Erdrich, Louise. 1999. The Birchbark House. New York: Hyperion. ISBN: 0786822414.
Summary:
Omakayas (Little Frog) is 7 years old in 1847, and she is a member of the Ojibwa tribe. Her family and community live on an island in Lake Superior. Omakayas fights with Pinch, her annoying little brother, but she enjoys taking care of Neewo, her adorable baby brother. She both admires and envies her older sister, Angeline, and she looks forward to seeing her cousins at large family gatherings. Omakayas listens to her grandmother Nokomis’s wisdom and treats animals with respect. She befriends two bear cubs and has a very intelligent crow for a pet. The rhythms of life in her community go on mostly as normal until a stranger brings the dreaded disease of smallpox into their midst. Omakayas’s family will never be the same, but the return of spring brings hope and renewal.
Analysis:
Erdrich is a member of an Ojibwa band, and was inspired to write the book as she researched her family history. The author does a great job of creating a story that is culturally rich and yet has universal themes. It also incorporates historical details, like the white men pushing the Indians farther west, and the horrors of smallpox. The cultural details are too numerous to discuss in detail, but include: story-telling, prayers and rituals, dreams, hunting, making clothes, preparing food, harvesting rice, and much more.
The book is divided into four sections for the four seasons of the year. It begins with the joys and chores of summer, from eating delicious berries to tanning a moose hide. In the fall, Omakayas’s father, Deydey, comes back from trading and the family prepares for winter. Winter brings story times around the fire, but it also brings sickness, death, and grief. The new buds of spring signal that the time of hunger is over, and the family can rediscover laughter and continue on. Erdrich uses many Ojibwa words in the text; some can be figured out from context, and there is a complete glossary in the back that includes pronunciation. These Native-language words lend to the feeling of authenticity in the text.
The author has black-and-white pencil illustrations throughout the book that give faces to the characters and contribute to the story.
Reviews/Awards:
National Book Award finalist
American Indian Youth Literature Award Winner 2006
“Against the backdrop of Ojibwa cultural traditions, Omakayas also conveys the universal experiences of childhood - a love of the outdoors, a reluctance to do chores, devotion to a pet - as well as her ability to cope with the seemingly unbearable losses of the winter. The author hints at Omakayas's unusual background and her calling as a healer, as well as the imminent dangers of the "chimookoman" or white people, setting the stage for future episodes.” Publisher’s Weekly
“While this title will not appeal to fans of fast-paced action, readers who enjoy a variety of deftly drawn characters, relationships that ring true, and fascinating details about the daily life of the Ojibwa will be attracted to this endearing and irrepressible girl.” School Library Journal
Connections:
*Continue reading The Birchbark House series (there are now four books)
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