to the LAST PAGE! I'm not exagerrating, he really didn't come untill the end of the story. Uh.. Hello, aren't you supposed to have important things happen at the BEGGING of your story. Maybe the authour was trying to document the last days of the peaceful carib indians civallaztion, but he failed spectatuclerly. My last comment isn't a major one, but it was irritating none the less. I found it very difficlut to diffenentiate the chapters from morning girls point of view, and star boys. Yes, I know it said so at the top of the page, but I kept missing it, and I often would read half a chapeter before relizing who's pov it was. Not that the charecters are interesting enough for me to really care what happens to them. In counclusion, this book really sucks, you shouldn't waste your money on it, and I'm very thankful I got it from the libary. I only wasted my time. The only reasons one should ever torture themselves with this poor excuse for a book is if your a detective investigating literary abuse, or if your trying to get to sleep. You'll be out like a light.

bringing siblings together
This is a great book if you have a younger brother or sister. I do and I was able to realte to Morning Girl. This book was about the stuggels families go through. Through all their differences they all know that deep down they still love each other. This is a great book for all of you that are struggleing with your siblings! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Thirteen-year-old Salamanca Tree Hiddle's mother has disappeared.While tracing her steps on a car trip from Ohio to Idaho with her grandparents, Salamanca tells a story to pass the time about a friend named Phoebe Winterbottom whose mother vanished and who received secret messages after her disappearance. One of them read, "Don't judge a man until you have walked two moons in his moccasins."Despite her father's warning that she is "fishing in the air," Salamanca hopes to bring her home. By drawing strength from her Native American ancestry, she is able to face the truth about her mother. Walk Two Moons won the 1995 Newbery Medal. ... Read more

Reviews (503)

Creech's Walk Two Moons
In the exciting tale of Salmanaca Tree Hiddle, Sharon Creech does an excellent job of portraying the story of this young girl's life. Walk Two Moons is a sincerely touching account of Sal's journey, told in the form of two distinct story lines. Sal's mother leaves her and her father in Bybanks, Kentucky and shortly there after, upon hearing that her mother will not return, Sal's father packs up their belongings and the two move to Euclid, Ohio. Gramps and Grams take Sal on a road trip to go visit her mother, who is in Lewiston, Idaho, for her birthday. On their way, Sal tells them of her adventures with a new friend in Euclid, Phoebe Winterbottom. The two girls act as mini-detectives trying to solve the strange mysteries they encounter together. Between the secret messages left on Phoebe's doorstep, to the lunatic they see in their neighborhood, the girls come to share experiences that impact them in many ways. With stops all along the way, Sal eventually makes it to Lewiston in time for her mother's birthday. Up to this point, Creech leaves many loose ends floating along; finally all the loose ends come together in the end. Sal realizes that through the story of Phoebe, she has learned more about herself and her own story.
Sharon Creech is a talented writer who portrays each character in a precise way. I was most impressed with the realistic description of each character and could see them in my head as I read. They were real people who had real problems that I feel most readers could connect with. The structure of the book is such that it keeps the reader interested and guessing what will happen next. There are many twists and turns in plot. Because of that unique structure, the book is one that readers will not want to put down.

"Walk Two Moons" Class Book Review
In this book review are some things that our class liked and disliked. Read this book review to see if you're interested in reading "Walk Two Moons", by Sharon Creech.

One of the best things in this story within a story is the characters. Sal is a 13 year old girl with long dark hair. She came from Bybanks, Kentucky and moved to Ohio. In this book Sal goes on a trip with her grandmother and grandfather, and in another plot, she's telling the story of trying to find out who "thelunatic" is. Sal has a new friend in Ohio named Phoebe Winterbottom. Phoebe lives in Euclid, Ohio where Sal moved. Phoebe is a worry wart. She worries about everthing in her path. Her mother disappeared and they have no idea where she went until the end of the book.

Another good thing about "Walk Two Moons" is that there are a few cliffhangers. Like when Sal and Phoebe try to find out who was leaving the mysterious notes at the end of the chapter. Another example is when Sal tells her father that she left something under the flloboards in her room at their house in Baybanks, Kentucky.

In the book "Walk Two Moons," Sharon Creech puts in good details. An example of that is the characters are described so well. In "Walk Two Moons" Phoebe doesn't like cholesterol and how Sal is emotional when either her mom dies or if her grandmother dies. Another good detail is the vocabulary in the book. Some words are gooseberry, chickabiddy, Ill-ah-no-way, Huzza, Huzzo, and Id-e-ho are some vocabulary in the book "Walk Two Moons".

There are a lot of things that are sad in this book. A lot of people in this book died because there was a really bad accident on a bus. Sal finds out what really hapens to her mother.

If you like a book that's mysterious and funny and sad, this is the book for you.

My Favorite Book!
Salamanca Tree Hiddle is a "country" girl at heart. When her father and she move to Ohio, Sal's life is turned upside down. But Sal leaves, with her strange grandparents, to go to Idaho to find her mother. Along the way, Salamanca tells the story of Pheobe Winterbottom, a girl whose mother suddely leaves her family. Slowly, Sal realizes that her own story is beneaths Pheobe's.
Walk Two Moons has to be Creech's masterpeice. No wonder it won the Newbery. :~D

Not So Great
Before reading this book by Sharon Creech, I had read Bloomability and Ruby Holler by Sharon Creech which were simply fantastic. However, I don't know how on earth this became an award winning book.

