Hearts Unbroken
Smith, Cynthia Leitich. 2020. Hearts Unbroken. Candlewick. New York, NY. ISBN 978-1536213133
PLOT SUMMARY
Louis Wolfe has recently moved with her family to Kansas from Texas. She is a popular cheerleader with many friends and is dating the school’s well-known quarterback. However, Louis is a Muscogee Native American, and decides to break off her relationship after her boyfriend makes an offensive remark about American Indians. She decides to quit the cheerleading team and dedicate her time to the school’s newspaper, where she meets a new photojournalist named Joey. She develops a crush on him when she realizes they have plenty of things in common, such as belonging to a minority since Joey is part Lebanese. Louis’s younger brother, Hughie, tries out for the Wizard of Oz play at the school and gets the Tin Man part. Unfortunately, a group of parents began an organization that shamed the theater teacher for leading an inclusive approach to casting minority students. Louis’s family begins to receive anonymous threats and menacing insults. As the theater club continues its practices. Hughie researches the life of L. Frank Baum, the author of The Wizard of Oz and learns that he was extremely racist towards Native Americans. Hughie makes the decision to quit the play, knowing that the author of the Wizard of Oz spewed such hatred towards his people, making it impossible for him to participate.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This book portrays a Muscogee family that has assimilated well within American culture. However there are several scenes in the story when they explain how they still visit family and attend traditional fests. The family takes a road trip to Oklahoma to the Mvskoke Fest in Okmulgee where there are parades, stomp dances and games. Louis mentions she has never lived in a full-time tribal community, but acknowledges how she visits family in Oklahoma often. During the weekend trip they visited Checotah, Eufala, and Tulsa to pay their respects at the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum. They also listened to the Mvskoke language app to practice their tribal language. Several phrases in Muskogee such as “Cokv kettetv heret os” appear throughout the story.
The theme of discrimination is observed in the story. Peter Ney and his mother, from Immanuel Baptist do everything in their power to stop the production of the Wizard of Oz because they believe it is wrong for the majority of the cast to be a minority. Peter Ney even mentions once that at their church they offer weekly AA meetings which implies that Native Americans have a problem with alcohol.
A surprising note that was added was the newspaper article written by L. Frank Baum where he wrote about Sitting Bull’s death and how he considered it to be a glorious event for all Natives should be annihilated.
When Louis visits her cousin Rain, she finds her looking at photos of Powwow traders, shawl and jingle dancers. Louis explains how they share Muscogee-Cherokee heritage and both have Ojibwe ancestry.
REVIEW EXCERPTS
The Horn Book- “Smith effectively presents the continuous microaggressions Lou faces as a young Native woman alongside the central narrative arc of the school play.”
Booklist - “In a time when own #ownvoices stories are rising in popularity among YA readers, this brings an insightful story to the conversation… this is truly a thought-provoking and educational novel. ”
Awards:
American Indian Youth Literature Award
CONNECTIONS
This story stresses the importance of accepting everyone regardless of race and valuing where we come from.
Other related books:
Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley
The Absolute True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
Activity: Research traditions about the Muskogee Natives. Find information about where they lived, what celebrations they had, what they liked to eat, and where most of this group of Natives are found today.
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How I Became a Ghost: A Choctaw Trail of Tears Story
Tingle, Tim. 2013. How I Became a Ghost: A Choctaw Trail of Tears Story. The Roadrunner Press. Oklahoma City, OK. ISBN 978-1-937054-55-7
PLOT SUMMARY
A young Choctaw boy named Isaac is learning about the many changes that are happening to his family, such as having to relocate to another place to live. It is during this time that Isaac begins to see strange visions that no one else can see. These visions scare him because he sees people in flames, covered with blood, or filled with scars and rashes. As his family embarks on a new location during a terrible winter season, they meet other families who are on the move, too. Soldiers are constantly watching them, and Isaac soon discovers that the blankets that have been given to the families are covered in the smallpox virus, so more families die. As his family survives the long and painful journey, Isaac leads several adventures with another young boy who can turn himself into a panther, a young 5-year-old with a joyful spirit, and his precious dog Jumper. Unfortunately, due to the harsh winter conditions, many in the community die, including Isaac. Yet, he realizes that he has become a ghost, and with the help of Joseph, the boy turned panther, he decides to help his family reach their destination safely.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
How I Became a Ghost: A Choctaw Trail of Tears Story is a book that describes the desperate and mournful events that led to the relocation of the Choctaw families during what historically is known as the Trail of Tears. In the first pages of the book, the author includes a map of the United States describing the route taken by the Choctaws as they moved from parts of Mississippi to Oklahoma. In the book, the author frequently uses native words such as “Nahullos” which refers to the soldiers, and “Yakoke,” which means thank you. The author describes how they would eat corn soup for supper, called Pashofa.
