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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
Plot
What does it take to become a man in 1899? In Samkad's village, they receive "The Cut" when they are around ten. Samkad is ready, and he finally has his ceremony, but his father killed a snake on the way there and now the Elders are telling him he isn't ready because he needs to find the his soul brother. He's furious at his father, but then his father decides to take off to find Samkad's soul brother. Sam is left with his best friend Little Luki and his dog Chuka. The three of them are left in charge of two babies as the mothers go off to the rice paddies. When they decide to checkout the second field of rice paddies beyond the main field, they find it muddy, full of weeds, and a rival tribe member, but when he tries to tell his village, it's too late. His father comes back in poor shape, but he has Kinyo, his soul connection, in tow--but there's an American man with him and the villagers are wary.
Review
Despite the fact that this was about a boy waiting to get circumcised, I quite enjoyed the story and the characters. It was nice reading an own voices historical fiction set outside the US. Gourlay shows the contrast between the two boys--one who grew up in the village with his father, and the other who was sent to another region and "Americanized".
Contains: circumcision, mild violence, diverse characters
Washyarg December 2019
for 5-8th+
What does it take to become a man in 1899? In Samkad's village, they receive "The Cut" when they are around ten. Samkad is ready, and he finally has his ceremony, but his father killed a snake on the way there and now the Elders are telling him he isn't ready because he needs to find the his soul brother. He's furious at his father, but then his father decides to take off to find Samkad's soul brother. Sam is left with his best friend Little Luki and his dog Chuka. The three of them are left in charge of two babies as the mothers go off to the rice paddies. When they decide to checkout the second field of rice paddies beyond the main field, they find it muddy, full of weeds, and a rival tribe member, but when he tries to tell his village, it's too late. His father comes back in poor shape, but he has Kinyo, his soul connection, in tow--but there's an American man with him and the villagers are wary.
Review
Despite the fact that this was about a boy waiting to get circumcised, I quite enjoyed the story and the characters. It was nice reading an own voices historical fiction set outside the US. Gourlay shows the contrast between the two boys--one who grew up in the village with his father, and the other who was sent to another region and "Americanized".
Contains: circumcision, mild violence, diverse characters
Washyarg December 2019
for 5-8th+
Young Samkad is desperate to become a man. His father is a valued and respected warrior within the Bontoc community, and, to Samkad, the epitome of what it means to be a man. If only Samkad could prove to the elders that he too possesses such physical and inner strength. However, when a spiral of events prevents the ceremony that would establish Samkad’s manhood from taking place, the protagonist can only feel rage and bitterness at the injustice. But, with passing time and impending danger, Samkad learns that he must put others before himself, that the security of his culture and people is of far higher importance than his manhood.
In terms of theme, this was extremely strong, and I think that a long time could be spent picking apart masculinity, threat and difference within this story. I am extremely intrigued by the attention paid to individuals within groups breaking away from what they are perceived to be, particularly in relation to what Samkad comes to understand about individuality and identity, and how values may be personal to those that hold them.
To me, Gourlay’s story is a triumph. Her writing is so vivid, and completely immerses the reader in the sounds and sights of Cordillera and the traditions of the Bontoc people, bringing to life a culture I had never even heard of prior to opening the book. Emotionally, very affecting; I too felt the disorientation and deep urgency that Samkad describes when what is known is threatened by violence and upheaval. Truly immense; it is stories like these that highlight the absence within literature when periods of history are so wrongfully neglected. I hope that Bone Talk makes a mark for a wave of different stories to be told, as it has certainly made a mark on me.
In terms of theme, this was extremely strong, and I think that a long time could be spent picking apart masculinity, threat and difference within this story. I am extremely intrigued by the attention paid to individuals within groups breaking away from what they are perceived to be, particularly in relation to what Samkad comes to understand about individuality and identity, and how values may be personal to those that hold them.
To me, Gourlay’s story is a triumph. Her writing is so vivid, and completely immerses the reader in the sounds and sights of Cordillera and the traditions of the Bontoc people, bringing to life a culture I had never even heard of prior to opening the book. Emotionally, very affecting; I too felt the disorientation and deep urgency that Samkad describes when what is known is threatened by violence and upheaval. Truly immense; it is stories like these that highlight the absence within literature when periods of history are so wrongfully neglected. I hope that Bone Talk makes a mark for a wave of different stories to be told, as it has certainly made a mark on me.
I have lots of thoughts about this book. It is a story that carries within it a goal which is, according to the back jacket sleeve, to bring into the world a story that the author was missing whilst growing up, a story that resembled 'her steamy, tropical home in Manila'. And I am so glad she did. Through copious, exhaustive research from a range of secondary and primary sources, Gourlay has accomplished an impressive feat bringing to life the Bontoc people and work respectfully with the guidance of many others to bring a voice to the voiceless.
The story itself it set in three parts and follows the story of Samkad, a boy on the cusp of being initiated into manhood. The rite of passage ceremony though is brought to a halt when the old ones set a task that, ultimately, sets in motion events that change the tribe's future for all time. Together with Luki, a ferociously-willed young girl, his father and others (not wanting to give the plot away), Samkad finds his whole world changed and challenged forever. Will he have the strength and courage within to save his people and what will his people and their culture mean to him when he encounters others?
Gourlay juggles so much in this book; strong females trying to fight against the gendered norm, the his history of a people living in the Cordeillera region, their cultures and customs as well as their encounters. She does so perfectly. I learned so much from her story; she opened my eyes to the Bontoc people and their region and has done so with great sensitivity, respect and love. I have a feeling that this was an equally great journey for her too.
The story itself it set in three parts and follows the story of Samkad, a boy on the cusp of being initiated into manhood. The rite of passage ceremony though is brought to a halt when the old ones set a task that, ultimately, sets in motion events that change the tribe's future for all time. Together with Luki, a ferociously-willed young girl, his father and others (not wanting to give the plot away), Samkad finds his whole world changed and challenged forever. Will he have the strength and courage within to save his people and what will his people and their culture mean to him when he encounters others?
Gourlay juggles so much in this book; strong females trying to fight against the gendered norm, the his history of a people living in the Cordeillera region, their cultures and customs as well as their encounters. She does so perfectly. I learned so much from her story; she opened my eyes to the Bontoc people and their region and has done so with great sensitivity, respect and love. I have a feeling that this was an equally great journey for her too.
Hmmm.
Definitely an interesting book.
I'm really happy to see different cultures becoming a part of popular children's literature. It never really occurred to me while I was growing up but the majority, if not all, of the characters I read about as a child were either from America or England in most cases, and their first language was English.
So to see a children's book boldly representing some Filipino history, well, that's cool.
However, for my personal taste, the slaughtering of animals was overmentioned a bit. Also, the story itself was very very slow paced, and not many things happened.
Definitely an interesting book.
I'm really happy to see different cultures becoming a part of popular children's literature. It never really occurred to me while I was growing up but the majority, if not all, of the characters I read about as a child were either from America or England in most cases, and their first language was English.
So to see a children's book boldly representing some Filipino history, well, that's cool.
However, for my personal taste, the slaughtering of animals was overmentioned a bit. Also, the story itself was very very slow paced, and not many things happened.
| SPOILERS BUT NOT SEVERE |
This book was great. The story was very well written, the more I read the more I wanted to know. I thought it was good how you were in the mind of the ‘weaker’ side because you get more insight into their feelings and emotion toward killing.It was good to hear Samkad’s inner voice. Seeing him develop as a character, growing to understand war and the enemies. Also nice to see a strong female character(Luki) who proves you don’t have to be a man to be a warrior.