In the beginning, it is really good but the interupptions by her grandparents are somewhat annoying. Phoebe, the girl who turns out to be her friend is sort of--well, off the wall.

Also, Salamanca (the main character), to be a thirteen year old, has some dumb and immature ideas. At some points, I thought I was reading about a five year old.

It is also stupid how Salamanca finds out about how mother died.

It makes no since how her grandfather allows her to drive when she's just 13.

Overall, I give this book 3 stars.

Review of Walk Two Moons
I really enjoyed this book because it had a lot of suspenseful, sudden, scary, and sad moments. As Salamanca tells her story you can picture the places she visits, and you can feel, with intensity, what she is feeling. Although it is heartbreaking when Salamanca finds out that her mother had died, it is still an outstanding book. I would reccommend this book to anyone who likes scary mysteries. ... Read more

Book Description

Her name is Omakayas, or Little Frog, because her first step was a hop, and she lives on an island in Lake Superior.It is 1850, and the lives of the Ojibwe have returned to a familiar rhythm: they build their birchbark houses in the summer, go to the ricing camps in the fall to harvest and feast, and move to their cozy cedar log cabins near the town of LaPointe before the first snows.

The satisfying routines of Omakayas's days are interrupted by a surprise visit from a group of desperate and mysterious people. From them, she learns that all their lives may drastically change. The chimookomanag, or white people, want Omakayas and her people to leave their island in Lake Superior and move farther west. Omakayas realizes that something so valuable, so important that she never knew she had it in the first place, is in danger: Her home. Her way of life.

In this captivating sequel to National Book Award nominee The Birchbark House, Louise Erdrich continues the story of Omakayas and her family.

Reviews (39)

Excellent book!
This was a very special book. I read it aloud to my children, ages 9, 7 and 5 and each of them loved it. The Birchbark House was touching, exciting, funny, and interesting. I came to this site hoping that Louise Erdrich had already written another book about this family, but it doesn't appear that she has. Hopefully soon!

Everybody should read this wonderful book!
The Birchbark House was a good book and I think Louise Erdrich
is a wonderful author and illustrator. The part I liked the most was when the main character Omakayas's grandmother Nokomis told her a story in the winter. It was about Nokomis when she was a little girl. When the visitor came and brought smallpox and Omakayas's little brother died it was very sad. All in all, everyone should read this book.

A different kind of little house in the big woods
A great tale. Author Louise Erdrich, a member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Ojibwa, has written a story of 1847 Ojibwa life. The book is truly a labor of love, including such amazing elements as a detailed map of the area in which her story takes place, a glossary of terms, and multiple sources considered during the writing of this tale. Even more, the book is a compact series of small vignettes of standard Ojibwa life, crushing stereotypes and myths with sure swift prose. Erdrich has written a story that has truly created its own separate niche.

Omakayas (or Little Frog) lives in a sturdy birchbark house in a land doomed one day to become Wisconsin. With her family we see her step through the paces of day to day existence. The book encompasses a single year in Omakayas's life; one filled with as much terror and despair as love and hope. Helping her family to battle smallpox, find food in a desperate winter, and deal with the small details imperative to survival, we watch Omakayas grow from an uncertain young girl to a competent, if still learning, young woman.

The book is almost an answer to the Laura Ingels Wilder tales. Truth be told, the two titles have much in common. Both deal implicitly with Native American/white settler relations. Both look at the details of daily life, realistically describing everything from food preparation to parties. Even the illustrations of the book (drawn by author Erdrich herself) bear a great resemblance to the Garth Williams' pics we remember so well from the Little House books. But Erdrich has the benefit of hindsight and (let's face it) superior knowledge concerning the ways of both the whites and the Ojibwa. Her writing expertly allows her to create interesting variegated personalities that trump the one-dimensional stick figure Indians Wilder relied on so heavily. These characters have a harsh, but really great life. There's the buffoon, Albert LaPautre (half French) who continually claims to have had meaningful visions and dreams. There's Old Tallow, a powerful woman of her own means, surrounded by a pack of wolf-dogs and wearing coats woven from a variety of different furs. And then there's Omakayas herself, dreaming true visions and meeting true woodland creatures, even going so far as to train a crow of her own.

The books ends with this sentence, "Omakayas tucked her hands behind her head, lay back, closed her eyes, and smiled as the song of the white-throated sparrow sank again and again through the air like a shining needle, and sewed up her broken heart". It's an ending that contains a lot of hope for the future. Erdrich does not dwell on the fate that may lay in store for Omakayas and her beloved family. We know what will happen. It's enough to see them happy at this moment alone. "The Birchbark House" is a courageous creation, one that I'm certain will please even the most merciless of Erdrich's critics. Full of well rounded characters, a gripping plot, and wonderful tangents it's one of the best ways to introduce kids to a different time and place.

A Great Book
I really liked The Birchbark House. My favorite part was probably when Omakayas visited Old Tallow's house, and got scared because of of the dogs. Then Old Tallow came out and got the dog to go away. I hope that Loise Erdrich writes another book like this one!

