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Evaluating Books By and About American Indians
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From: Eliza T. Dresang <edresang>
Date: Wed, 13 Oct 1999 00:41:12 -0400
Hello Everyone,
The comments you've shared thus far have been enlightening and enriching. The passage that Dean Schneider quoted for us that exemplifies the "at oneness with nature" of one young Native girl and Maia's insightful commentary on the nature of community in this book (adding to Jonathan's earlier insights into the strength of this fictional family) add value to a fine reading experience. Debbie's fine note on the missing Native woman in history and how Erdrich's book redresses that invisibility is certainly a thought many of us will want to share with children and others with whom we discuss the depth of this book.
Since the overarching topic of the month is evaluation of literature by and about American Indians, I'm suggesting that for the next two to three days we step back and discuss how to evaluate *historical* fiction by an about American Indians. I suggest this focus since we have discussed a historical novel The Birchmark House and we can draw up on it for ways to understand generally useful criteria. (and please feel free to add any additional comments about this book as the month goes on).
Then at the end of this week and next week we will move on to the discussion of contemporary literature: Joseph Bruchac's autobiography, Bowman's Store, and his novel for young readers, The Heart of a Chief. There are many issues raised by these books. So save your remarks about novels in contemporary times and try to read these thought provoking books for that discussion. At the USBBY Points of View Conference hosted by the CCBC this past weekend, I was part of an extremely interesting discussion of Bowman's Store and hope some of those participants there will be joining this discussion, too.
So, how do we evaluate historical fiction by and about American Indians? In this case, perhaps the question is how are standard criteria for evaluating children's literature extended in looking at this particular sub-set of literature and how are they specifically applied? Which criteria have particular relevance? What can we draw from our discussion thus far of The Birchbark House that speaks to more general evaluative criteria for all historical fiction by and about American Indians? How can we know what is authentic or accurate? Why is this last question important? What do *you* as a teacher or librarian or parent do when you see a book about an American Indian to determine how valid the picture painted is? Do you have your own checklist?
Two books have been recommended to us for assistance in this discussion: Through Indian Eyes by Beverly Slap in and Doris Sealed and American Indian Stereotypes in the World of Children:by Arlene Hirschfelder, Paulette Fairbanks Molin, and Yvonne Wakin. Please feel free to bring up any ideas you've gained from these books as well as from your own thinking.
A particularly useful feature of the Slapin and Seale book is an article called "How to Tell A Difference." In this article for each criterion there is a specific example of its application -- an example in a well done passage or picture and one in a poorly done passage or picture.
I hope this will bring more of you into the discussion as we spend the next two or three days specifically focusing on how do we know if an historical novel for young people about American Indians is a good book? How did we
*know* that Birchbark House was good? What does this mean for other books?
Jump in!
Eliza
_________________________________________________________ Eliza T. Dresang, Associate Professor School of Information Studies/ Florida State University
Tallahassee, Florida 32306!00 e-mail: edresang at mailer.fsu.edu Phone: 850 644 5877 (w) FAX: 850 644 9763 (w)
Received on Tue 12 Oct 1999 11:41:12 PM CDT
Date: Wed, 13 Oct 1999 00:41:12 -0400
Hello Everyone,
The comments you've shared thus far have been enlightening and enriching. The passage that Dean Schneider quoted for us that exemplifies the "at oneness with nature" of one young Native girl and Maia's insightful commentary on the nature of community in this book (adding to Jonathan's earlier insights into the strength of this fictional family) add value to a fine reading experience. Debbie's fine note on the missing Native woman in history and how Erdrich's book redresses that invisibility is certainly a thought many of us will want to share with children and others with whom we discuss the depth of this book.
Since the overarching topic of the month is evaluation of literature by and about American Indians, I'm suggesting that for the next two to three days we step back and discuss how to evaluate *historical* fiction by an about American Indians. I suggest this focus since we have discussed a historical novel The Birchmark House and we can draw up on it for ways to understand generally useful criteria. (and please feel free to add any additional comments about this book as the month goes on).
Then at the end of this week and next week we will move on to the discussion of contemporary literature: Joseph Bruchac's autobiography, Bowman's Store, and his novel for young readers, The Heart of a Chief. There are many issues raised by these books. So save your remarks about novels in contemporary times and try to read these thought provoking books for that discussion. At the USBBY Points of View Conference hosted by the CCBC this past weekend, I was part of an extremely interesting discussion of Bowman's Store and hope some of those participants there will be joining this discussion, too.
So, how do we evaluate historical fiction by and about American Indians? In this case, perhaps the question is how are standard criteria for evaluating children's literature extended in looking at this particular sub-set of literature and how are they specifically applied? Which criteria have particular relevance? What can we draw from our discussion thus far of The Birchbark House that speaks to more general evaluative criteria for all historical fiction by and about American Indians? How can we know what is authentic or accurate? Why is this last question important? What do *you* as a teacher or librarian or parent do when you see a book about an American Indian to determine how valid the picture painted is? Do you have your own checklist?
Two books have been recommended to us for assistance in this discussion: Through Indian Eyes by Beverly Slap in and Doris Sealed and American Indian Stereotypes in the World of Children:by Arlene Hirschfelder, Paulette Fairbanks Molin, and Yvonne Wakin. Please feel free to bring up any ideas you've gained from these books as well as from your own thinking.
A particularly useful feature of the Slapin and Seale book is an article called "How to Tell A Difference." In this article for each criterion there is a specific example of its application -- an example in a well done passage or picture and one in a poorly done passage or picture.
I hope this will bring more of you into the discussion as we spend the next two or three days specifically focusing on how do we know if an historical novel for young people about American Indians is a good book? How did we
*know* that Birchbark House was good? What does this mean for other books?
Jump in!
Eliza
_________________________________________________________ Eliza T. Dresang, Associate Professor School of Information Studies/ Florida State University
Tallahassee, Florida 32306!00 e-mail: edresang at mailer.fsu.edu Phone: 850 644 5877 (w) FAX: 850 644 9763 (w)
Received on Tue 12 Oct 1999 11:41:12 PM CDT
