Saturday, January 06, 2007
Book Review - Eagle's Song - YA Fiction
Joseph Bruchac’s novel, Eagle’s Song, is briefly but well illustrated by Dan Andreasen in black and white. The story accounts the prejudice words that come from other children to Danny Bigtree, a boy who has left the security of the reservation school, to enter public school in New York City. Danny lives in Brooklyn where children call him chief, and inquire as to the whereabouts of his “tee-pee. “ Such flip comments anger Danny for he is of the Mohawk/Iroquois Nations who have long houses not tee-pees. Danny is insulted when he is called chief for to him such a title comes with certain dignities that are earned over time. Danny considers cutting his hair but realizes he will not be unrecognizable. His only wish is to make the torments cease.
The Bigtree family formally lived on the Akwesasne River, which is located at the top of the St. Lawrence River. Canadian factories polluted it and Danny’s family felt it best they move to Brooklyn, which would be closer to his cloud climbing father’s work. Danny’s father is a construction/steelworker and is away on projects a goodly amount of the year. Danny misses the other Iroquois children for they played lacrosse and understood his life-style.
Fortunately Danny’s mother listens to his lonely words. When Danny’s father comes home, dad volunteers to go into school to speak to Danny’s class about the Mohawk/Iroquois. It is his hope that through knowledge will grow understanding. Through Danny’s dad’s presentation the reader learns:
1) The Iroquois women ran and held the nation together.
2) Hiawatha is really spelled Aionwatha and was not at all what Longfellow ran on about in his poem.
3) Our constitution is modeled after the Iroquois government.
4) Five warring nations of Indians made peace and were illustrated in an eagle holding five arrows signifying the difficulty in breaking the truce.
5) Our quarter with the eagle on the back holds the 13 arrows symbolizing the 13 colonies.
6) If you believe in peace make the enemy your friend and practice solidarity.Laughter brings back the spirit.
Eventually the children at school learn to accept Danny but not without another painful incident. The author is wise not to allow Danny’s father to miraculously solve everything with one lecture for conflict resolution takes many steps.
Bruchac never attempts to reflect the American Indian as perfect. Throughout Eagle Song he implies the need for understanding. The more we understand, the less we fear and disrespect. Danny’s homesickness, his loneliness when his father is away and his adjusting to his new life away from the river needs consideration by his parents, teachers and classmates. With understanding grows acceptance. Acceptance erases the lines of class distinction.
The Bigtree family formally lived on the Akwesasne River, which is located at the top of the St. Lawrence River. Canadian factories polluted it and Danny’s family felt it best they move to Brooklyn, which would be closer to his cloud climbing father’s work. Danny’s father is a construction/steelworker and is away on projects a goodly amount of the year. Danny misses the other Iroquois children for they played lacrosse and understood his life-style.
Fortunately Danny’s mother listens to his lonely words. When Danny’s father comes home, dad volunteers to go into school to speak to Danny’s class about the Mohawk/Iroquois. It is his hope that through knowledge will grow understanding. Through Danny’s dad’s presentation the reader learns:
1) The Iroquois women ran and held the nation together.
2) Hiawatha is really spelled Aionwatha and was not at all what Longfellow ran on about in his poem.
3) Our constitution is modeled after the Iroquois government.
4) Five warring nations of Indians made peace and were illustrated in an eagle holding five arrows signifying the difficulty in breaking the truce.
5) Our quarter with the eagle on the back holds the 13 arrows symbolizing the 13 colonies.
6) If you believe in peace make the enemy your friend and practice solidarity.Laughter brings back the spirit.
Eventually the children at school learn to accept Danny but not without another painful incident. The author is wise not to allow Danny’s father to miraculously solve everything with one lecture for conflict resolution takes many steps.
Bruchac never attempts to reflect the American Indian as perfect. Throughout Eagle Song he implies the need for understanding. The more we understand, the less we fear and disrespect. Danny’s homesickness, his loneliness when his father is away and his adjusting to his new life away from the river needs consideration by his parents, teachers and classmates. With understanding grows acceptance. Acceptance erases the lines of class distinction.
# posted by Bite Me Kissimmee @ 1:11 PM 