The Birchbark House
Louise Erdrich is a wonderful story writer. She wrote the book with feelings. When the main characters Ten Snow and Baby Neewo died I felt like I had known the characters like they were my friends. When Old Tallow told Omakayas that she was the only survivor from Spirit Island it felt real. In conclusion, I think Louise Erdrich is a wonderful story writer. ... Read more

Book Description

The Cherokees call The Trail of Tears Nunda¹utsun¹yi, or ³The Place Where the People Cried.² In Joseph Bruchac¹s Scholastic debut, Jesse Smoke, his mother, and his sisters are forced to abandon their home, their land, and their possessions when they and several thousand other Cherokees are forced west on The Trail of Tears. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

The Journal of Jesse Smoke
The Journal of Jesse Smoke
If you like historical fiction then I think you should read The Journal of Jesse Smoke because it was very exciting. It was exciting when the soldiers came to take all the Indians away. I thought that was interesting because then a white man tried to steal a house when a soldier beat him up. Then they went to the fort. Many died. They called it the Trail of Tears.
The Journal of Jesse Smoke is about how the Cherokee and the Creek Indians have to live in forts. They think it is very unpleasant. Then a lot of Indians die. Most of them are very weak or and ill.
The soldiers wanted the Indian's land so they came and kicked them out. Some of the Indians refused to go so then the soldiers killed them. I thought that was very mean and sad.

11-19-2002
Amozon.com

Jesse Smoke's Journal
If you like historical fiction, then I think you should read The Journal of Jesse Smoke because it was very exciting. It was exciting when the soldiers came to take all the Cherokee and Creeke Indians. I thought that was interesting because then a white man came trying to steal the house when a soilder beat up. Then, they went to a lot of forts. Many died. The Cherokee and Creeke Indians called that journey the Trail of Tears.
THE END

Great
I LOVE Dear America and this was one of the best ones. I really learned a lot from it for my research topic the trail of tears.

The Trail of Tears
Jesse and his fellow Cherokee people have lived on the land for generations. Their ancestors grew old and died on the same Georgian land. However life changes suddendly in 1838 as the Treaty of New Enchota forces him and his mother and sister off of their land. At first like many of his people his family refuses to go. However in the middle of the night one night they were forced harshfully to move out. Jesse knows life will never be the same again as he sees the harships, sickness, death, hunger, fatigue, and sorrow in his Cherokee people. The "Trail of Tears" was truly a sad time in our nation's history.

A Cherokee boy keeps a journal on the Trail of Tears.
Sixteen-year-old Jesse Smoke's Cherokee ancestors have lived peacefully on the land for generations. Jesse's own family once owned a large, successful, plantation, until the family was driven off their land by white people, who then killed his father. Now, Jesse, his mother, and his two sisters live on a small, backwoods farm in Tennessee. But even there, they are not allowed to keep their land. All the Cherokees are ordered to leave their homes and move west to Indian Territory, part of present-day Oklahoma. Those that refuse, among them Jesse's family, are rounded up in the night, their homes burnt to the ground as they watch, and then taken to overcrowded stockades to await their forced journey west. Jesse tells the heartbreaking story of the tragic journey his people come to call the "Trail of Tears." I reccomend this book to all My Name is America fans. ... Read more

Book Description

One lovely spring day, fourteen-year-old Bright Morning and her friend Running Bird take their sheep to pasture. The sky is clear blue against the red buttes of the Canyon de Chelly, and the fields and orchards of the Navahos promise a rich harvest. Bright Morning is happy as she gazes across the beautiful valley that is the home of her tribe. Happy until the barking of Black Dog disturbs her and she tums. It is then that she sees the Spanish slavers riding straight toward her. ... Read more

Reviews (49)

Review
A Review by Erik

One Spring Day two Indians from the Canyon de Chelly named Bright Morning, her
Black Dog, and friend Running Bird that finally turned fourteen. They decide to take their sheep to a mesa to feed. When the sheep were grazing Bright Morning's black dog barked and they turned around and saw two riders with twoextra horses that asked for directions but were really Spanish Slavers that
captured them.... Will they get away?

I like this book because of how it doesn't bore you with too much detail but get a good description of how everything looks. In the beginning you find out
that it's a spring day and gives a small amount of detail about the surroundings. Something I didn't like was how you don't really get a good character description. You barely know if they are a man or woman and their names are like Running Bird or Bright Morning. I also like that it lets you learn about the time period when the Spaniard's are taking slaves for there
cities. You get to see how they felt about this and how the people treated the Navaho's and what the Spaniard's were like.

The people I would recommend this book to would have to like historicalfiction. I think that it was a good story on how to learn about how the Spaniard's take the Navaho Indian's to be their Slaves as well as what their
lives were similar to.

"A good short story"
Sing Down the Moon is a story written by Scott O'Dell about a Navaho girl named Bright Morning. This is a very interesting book for those people out there that perfer an adventure over sitting on the couch. This story is about when Bright Morning being able to finally take her mother's sheep out during spring with her friend Running Bird. Then, all of a sudden, Spanish slaves appear over the hill to capture children, later to be sold. Of course they capture Bright Morning and Running Bird. They travel to a town where Bright Morning recognized no one and was sold to a lady that was very kind to her, yet Bright Morning was still unhappy. Later she met a girl named Nehana who also wants to escape. Will they escape? You have to read to find out. This book was a little too short for my taste, but nonetheless it was very exciting! The book leaves you wondering: What's going to happen next? Is she going to make it? I normally don't like historical fictions, but for this book I'll make an exception.

Some of the truth about the long walk.
When I read this book I thought that the book was interesting and at the sametime a little sad. I thought it was sad because my ancestors were the one that had to suffer the hard times through the Long walk. The Soldiers were the one that had no repect for the Navajos. They were the one that would shoot any one that would stop, just because an eldery person had to stop to take a break or a Navajo lady was about to have a baby.