In one scene in the story, when young Nita, Isaac’s five-year-old friend, dies, the women in the Choctaw community circle the deceased girl and her mother. They then break bark from the surrounding cedar trees and burn the bark as they wave it over the dead girl. They sang the Choctaw death song, and sometimes they sang Amazing Grace in Choctaw, which is part of the celebration they have for their dead. Young Isaac realizes that his parents will never leave his body behind when he dies because Choctaw tradition will never leave the family’s bones behind. He learns that each Choctaw tribe has a group of older women known as bonepickers who are responsible for keeping the bones of all the dead tribe members. They place the body on a wooden platform and leave it close to a river or spring where animals come to drink. They wait for the animals or buzzards to finish eating the flesh from the bones
When Isaac dies, he is surrounded by Choctaws who have also passed, and he notices them singing the Choctaw friendship song to welcome him. He sees that they are holding different items such as a blowgun, a boat paddle, and a fishing pole. All these items represent that they continue with their games, hunting, and fishing even if they are now Choctaw ghosts.
Besides the ability to speak to ghosts and turning into one himself, Isaac has the opportunity to communicate with his dog Jasper, which is somehow a mythical experience.
The theme in this story is one of resilience, bravery, and determination. The Choctaw endured devastating experiences, but their strength as a community and the guidance of their ancestors allowed them to find a safer place to live.
REVIEWS
The Horn Book Magazine- “Tingle, a Choctaw storyteller, relates his tale in the engaging repetitions and rhythms of an oft-told story…The novel comes alive in Isaac’s voice and in the rich alliance of the living and the dead.”
Kirkus Reviews- “The beginning of a trilogy, this tale is valuable for both its recounting of a historical tragedy and its immersive Choctaw perspective.”
Awards:
American Indian Youth Literature Award
American Indians in Children’s Literature Best Book List
CONNECTIONS
This story makes a connection for those who find a strong bond and connection with their family and whose traditions have been passed down through numerous generations.
Other related books:
When a Ghost Talks Listen by Tim Tingle
In the Footsteps of Crazy Horse by Joseph M. Marshal III
Activity: Students can draw a map of the routes the Choctaw had to take while they relocated to Oklahoma. They can also describe the painful experiences the tribe
****************************************************************************************************Squanto’s Journey: The Story of the First Thanksgiving
Bruchac, Joseph. 2007. Squanto’s Journey: The Story of the First Thanksgiving. Ill. by Greg Shed. Clarion Books. New York, NY. ISBN 978-0152060442
PLOT SUMMARY
In this story, Squanto, a member of the Patuxets, recalls the day in which the first European arrived in the bay area and approached the Natives to trade for beaver and deerskin. One of the captains was John Smith, and with him was Thomas Dermer. After Smith left, Thomas Hunt landed at Patuxet where he tricked about twenty natives to climb aboard his ship and sailed away against their will. Squanto learned to speak English and did everything in his power to sail back to his homeland. When he finally was able to head back to New England, he learned that many of his family members including his wife and children had died of diseases brought by the English. However, he had promised Thomas Dermer, who had brought him back home that he would try to make an alliance with the Nemasket and Pokanoket. The white men continued to hurt the Native Americans, so it was difficult for Squanto to try to find peace within them.
When the Mayflower arrived Squanto convinced Massasoit, the sachem of Pokanoket to respect and help the English. It was until Samoset, the sachem of the Pemaquid people, who convinced Massasoit to make peace with their new visitors. The Native Americans taught the English how to plant seeds of corn, beans, and squash and how to hunt. This is how the story of the First Thanksgiving came about.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The Story of the First Thanksgiving describes a timeline between Squanto’s birth in 1590 to the winter of 1620 when the Pilgrims arrived and landed in Freezing Moon. The story describes the different Native American tribes who were living in the area such as the Patuxets, Nemasket, Pokanoket, and the Pemaquid. The author includes a short glossary at the end of the story to define native words such as sachem which means a leader of the people and Wampanoag which is the name given to the native people in the area that is present-day Massachusetts.
