A poignant voice has arisen from the soul of a master storyteller. My daughter, who's eleven loved this book. She was very disappointed when the story was over, a sure sign of a great novel! I loved it too. The storyline is fast-moving and all of the characters are well developed. Typically, boys like stories from a male protagonist point of view. However, this is a perfect cross-over book for classroom teaching. I highly recommend it for humanities. There are many layers for deep and meaningful discussions with your students. From an American History perspective, it's a door-opener for exploring our past through the eyes of our modern world. Kids get a lifelike feel for living on a Native American Reservation.
You can start with this premise: Can a white girl feel at home on an Indian reservation?
Inspired by the author’s childhood experiences in the early 1960s, this debut novel centers on Kitty, whose father is a government forester on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation in Oregon. Kitty is one of only two white kids in her class, and the Indian kids are keeping their distance. With time, Kitty becomes increasingly aware of the tensions and prejudices between Indians and whites, and of the past injustice and pain still very much alive on the reservation.
RAVE:
"Kitty's discoveries and ethical dilemmas are age-and era-appropriate, the characters affectionately portrayed, rounded individuals."--Kirkus
"Based on the author's own experiences, this novel fills a gap in the historical fiction genre. Great for classroom discussion as well as independent reading." --School Library Journal
This unique novel is by Katherine Schlick Noe. She is a wonderful author, teacher, speaker, and literary specialist. Click here to visit Katherine's website. Be sure to visit her Teaching Ideas page by clicking here.