I think if some of the Soldiers ever regret what they did to the Navajo's. Even thought they may have just rode the horses along side of the Navajo's that were walking for more then 300 miles. To different places and showing them to they people at Santa Fe. Kit Carson was a mean and hateful guy to the Navajo's

that is all i have to say about the Long Walk.
I hope that it never happen agian, and that the Navajo's fought for us to keep this wonderful and beautful place full of adventure.

Singing Down the Moon
1. SDM took place over a period of two year, starting in spring and ending in spring. The book starts of in a village called Canyon de Chelly, which is located in Arizona. As Bright Morning was tending her sheep one day a pack of Spaniards came and took Bright Morning and her friend, Running Bird. The Spaniards took her and Running Moon to a village where they were to be slave girls. After being there for a little while Bright Morning and Running Bird run away from the village with help from their friend, Nehana (also a slave girl). Final they return home to their village. Then not soon after they are forced out of their village by the "Long Knives". For a few days they hide in a mesa above their village. Finally they are forced to leave because of the supply of food and water is low. When they come down form they mesa they are captured by the "Long Knives". The Long Knives Force the Navahos to go on a long journey to Bosque Redondo. This journey was 300 miles long and called the "Long Walk". After being in Bosque Redondo and getting married to Tall Boy, Bright Morning and Tall Boy run away and go to Canyon de Chelly where she has her baby boy, but then they have to leave because they saw some Long Knives. Finally they end up in Hidden Canyon were Bright Morning used to tend her sheep. There they find supplies that Bright Morning had put in a cave in case of an emergency a few years back.
SDM took place around 1863-1865, over a period of two years. The book started in the spring in the year of the deer. In early 1864, the Navaho tribe was forced on the "Long Walk" to Bosque Redondo. Bright Morning and Tall Boy stay there until 1865, when they decide to run away. Then the book ends in 1865 in the season of spring.
2. Bright Morning is brave, "I had never been afraid before, or only once." (O'Dell 3) She is also obedient, "Tall Boy will marry her only because she is pretty and obedient" (O'Dell 9) Bright Morning is caring. "one girl about my age was caring two young children on her back. They were heavy for her and I asked if I could carry one of them for her" (O'Dell 80)
3. SDM is about a 14 year old girl named, Bright Morning. While tending for her sheep one day she is kidnapped by some Spaniards. Then she ends up running away. Then the Long Knives force her Navaho tribe to flee there land forcing them to live on a run down piece of land along with other tribes, called Bosque Redondo. After being there for a little under two years she gets married to Tall Boy. They decide to run away. They finally end up back at their village with there new born son, but they have to go to a place called Hidden Canyon.

anouther great book by Scott O'Dell
I would recomend this book to people with indian back round because it gives you a little knoulege on what indians went through in those days.

This book is exiting and keeps you on your toes.This Is a great book for everyone I recomend you read it.

Sincerly
Hillary ... Read more

Amazon.com

This exceptional board-book tells a beautiful and timeless story about a daughter's attempt to find the limit of her mother's love. Barbara Lavallee's exquisite illustrations of Alaska, with their exaggeratedly foreshortened perspective and rich tones of violet, blue-gray, and gray-green, tell of an easy declaration ("I love you more than the raven loves his treasure, more than the dog loves his tail, more than the whale loves his spout") that is pushed, and pushed, and ("What if I put salmon in your parka ... and ermine in your mukluks?") pushed. There's a quiet joyfulness in both the antics of the Inuit mother and daughter and in the animals--including a polar bear and a musk ox--that the daughter imagines she might become. A charming story for mothers and daughters of all ages. (Baby to preschool) --Richard Farr ... Read more

Reviews (25)

Great Message, Great Book
This story focuses on one simple question that every child thinks at one point or another. The question is whether their parents will always love them no matter what the child does. This story confirms for children young and old, that no matter what they do, their parents (mama) will still love them.

The story is delightfully told from the perspective of the Intuit culture. The mischief the child creates deals with things that are unique to that culture such as accidentally dropping ptarmigan eggs, spilling the oil in the family's lamp, slipping an emrine in mama's mukluks or turning into a Walrus. My son and I enjoy talking about how different cultures live and what they believe and this book has started some fun conversations.

I believe the story does not prompt children into asking the "wrong" question as mentioned in other reviews. The story promotes the idea of a parent's love and acceptance no matter what their little hellion does and does it with a wonderful story and captivating artwork. This has become one of our favorite books.

Children are allowed to ask questions...
This book is a great example of a child probing for answers. "Mama, Do You Love Me?" allows a child to seek out the boundaries of a mother's love. It touches upon cause and effect, with the chid daring the mother to still love even if she does the most horrible things. The mother's response is that although she would be sad, she would still love her child.

I thought this book was a great teaching tool to say, "I love you, my child, even when you do things that are not so nice."

Good book for boy or girl
I was a little put off by the idea that this is a "great book for mothers and daughters". Just because the child in the story is a girl does not mean that this book is not for boys too. My three year old son loves this book and so do I!

