From: C Hudak <tinahudak>
Date: Thu, 13 Jan 2000 08:19:11 -0500

I read it too and felt politically incorrect in even feeling that it was mediocre at best in terms of pulling together history and plot with the dynamics of human relationships.

Tina Hudak


From: Dean Schneider Subject: Birchbark House Date: Thu, 13 Jan 2000 08:37:49 00



I think The Birchbark House is beautifully written and beautifully made. I liked the story precisely because it is subtle - a warm, rich character and culture study. People are obviously entitled to their opinions; mine is that it's unfair to this book to suggest that it's only popular because it is politically correct, or since it is not as plot-driven as many popular children's books it is somehow inferior. Perhaps a better question is: just how similar is it to The Little House series; is it too much a Native American version, or is it simply a parallel story? This I can't answer since I am not thoroughly versed in The Little House books, but if I taught younger students, I would consider reading Little House On the Prairie and The Birchbark House and through discussions and activities have students compare and contrast the stories, research the historical context, etc. This would let kids in on the literary and intellectual discussion we adults get to have thanks to CCBC.


Dean Schneider Ensworth School 211 Ensworth Avenue Nashville, TN 37205 schneiderd at ensworth.com
Received on Thu 13 Jan 2000 07:19:11 AM CST