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The Birchbark House
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From: Jonathan Hunt <jhunt24>
Date: Sun, 03 Oct 1999 11:57:14 PDT
While I, too, really enjoyed The Birchbark House, it included a bit too many details of ordinary, mundane, day-to?y living for my tastes and I found my interest flagging in some parts. But that is a minor quibble, and I liked several things people have already mentioned.
I also really liked the character of Aunt Tallow, and found myself wishing she could have her own book, or at least a prominent role in future books
(not that she didn't have one already).
How much consideration do you think this book will receive for the end-of-the-year awards such as the National Book Award or the Newbery Medal?
I'm going to jump the gun and include some comments on a pair of Joseph Bruchac books (albeit not the ones recommended for this month). I really liked Children of the Longhouse which provided a window into Iroquois society. It takes place before the arrival of the Europeans and I found it refreshing not to have to read about the conflict between the two groups which chacterizes many books with Native themes (and rightfully so, but this was a nice change-up).
I also wanted to put in a good word for The Arrow Over the Door which is the story, told in alternate chapters by Quaker and Abenaki Indian boys, of a peaceful meeting between their respective groups. It's set during the American Revolution and makes references to the complexity of the relations that existed between various Indian nations and European nations.
Our new California History-Social Science standards have placed an increased emphasis on tracing the relations between Indians and Europeans beyond the initial confrontations in colonial times. I have recommended The Arrow Over the Door to my school district as a title that would go a long way toward filling that void.
I just wanted to include an update on Bridge to Terabithia which I am required to teach to my fifth graders. We started it during Banned Books week so I made that connection, and I think it piqued their interest a bit more than my opening comments have done in the past. We're also listening to the book on tape as we follow along. I think this, coupled with my own further experience with Paterson's books have made teaching this book a much more enjoyable and interesting experience for me than it has previously been.
In regard to Canadian authors, nobody mentioned Kenneth Oppel who wrote Silverwing. I do believe he is Canadian, no? Anyway, I really liked the book, and look forward to its forthcoming sequel, Sunwing.
Jonathan :-)
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Received on Sun 03 Oct 1999 01:57:14 PM CDT
Date: Sun, 03 Oct 1999 11:57:14 PDT
While I, too, really enjoyed The Birchbark House, it included a bit too many details of ordinary, mundane, day-to?y living for my tastes and I found my interest flagging in some parts. But that is a minor quibble, and I liked several things people have already mentioned.
I also really liked the character of Aunt Tallow, and found myself wishing she could have her own book, or at least a prominent role in future books
(not that she didn't have one already).
How much consideration do you think this book will receive for the end-of-the-year awards such as the National Book Award or the Newbery Medal?
I'm going to jump the gun and include some comments on a pair of Joseph Bruchac books (albeit not the ones recommended for this month). I really liked Children of the Longhouse which provided a window into Iroquois society. It takes place before the arrival of the Europeans and I found it refreshing not to have to read about the conflict between the two groups which chacterizes many books with Native themes (and rightfully so, but this was a nice change-up).
I also wanted to put in a good word for The Arrow Over the Door which is the story, told in alternate chapters by Quaker and Abenaki Indian boys, of a peaceful meeting between their respective groups. It's set during the American Revolution and makes references to the complexity of the relations that existed between various Indian nations and European nations.
Our new California History-Social Science standards have placed an increased emphasis on tracing the relations between Indians and Europeans beyond the initial confrontations in colonial times. I have recommended The Arrow Over the Door to my school district as a title that would go a long way toward filling that void.
I just wanted to include an update on Bridge to Terabithia which I am required to teach to my fifth graders. We started it during Banned Books week so I made that connection, and I think it piqued their interest a bit more than my opening comments have done in the past. We're also listening to the book on tape as we follow along. I think this, coupled with my own further experience with Paterson's books have made teaching this book a much more enjoyable and interesting experience for me than it has previously been.
In regard to Canadian authors, nobody mentioned Kenneth Oppel who wrote Silverwing. I do believe he is Canadian, no? Anyway, I really liked the book, and look forward to its forthcoming sequel, Sunwing.
Jonathan :-)
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Received on Sun 03 Oct 1999 01:57:14 PM CDT