Too much for the age level for which it's intended
There are about 10 words in this book I could not define without pulling out the dictionary. Heck..a few I can't even pronounce!
I'm all for introducing children to different cultures (such as the Eskimo culture depicted in this book) but this book is intended for babies and toddlers, who are barely getting the hang of their own culture. By the time my child can read this book on her own, she won't ask, "Mama, do you love me?" She'll ask, "Mama, What's a ptmargin egg and a mukluk?"

Comments from The Spiritual Reviewer
Love is the only thing that really matters! There's no mistaking the powerful allure of unconditional love in this young children's book, which has just been republished in a 10th anniversary commemorative edition.

Mama, Do You Love Me? depicts an Inuit mother who loves her daughter, no matter what. Throughout the story the daughter repeatedly asks, "Mama, do you love me?" She comes up with many intriguing and playful reasons why the mother might be persuaded to withhold love. For example, what if the daughter broke the ptarmigan eggs? What if she put lemmings in her mother's mukluks? The mother does not hide or lie about her feelings. Sometimes she says she would be surprised, or angry, or scared, but these variable emotions do not change her love for her daughter. Her daughter is her Dear One, always and forever.

This story is best suited for a young child, but it may also be interesting to anyone who's very keen on Alaska or Inuit life.

This book received a score of 7.50 on a scale of (1) low to 10 (high) from The Spiritual Reviewer. ... Read more

Amazon.com

What could be better than a magic cupboard that turns small toys into living creatures? Omri's big brother has no birthday present for him, so he gives Omri an old medicine cabinet he's found. Although their mother supplies a key, the cabinet still doesn't seem like much of a present. But when an exhausted Omri dumps a plastic toy Indian into the cabinet just before falling asleep, the magic begins. Turn the key once and the toy comes alive; turn it a second time and it's an action figure again.

The Indian in the Cupboard is one of those rare books that is equally appealing to children and adults. The story of Omri and the Indian, Little Bear, is replete with subtle reminders of the responsibilities that accompany friendship and love. For kids, it'sa great yarn; for most parents, it's also a reminder that Omri's wrenching decision to send his toy back to its own world is not so different from the recognition of their children's emerging independence.

The Indian in the Cupboard is also available in Spanish (La Llave Magica.) (The publisher recommends this book for children ages 9-12, although younger kids will enjoy hearing it read aloud.) ... Read more

Reviews (73)

This book is a magical return to childhood fantasies
One of the best read aloud books ever, Indian in the Cupboard takes us on a magical journey to childhood where fantasies seem real. A young boy is in charge of a tiny, feisty indian whom he keeps in a special cupboard with a key that only he holds. He learns the excitement, value and caretaking responsibility of another human being. The imagination and detail draw the reader right into the story. As a school teacher and mother, I have experienced an emotional bonding with my students and son through this book. My son, 9 at the time, put his hands over his face and said, "Mom, this is my favorite book in the whole world." I felt a surge of joy as I watched my son become hooked on reading. One student unknowingly gave Lynne Reid Banks a wonderful compliment when I attempted to show the class a sketch of a picture in the book..."No! Don't show us the pictures!", and quickly covered his face. The descriptions and story-line of this book make it a DON'T MISS for your child's growing up years! RaNae Palme

probably my favorite kid's book ever
Mrs. Bedwell read this book out loud to my third grade class, and years later as I finish up grad school it still holds a special place in my heart.
The adventure begins when Omri discovers that a magical cupboard given to him on his birthday brings to life plastic toys. When he animates Little Bear, a plastic indian that lived about the time of the French Indian War, Omri's perspective on life changes.
What's special about this book is the how resectfully and seriously it takes the it's young characters and their conflicts. Omri and his friend Patrick discover that Little Bear is no toy, he is a real human being with actual life experiences. He has killed people, eats and sleeps, and remembers his own life and culture. As the two boys deal with the reality of keeping a real person concealed from others, they realize that they can't trifle with others' lives. It is this realization, and Omri's ultimate decision regarding Little Bear that make this a lovely coming of age story. Omri and Patrick learn to repect others and their beliefs.
Although Little Bear, the Native American toy brought to life is called an Indian, this book, I feel, is not chracterized by racism or stereotypes. Little Bear is not a western move redman, he's a real human being with a real human personality, and portrayed respectfully and realistically (as much as he can be, considering the plot).
This book is a definite must read for any kid, or kid at heart, who wonders what would happen if toys came to life.
"The Indian in the Cupboard" is one of four books, thought this one is the best. The final book, in which readers learn what makes the cuboard magical in the first place, detracts from the magic amd mystery of the first three books.

Review of the Audiobook - Educators Beware
I recently purchased the audiobook of The Indian in the Cupboard for use in my classroom. I work with students who struggle with their reading and reading along with an audiobook increases student comprehension of the material. I was disappointed to discover that the author (Lynne Reid Banks) changed parts of the audio version. At first, I only noticed a few changes, such as trousers for leggings. Then I discovered that she completely changed parts of the text by doing adding descriptions and by changing Little Bear's name to Little Bull. I'm not sure why the author felt it necessary to make these changes, but it makes it difficult for students to follow along in the book when the audiobook does not follow the text word for word. If you plan to use the audiobook in an educational setting, be aware of these changes.

On the plus side, Lynne Reid Banks has a very pleasant reading voice. It is enjoyable to listen to her.

The Indian In the Cupboard a review by Curtiss
Have you ever wished your toys would come to life? In the novel Indian

In The Cupboard the author Lynne Reid Banks tells us about a little boy

named Omri and his mysterious cupboard he got for his birthday. Omri then

places an Indian doll into the cupboard.

