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The Birchbark House
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From: Kathy Isaacs <kisaacs>
Date: Sat, 2 Oct 1999 21:14:16 -0400
I was so charmed by The Birchbark House which I read in galley, I bought the book for my 7-year-old granddaughter as soon it became available. Part of the appeal is its traditional children's book feel. Ordinary and extraordinary events of life in "the olden days" make up the plot. The main character is a spunky middle child needing to find a place of her own, and there is great satisfaction in the discovery of Omakayas' particular identity. The story and the illustrations are filled with the details of daily life; there is much to ponder and revisit. The map on the endpapers invites the reader to enter a real geographical world. The glossary and pronunciation guide to Ojibwa terms feed a young reader who delights in words. It is heartening to see the extra, child-friendly details that will increase the reader's pleasure and some credit should be given to the publisher and the book designer, Christine Kettner, for giving Louise Erdrich's story the attention it deserved.
I hope not to reopen old controversies, but I can't help but quote from Erdrich's acknowledgements:
"The name Omakayas appears on a Turtle Mountain census. I am using it in the original translation because I've been told those old names should be given life....Dear reader, when you speak this name out loud you will be honoring the life of an Ojibwa girl who lived long ago."
I believe this is the sentiment of all authors who use names of people who lived long ago and trust that we can respect their good intentions.
Kathy Isaacs Edmund Burke School kisaacs at mindspring.com
Received on Sat 02 Oct 1999 08:14:16 PM CDT
Date: Sat, 2 Oct 1999 21:14:16 -0400
I was so charmed by The Birchbark House which I read in galley, I bought the book for my 7-year-old granddaughter as soon it became available. Part of the appeal is its traditional children's book feel. Ordinary and extraordinary events of life in "the olden days" make up the plot. The main character is a spunky middle child needing to find a place of her own, and there is great satisfaction in the discovery of Omakayas' particular identity. The story and the illustrations are filled with the details of daily life; there is much to ponder and revisit. The map on the endpapers invites the reader to enter a real geographical world. The glossary and pronunciation guide to Ojibwa terms feed a young reader who delights in words. It is heartening to see the extra, child-friendly details that will increase the reader's pleasure and some credit should be given to the publisher and the book designer, Christine Kettner, for giving Louise Erdrich's story the attention it deserved.
I hope not to reopen old controversies, but I can't help but quote from Erdrich's acknowledgements:
"The name Omakayas appears on a Turtle Mountain census. I am using it in the original translation because I've been told those old names should be given life....Dear reader, when you speak this name out loud you will be honoring the life of an Ojibwa girl who lived long ago."
I believe this is the sentiment of all authors who use names of people who lived long ago and trust that we can respect their good intentions.
Kathy Isaacs Edmund Burke School kisaacs at mindspring.com
Received on Sat 02 Oct 1999 08:14:16 PM CDT