The illustrator creates beautiful large pictures of the English and the Native Americans. The English wear hats, slim jackets, and knickers, while the Native Americans are seen with feathers in their braided hair, animal skin clothes, and beaded jewelry. The Europeans have facial hair while the Natives have clean tan skin. The expressions in the faces of the Natives shows their desire to help and friendliness. Yet,there are illustrations that show sadness and despair in their faces.
Most of the drawings have soft, pale neutral colors with heavy brushstrokes.
REVIEWS
Booklist - “ History from Native American viewpoint”
The Horn Book- “Told with respect and dignity
Awards:
American Book Award
CONNECTIONS
This novel makes a connection with the millions of America who celebrate Thanksgiving by giving a truthful and accurate account of the event.
Other related books:
The Very First Thanksgiving by Ronda Fowler Greene
Squanto and the Miracle of Thanksgiving by Eric Metaxas
Activity:
Write a journal entry from Squanto’s point of view. What would he be feeling the first time he saw European settlers, and when he was kidnapped and taken to England against his will.
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Fry Bread
Maillard, Kevin Noble. 2019. Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story. Roaring Book Press. New York, NY. ISBN 978-1626727465
PLOT SUMMARY
Fry Bread is a beautiful story of how a Native American family forms a special bond through the art of making fry bread. Fry bread becomes much more than food to them because it represents the unity within a family. From mixing the ingredients to listening to the sound the dough makes when it's placed in the skillet, the family enjoys this tradition. They all gather during special holidays or weekends to share a meal, but also to share part of their heritage by weaving baskets and making dolls. The oldest members in the family gather the younger children and share stories of their ancestors and the land that was stolen from them. Although fry bread is prepared differently in the many Native American tribes, it has become a symbol of unity and togetherness for all.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The story centers around the importance of preparing traditional family dishes during important events or simply when the family spends time together. As the family makes memories, the family unity is reflected in the moments they share together. Throughout the story the author explains what fry bread is by repeating the phrase “fry bread is”. For example the story says, “Fry bread is sound, fry bread is food, fry bread is color” etc.
Another important observation was the differences in facial features, hair and skin color amongst the family members. The illustrator draws some children with light straight hair, while others have curly black and even red hair. This shows that Native Americans come from many different places and many share cultural heritage with descendants from Africa, Asia, and Europe.
In one of the illustrations that mention that “fry bread is nation”, there is a wall with more than five hundred different Native tribes names. Names such as Navajo, Seminole, Apache and Shoshone are inscribed in the wall.
Even though each tribe makes a variation of the author’s fry bread, they all make recipes in a similar fashion with shared ingredients.
Two of the family members wear tattoos on their arms. These tattoos are explained at the ending of the book to represent Seminole symbols of lightning and trees.
The author also includes the instructions on how to make fry bread and a list of ingredients he uses in his recipes. The author shares a portrait of his aunt, the family member that passed on the recipe so that he could continue to make the traditional fry bread with the family. The author’s note at the end of the book explains each part of the story with detail which makes this book quite informative.
REVIEWS
Kirkus Reviews, starred review “ With buoyant, heartfelt illustrations that show the diversity in Native America, the book tells the story of post-colonial food, a shared tradition across the North American continent… Through this topic that includes the diversity of so many Native Maillard (Mekuskey Seminole) promotes unity and familiarity among nations. Fry bread is much more than food, as his book amply demonstrates.”
School Library Journal “This warm and charming book shows and affirms Natives lives. The information text and expressive drawings give it broad appeal.”
Awards:
Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal
American Indian Youth Literature Picture Book Honor Winner
CONNECTIONS
This book makes a connection with students who share an important family recipe and who spend time as a family preparing certain dishes.
Other related books:
We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga by Traci Sorell
At the Mountain’s Base by Traci Sorell
Activity:
Students can prepare fry bread using the ingredients given at the end of the story. Students can also share a recipe that has been used in their family for several generations.
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