Thirteen Moons

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Bruchac, Joseph, and London, Jonathan. 1997. Thirteen Moons on Turtle's Back: A Native American Year of Moons. New York: Putnam Berkley Group. Ill. by Thomas Locker. ISBN 0-698-11584-8

2. PLOT SUMMARY
This picture book includes 13 poems reflecting the 13 moons of the calendar year.  Each poem is a retelling of a different tribes moon legend.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Each poem in this collection represents a different tribe or nations legend about a moon cycle.  Told as if an adult is instructing a child the poems are presented as a complete lunar cycle. The turtle is used as a guide and reminder of the lunar cycle due to the 13 scales which always appear on the shell.

While each poem is well written and a beautiful interpretation of a legend.  The book falls short of providing any signfigant details of tribal life.  The illustrations are beautiful by themselves.  However, they do not provide any additional insight into the poems.  Further the illustration placement within the book further distances the picture from the text.  Each poem is located on the left hand side of the page with the illustrations seperated onto the right 3/4 of each layout.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Notable Children's Trade Book in the Language Arts
IRA Teachers' Choice Book
Notable Children's Trade Book in the field of Social Studies
"This unusual and intelligent book is an exemplary introduction to Native American culture with its emphasis on the importance of nature."- Publishers Weekly
"dignified retellings of Native American legends "- Kirkus

5. CONNECTIONS
Have students explore and research one of the Native American tribes or nations that contribute a legend to the book.

Do all turtles have 13 scales on their backs.  Have students research different types of turtles.

Create your own turtle time calendar (download available at http://rhythmofthehome.com/2011/05/turtle-time-creating-using-13-moon-calendar-activity-children/)

Find out more information about lunar phases and the effects of the moon on our planet.

Read more by Joseph Bruchac.  An index of published works can be found on the author's website http://www.josephbruchac.com/published_books.html

Sees Behind Trees

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Dorris, Michael.1996. Sees Behind Trees. New York: Hyperion. ISBN 978-078681357-5

2. PLOT SUMMARY
Near sighted Walnut can't shoot or hunt, but he can see what isn't there due to his other senses.  This earns him the name Sees Behind Trees.  His new skills and "powers" will be put to the test as he helps Gray Fire find his way back to a magical place and his own way home.
 

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Sees Behind Trees is a simply written tale of a young Powhatan boy on the cusp of manhood.  The novel centers around Walnut who is renamed Sees Behind Trees after a special test of manhood where he demonstrates his ability to see what isn't there by using his heightened sense of hearing.  Sees Behind Trees takes on a test to help Grey Fire find a magical place of his youth.  The journey is a life altering experience for the young man and provides an insight into the transition from boy to man. 

Author Michael Dorris paints an authentic picture of life among the Powhatan people.  Simple inclusions of information allow the reader to have a true idea of the looks, sounds, and smells of the village.  Everyday cooking smells of pemmican, venison, and fish are included giving the reader an entry into the home life of Sees Behind Trees and his village.  Interwoven into the simple text are aspects of village life such as descriptions of clothing, bows and arrows, bluebird feathers in headdresses, and belief systems that include superstition.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
starred review- Publishers weekly- "thrilling"
starred review- Booklist- "Brilliant and deeply humane"
Kirkus- "Dorris has captured the angst that is part of the invisible doorway between childhood and adulthood"

School library journal best book 1996
Publishers weekly best book of 1996
Book Links best book of 1996

5. CONNECTIONS

Learn about the Powhatan Indians at http://www.bigorrin.org/powhatan_kids.htm
Powhatan Indians are famous for their interaction with the Jamestown settlers.  Explore their village life at http://ab.mec.edu/jamestown/powhatan.html
The Powhatan Indians are one of the First Peoples of Virginia.  They lived in log and birch houses and traveled by canoe.  Have children create a canoe out of construction paper.

Rain is not my Indain Name

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Smith, Cynthia Leitich. 2001. Rain is not my Indian Name. New York: Harper Collins. ISBN 978-0-688-17397-5

2. PLOT SUMMARY
Depressed since the death of her best friend, Rain struggles to find her footing and happiness again by acting as the photographer for the local paper covering a Native American summer camp. 

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

The story, told in nonlinear format, delves deep into the rediscovery of self from loss.  With the loss of her best friend Galen, Rain loses herself in grief.  Aunt Georgia's Indian Camp is not something that  Rain wants to do during the summer.  With only a few Native American families in town Rain often feels the burden of being different.  She rediscovers her identity and that of her culture through the lens of a camera and time with others who share her difference.

Smith uses stereotypes within the novel to breach truths.  For example, when Rain things about Indian Camp she says it will probably be "a bunch of probably suburban, probably rich, probably white kids tromped around a woodsy park, calling themselves 'princess,' 'braves,' or 'guides'"(p. 12). 

Journal excerpts scattered throughout the novel bring in an element of personal monologue to a character who is too distraught in her grief to share her feelings.  They allow an insight into who Rain is and who she is letting everyone see. 

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

2001 Writers of the Year in Children's Prose by Wordcraft Circle of Native Writers and Storytellers.

RAIN was also a finalist for the Oklahoma Book Award

Featured at the Second National Book Festival, the Texas Book Festival, the St. Petersburg Times' "You Gotta Read This Book Club," 

Included in GREAT BOOKS FOR GIRLS by Kathleen Odean.

