From: Nancy Balz <balzn>
Date: Tue, 24 Nov 1998 15:50:16 -0500 (EST)

I have been enjoying reading the recent exchange on points of view and commentary on fiction and non-fiction works. A number of them are new to me and I look forward to reading them myself. I might add a book I recently read which I thought had interesting and different points of view was Joseph Bruchac's Arrow Over the Door, a story set in 1777. The author seemed to me to present the complexity of the Native American experience as well as a religious perspective of a particular colonizing group, in this book, the Society of Friends. The author's note is not essential to the reading of the book, but very informational. I found this a good addition to our collection especially at this time of year when we have so many requests for Native American books and materials on all reading levels. The book centers on one particular incident and is not very lengthy but can probably be read by older readers as well because the points of view expressed are complex and interesting. This is a work of fiction but the author's note is a good explanation of how fiction and non-fiction can intertwine over time. I know when working with children we want to be clear about the differences between fact and fiction, but it seems to me that many stories which originate in oral tradition are often those which bring us these valuable other points of view.

I also used the recent information concerning evaluation of materials from the American Indian perspective and it was very helpful. Thanks to everyone who contributes here!


Nancy J. Balz Chevy Chase Community Library/MCDPL balzn at mont.lib.md.us 8005 Connenticut Avenue Chevy Chase MD 20815
Received on Tue 24 Nov 1998 02:50:16 PM CST