It is Omri's birthday and he gets an antique cupboard that can bring toys

to life. One of my favorite parts of the story is when Boone gets shot by one

of Little Bear's arrows when Omri, Little Bear, and Boone are watching a

movie about the old western times. In the movie the cowboys and Indians

are shooting back and forth until Little Bear gets frustrated and shoots an

arrow and it hits Boone.

Another one of my favorite parts in the book is when Omri and Little

bear and Boone are in the school . Little Bear and Boone are in a pouch

and Omri's friend has the pouch. Then Omri's friend is getting ready to

show a student Little bear and Boone. Omri and his friend then get into a fight.

If you want to see what happens to Little Bear and Omri, I would invite and encourage you to read Indian In The Cupboard.

The indian in the cupboard
My book I reviewed was the Indian in the cupboard. I liked this book a lot. Its about a young boy named Omri who has a poor family. For his birthday he gets a wooden cupboard for his birthday and finds a magical key to lock it. Omri finds out that the little key and the cupboard turn plastic to life. He puts a little indian in and over night it turns real. The little indian and Omri become friends, but Omri has trouble hiding him from his family and from friends. The setting takes place mostly at Omris house and school. The theme is friendship. I liked the story and i incourage others to read it. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Kaya Boxed Set
I have this set. It is enjoyable because you don't have to take the books out from a libray. I took the first book out and I also took out the third( the second was taken out). Its nice to have a boxed set so you know where they all are. The books---I enjoyed them alot. But the only thing is that some of the books(like book 1) I didn't enjoy as much as the others. I give this boxed set a high 4 stars!

Excellent Books
Last Christmas, just after she turned 5, my daughter received the present she wanted most--the complete set of Kaya books, her first experience of the American Girls. We began reading them together right away, and she loved them. While the reading level is higher than most of the American Girls books, she had few problems with comprehension as I read the text aloud. She began using many of the Nez Perce words she learned from the story--for some time, her daddy became "Toe-Ta" and I was "Eetsa." Another reviewer complained about the Native American religious beliefs scattered about the text. I found these to be in context for the character (after all, what would one expect given the culture and the time?), and when our faith differs from what is written in the book, it made for some good discussion. Kaya is a character who comes across as real--she makes mistakes, she has doubts, frustrations, and fears. What makes her a great character is that she learns from her mistakes and meets her fears head on with courage. Katie and I look forward to reading more American Girls books together over the years. Our introduction to them has made us eager for more.

I'm stunned!
My nine-year-old daughter and I read the Kaya stories several months ago. Now I'm ordering an extra set for her school library.

This is one of the two or three best American Girl series. The stories couldn't be more gripping and believable; and Kaya couldn't be more delightful. The stories also do a wonderful job of teaching about the Nez Perce.

Now, placing my order, I'm stunned to discover that your two featured reviews are critical of these books. Very idiosyncratic reactions. Go to the children's section of any bookstore and ask the staff what their customers think. Girls love these stories.

Also, you might include in your "If you liked this book . . ." listings Kathleen Ernst's "Trouble at Fort LaPointe."

Fie on the reviewers who panned Kaya. They're mistaken.

hmmm...
the book has alot of indian religious things cluttering it's pages. it was written on a very easy level compared to some of the other books. I was very dissapointed in the series. good morals were portrayed.

HOORAY FOR KAYA...BOO FOR HER STORIES
Kaya is currently the newest addition to the American Girls Collection. A nine-year-old Nez Perce girl growing up in the Northwest in 1764, Kaya's stories differ in many ways from the rest of the characters in the series...but are alike in many ways to the rest of the characters. Kaya starts out as a girl who only thinks of herself and thusly earns the nickname of "Magpie" after a bird known only for caring about itself. Like in the Josefina stories, foreign words appear in Kaya's books, but are explained in the back of each book with a brief glossary. An explanation for this is also in the front of the book, where readers are also taught the proper way to say Kaya's name. However, Kaya's books are longer and are a slightly harder read than some of the other books in the series. I would recommend them for children age 8 and over. As a 19 year old, I at times had a hard time following through with the story, as Kaya's parents aren't called the typical "Mom" and "Dad" like the other characters. My main gripes with her books were that some appeared to be filler. Sure, the Nez Perce had routine in their lives. But so did Felicity, Josefina, Kirsten, Addy, Samantha, Kit, and Molly. It just seems that Kaya's stories are somewhat flat. My favorites were books 3 and 4: Kaya's Hero and Kaya and Lone Dog. These two books had more adventure to them than the rest and showed a different side to Kaya and her tribe. Having some Cherokee anscestry in my veins, I had a hard time believing that the Nez Perce were that boring! I can, to some point, understand why the books do not follow the patterns of the rest in the series: Kaya did not go to school--she was taught by her family. Kaya and her tribe had probably never heard of Christmas, either, since Christmas is a holiday of the Christian variety. As for the quality--Kaya's boxed set is very nice--I bought the... hardcover set. Like all the rest of the books, they are well made. The box stands by itself--it's hard cardboard. The books are sewn tight and the covers and jackets are nice. I work in a library, and have often heard the children's librarian remark about how well made the American Girls Collection books are--they can circulate (check out) for over 100 times before being discarded. That's a rare feat--most books end up being thrown out by the time they are checked out 50 times! Despite the fact that Kaya's story is lackluster, Kaya herself was really well written about. But it's the other things that aren't explained in the book. I would have loved to hear more about what the Nez Perce think of Coyote, of whom most of their legends are devoted to. It was little unexplained things like that that had me lost--since in some of the stories, Kaya and her family and tribe say and do things that are not explained very well to the reader. ... Read more

Book Description

Sacred fire means longevity and hope. It is part of the Four Great Ancestors--Water, Air, Earth, and Fire--necessary for all life. It is the old man's job to keep the sacred fire burning, so that the Indian people can remember the ways of their ancestors.

