From: Kari & Joe <kari>
Date: Sun, 3 Oct 1999 08:52:18 -0500

I love this book for so many reasons:

(1) the great glossary (even though my tongue still has difficulty wrapping around the names and places--something my fifth graders enjoy and which provides me with an opportunity to show that some books are worth reading even if you cannot pronounce ALL of the words correctly on the first reading)
(2) the fact that characters have roots in primary documents Erdrich found, and in her own family history
(3) the children ring true -- not perfect people but perfect in their execution of their developmental imperatives
(4) the complex relationships in this family -- the ways the roles change when DeyDey (father) is back from his fur-trapping/trading voyages, the heartfelt desires which must be left unfulfilled in order for the family work to be done, the envy among sisters, the simmering of anger surpressed
(5) the richness of the history made explicit through the tasks which are undertaken, the clothing which catches on the rough ground, the glint of a gun barrel ground to sharp for use as a hide scraper, the curve of baby Neewo's cradleboard, the description of each Wisconsin season
(6) the pictures--oh yes!
(7) and what's not to love about the photo of Erdrich with her pet raven perched upon her head?

Truly a classic I will use again and again. Curriculum connections abound--geography, history, material culture, family relationships, coming of age, adoptive families, agriculture, First Nations, weather and seasons.... Best of all a great story.

Thanks Ms. Erdrich!

Kari Augustine 4-->5 Grade Teacher Cottage Grove School

http://www.schoolnotes.com/53527/kari.html
Received on Sun 03 Oct 1999 08:52:18 AM CDT