"A wonderful novel of a present-day teen and her 'patch-work tribe." (School Library Journal )

“Rain's observations are appealingly wry, and readers …will find food for thought in this exploration of cultural identity. ” (The Bulletin for the Center for Children's Books )

Kirkus Reviews: "Tender, funny, and full of sharp wordplay..."

 

5. CONNECTIONS

Students can check out an interview with the author and other items at http://www.cynthialeitichsmith.com

Photography plays an important role in the novel.  Have students create a photo collage depicting who they are as a person.

The children of the summer camp build a bridge.  Have students build toothpick bridges and see whose design is sturdier.

Read other literature by author Cynthia Leitich Smith including:

JINGLE DANCER by Cynthia Leitich Smith, illustrated by Cornelius Van Wright and Ying-Hwa Hu (Morrow/HarperCollins, 2000)(ages 4-up).

INDIAN SHOES by Cynthia Leitich Smith (HarperCollins, 2002)(ages 7-up).

SANTA KNOWS by Cynthia and Greg Leitich Smith, illustrated by Steve Björkman (Dutton, 2006)(ages 4-up).

TANTALIZE by Cynthia Leitich Smith (Candlewick, 2007, 2008)(ages 14-up).

ETERNAL by Cynthia Leitich Smith (Candlewick, 2009, 2010).

HOLLER LOUDLY by Cynthia Leitich Smith (Dutton, 2010).

The Game of Silence

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Erdrich, Louise. 2005. The Game of Silence. New York: Harper Collins. ISBN 0-06-029790-5

2. PLOT SUMMARY
The Game of Silence is the story of Omakayas of the Ojibwe tribe.  The story,  set in 1850 tells of the tribes struggle to survive and keep their way of life in a world that is changing.  Omakayas life is full of routines and love until the arrival of a malnourished group of people with tales of broken treaties.  Can Omakayas and her people save their way of life or is everything about to change?

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Louise Erdrich paints a picture of everyday Ojibwe life that is relatable for readers.  Although the plot is slow moving at times the feelings portrayed by the writing use this as a way of letting the reader feel the unknown future of the tribe.  The main characters are well developed and likable.  The family dynamic portrayed is loving and healthy.  Historical content is well researched and accurate.  Louise Erdrich is a member of the Turtle Mountain Ojibwe and uses her knowledge of her tribes history to full advantage.  Small details about how daily life was for the Ojibwe people make the book interesting and entertaining.  While the government that is breaking the treaty with Omakayas people is portrayed as dishonest, the overall feeling of the novel is not one of hostility, but rather one of hope for the future.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction Kirkus Editor’s Choice Horn Book Fanfare

ALA Notable Children’s Book ALA Booklist Editors’ Choice New York Times Notable

*Erdrich's captivating tale of four seasons portrays a deep appreciation of our environment, our history, and our Native American sisters and brothers - School Library Journal

*Starred Review*- Booklist

5. CONNECTIONS
* Read the other two books in the series:

Erdrich, Louise. 2002. The Birchbark House. New York: Harper Collins. ISBN 978-0786814541

Erdrich, Louise. 2008. The Porcupine Year. New York: Harper Collins. ISBN 978-0060297879

Research the Ojibwe people:

http://www.ojibwe.org/ (a documentary about the people and their life)

http://www.bigorrin.org/chippewa_kids.htm

Learn about the native people in the area in which you live.  And if you live in Texas you can download this activity book created by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.  http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publications/pwdpubs/media/pwd_bk_p4000_0016.pdf

Children can create dream catchers or create beading projects in the style of the tribe.  Easy dream catcher kits are available from http://www.orientaltrading.com/

Native American Folktales

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Bruchac, James and Bruchac, Joseph. 2008. The Girl Who Helped Thunder and Other Native American Folktales. Ill. by Stefano Vitale. New York: Sterling Publishing.  ISBN 978-1-4027-3263-8

2. PLOT SUMMARY
The Girl Who Helped Thunder and Other Native American Folktales by Bruchac and Bruchac is a compilation of Native American folktales. It is the second book in the Folktales of the World series published by Sterling Publishing Group.  The folktales are arranged by geographic area and then subdivided by tribe.  Each folktale explains how an event, activity, or natural phenomenon came into being. 

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Each story within the collection shares the oral storytelling tradition that make folktales and Native American stories so powerful.  This may be more evident in this collection because the authors are members of the Abernaki tribe and are also award winning storytellers.

Helping to explain the story's is an introduction at the beginning of each section of the book which helps to establish cultural and historical reference points for the reader.

An extensive list of sources are listed at the back of the book to help readers delve further into the world on Native American folktales.

Minimal illustrations accompany each story.  Each picture by Vitale provides a cohesiveness to the book while still helping to immerse the reader in the Native American cultural experience.  Illustrations are reminiscent of cave paintings and decorative wall art. 


4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
*Starred Review- School Library Journal

5. CONNECTIONS
*Read other Native American folktales
*Include this selection as part of a larger unit on Native American People
*Have students select one tribe from the book and research them
*Have a Native American storyteller or group visit
*Have students read the stories aloud since they began as oral traditions
Other books:
American Indian Myths and Legends by Erdoes and Ortiz
Between Earth & Sky: Legends of Native American Sacred Places by Bruchac and Locker