Using the old man as her guide, Nancy Wood chronicles the history, legends, religion, and philosophy of the Pueblo Indians of the Southwest in poetry and prose. Frank Howell's magnificent paintings evoke the pride and nobility of an embattled people whose history has much to teach us and whose wisdom can enrich our lives. ... Read more

Book Description

The next day was my fourteenth birthday, and I'd never kissed a boy -- domestic style or French. Right then, I decided to get myself a teen life.

Cassidy Rain Berghoff didn't know that the very night she decided to get a life would be the night that Galen would lose his.

It's been six months since her best friend died, and up until now Rain has succeeded in shutting herself off from the world. But when controversy arises around her aunt Georgia's Indian Camp in their mostly white midwestern community, Rain decides to face the outside world again -- at least through the lens of her canera.

Hired by her town newspaper to photograph the campers, Rain soon finds that she has to decide how involved She wants to become in Indian Camp. Does she want to keep a professional distance from the intertribal community she belongs to? And just how willing is she to connect with the campers after her great loss?

In a voice that resonates with insight and humor, Cynthia Leitich Smith tells of heartbreak, recovery, and reclaiming one's place in the world.

Reviews (16)

Don't wait for a rainy day to read this one!
Cassidy Rain Berghoff learns on the morning of her 14th birthday that her best friend has died. During her journey towards healing, she uses photography both as an opening to connect with those around her and as a shield. She reluctantly gets involved with her Aunt's Indian Camp, and learns about her family, her peers, and herself. Through her discoveries and support from family and friends, she learns to cope with misconceptions and grief.

RAIN IS NOT MY INDIAN NAME is entertaining and provocative while addressing death and multicultural issues. Cynthia Leitich Smith effectively weaves the multicultural aspect gently through the story. I never felt bashed over the head. As a Japanese-American, I identified with Rain and her ambiguous feelings towards her heritage. Strong characters, evocative small-town setting, wonderful story, and a touch of humor make RAIN a must read.

Wow! Very highly recommended!
Cassidy Rain Berghoff plans a kiss under the mistletoe to mark her new life, her birthday, and her new beginning. Galen has been her best friend through "lemonade stands, arcade games, spelling bees and science fairs." When he gives her a beautiful necklace for her birthday, something shifts. Trust Galen to show it first. But she believes there will be many days to share what they feel -- only to learn Galen dies overnight.

Rain's the only person in town to not attend the funeral. Somewhere frozen inside are her words, but she remains silent as grief overwhelms her. Rain isolates, avoiding visitors, friends, and soccer buddies. Eventually her family pushes her into the world again, attempting to send her off to an "Indian Camp".

When the camp becomes the focus of town controversy, Rain inadvertently finds herself at the heart of it. Instead of participating as a camper, she becomes the photographer for the local newspaper at the camp. That experience begins the process of healing and reconnecting to her world.

Author Cynthia Leitich Smith intersperses the narrative with journal entries, creating a fresh sense of immediacy in RAIN IS NOT MY INDIAN NAME. As the teen girl struggles through grief to rejoin the world, her journey of healing and growth touches the heart of all readers. Exploring the world of race, friendship, and connection, Rain becomes an example through her words and feelings -- never does the prose become preachy. Instead, she reveals her loss, her pain, her mistakes, and her growth, thereby allowing readers to draw their own conclusions. A remarkable and poignant achievement, RAIN IS NOT MY INDIAN NAME is a keeper! Very highly recommended.

Rain Is Not My Indian Name
Before I began this book I came onto amazon.com to see what other people thought of this, along with the reviews and summaries I was expecting something absolutely GREAT!!! Well, it wasn't as good as I thought. The author had so many chances to make it good, it just never had potential. I will admit it was a 4-star book, until I got to the ending. I got so confused at the ending. I had absolutely no clue! Since I live in OK I loved how it mentioned city names and places I am very familiar. I would suggest this book to someone who might like it, but just don't expect a whole lot out of it. Happy Reading!

Rain Resonates with this Reader
Cynthia Leitich Smith's Rain is Not My Indian Name is a refreshing, respectful examination of the issues that contemporary teens face. Smith gives such authentic voice to the heroine, Rain, that the character becomes real to this reader. The book courageously takes on real and complex issues that many teenagers face today, including death and single-parent households. Although there is enough action within it's pages to keep any teen interested, this is truly a book about individual characters. Smith captures the essence of her main character, Rain, by giving the reader a glimpse into her American Indian heritage. What is most impressive about Rain's character development is her proud heritage comes through, but does not solely define her. Smith has accomplished what few writers have. She develops her heroine's culture but not at the expense of her universal appeal to all teens, regardless of ethnicity. Rain illustrates the differences that make us special but also the similarities that unite us. I highly recommend this book for teens and parents alike for a thoughtful view of young middle-America. My only regret is that this type of book was not being written when I came of age.

Believable Rain
I read this book almost a year ago, but it still lingers with me. I think the main reason is Cassidy Rain Berghoff, the fourteen-year-old title character. After losing her best friend, Galen, in a tragic way, Cassidy shuts out the world. Months pass before she grows to realize that she has to get in touch with the world again, even if it's through a job. I was really impressed by Cassidy's bravery and strength. The author did a great job making this character REAL. By the end of the book, I felt like I knew Cassidy. The author made me care about her - about what would happen to her.

The book doesn't make it easy for Cassidy to work things out. For example, while working as a photographer in an Indian camp run by her Aunt Georgia, Cassidy finds herself torn between getting involved in an emotional issue and staying professional and objective. Kids are faced with hard decisions all the time, so I found it very easy to relate to Cassidy and what she goes through.

I recommend RAIN IS NOT MY INDIAN NAME to anyone who loves a good story and good characters. This book has both! ... Read more

Book Description

Geraldine is a goat, and Glenmae, a Navajo weaver. One day, Glenmae decides to weave Geraldine into a rug. First Geraldine is clipped. Then her wool is spun into fine, strong yarn. Finally, Glenmae weaves the wool on her loom. They reader learns, along with Geraldine, about the care and pride involved in the weaving of a Navajo rug -- and about cooperation between friends. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Kids book? I still love it at 30 years old!
I was raised on this book and it has always been a favorite of mine. The pictures are delightful and the story has stayed with me through the years. I love how Geraldine decides to eat all the yummy plants they were going to use to dye the wool. OOPS! Now I find it is on the school reading list and being used in the classroom! I highly recommend this book as a favorite for children and parents alike.

Goat's point of view
This is a very funny story about a goat that tells the story of how her fur becomes a Navajo rug. If you look close enough at the front cover, you'll notice the book is written by the goat herself. It's a wonderful book for all ages, especially Navajo children.

Good for creative children
When I was little (a long time ago at this point!) I had this book and was utterly fascinated by it. I remember trying to dye yarn myself after reading it... (well, that didn't work out so well as I recall-- since this is NOT a how-to book, just an engaging story-- but it was fun all the same.) Now that I'm an adult, I would definately recommend this book to anyone with "creative" children who love to make things.

A charming book with wonderful illustrations
While visiting the Hubbell Trading Post, our daughter was able to watch as a Navajo weaver worked on a beautiful Ganado rug. The ranger working on the premises suggested this charming book. The story is told by a goat whose mohair is woven into a spectacular rug. The illustrations are enchanting and my daughter loves to giggle at the goat who stays with the weaver to "supervise" her work. She asks questions about the process of weaving and the interaction between the goat and the weaver. It's a lovely little book I wholeheartedly recommend! ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Ed Young drops the ball
Not everyone knows this, but authors don't always have control over the artists that illustrate their books. Sometimes a well-established author will be paired with an up-and-coming illustrator, and sometimes it's the other way around. In an ideal situation, the text and the art compliment one another flawlessly, making it so that the reader finds it impossible to imagine any other pairing for that particular book. If I had been Penny Pollock, I would have been initially overjoyed to learn that Ed Young had been selected to illustrate my work. After all, Mr. Young is a winner of the prestigious Caldecott Medal. His books include the beyond beautiful "Lon Po Po" as well as the technically adept and gorgeous "Seven Blind Mice". Which makes it all the more painful that Ed essentially slept through the making of "The Turkey Girl". While the book has a rather interesting and remarkable story, Young's illustrations look slapdash and amateurish. This is a book that has been ruined by its pictures. Worse still, it's been ruined by a formerly very talent artist.

This Zuni tale is a kind of Cinderella story with a dour ending. It tells the simple tale of a girl who lived in her village and was very poor. Her only means of sustenance came from tending the turkeys of the rich, thereby earning her the moniker, Turkey Girl. One day the Turkey Girl overhears that there is to be a fabulous harvest dance that everyone may attend. The Turkey Girl understands that she hasn't the clothes or appearance for such an event, so she contents herself by telling her woes to her only friends, the turkeys. To her amazement, however, the turkeys respond by talking to her. Not the dumb birds we have taken them for, the turkeys present their mistress with a beautiful dress and jewelry for the dance. They insist, however, that she return to them that night before the sun sets. If she does not, they will fly far away and never return. The Turkey Girl promises and goes off to join the dance. She's a hit, but as the afternoon turns to evening she keeps putting off her return to the turkeys. Finally she tears herself away, only to find that they've all gone and that her dress has been returned to rags. As Pollack says in her Author's Note, this book (like some other Native American versions) ends with, "the hard truth that when we break our trust with Mother Earth, we pay a price".

Though it's a little depressing in the end, I liked what this tale had to say. The author has an excellent voice, and the scenes are beautifully presented through her narration. Then we get to the pictures. At first, I was captivated by Young's style. Using pastel and oil crayon, Young works with colors that are native to the American Southwest (where this tale takes place). Though a little fuzzy at first, I was more than willing to give Young the benefit of the doubt. The fuzzy image of the Turkey Girl leading her charges out of the pueblo village looks as if we are viewing the scene through the wavy lines of heat you get on especially bright sunny days. But as the book continued I realized that this style of drawing, while lovely, was completely misplaced here. Though the action in the text becomes interesting and intense, the illustrations are static and without any detail at all. In the section where the Turkey Girl goes to a spring and hears the other girls gossip (soon followed by