Scan barcode
gmamartha's review against another edition
3.0
How did "innocent bystanders" fare during the War of 1812? This is a snapshot of one place and time, showing characters that we can empathize with.
hayleybeale's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting novel in verse about the friendship between a Native American boy and an American boy set at the time of the War of 1812. I like the two voices and the two different shapes of the verses (and Frost's explanation of what they are). The testing of the friendship and of the relationship between the settlers and the tribes is evoked well. I read the ARC and my concern is that there is no historical note - not sure if this will be the case with the final book. Though there ia a note at the beginning that sets up the situation I feel the book really needs one to describe what actually happened and the aftermath.
erincataldi's review against another edition
4.0
A must read (or listen!) for fans of middle grade historical fiction! Set in 1812 at the onset of the war, twelve year old white settler, James, and twelve year old Miami Indian, Anikwa, discover what it is that separates them and what it is that binds them. Can they remain friends as war looms closer to Fort Wayne, Indiana?Their days were spent trapping, fishing, playing, and exploring, but now they must grow up and be men. They need to decide whose side they're on: the British, the Americans, The Indians, or their own.
Told through the alternating perspectives of both James and Anikwa, this story brings to life their friendship and the cultures that surrounded them. As the tagline suggested, this truly is "A story of friendship in the time of war." Boys especially, will like the hunting and wilderness aspects, but there is enough historical intrigue and friendship to interest female readers as well.
The audiobook edition to which I listened to, also added an entire new dimension to the story. The narrators were brilliant and really helped narrarted the concerns and emotions of the two twelve year old friends.
I received this book for free from Librarything Early Reviewers in return for my honest and unbiased opinion.
Told through the alternating perspectives of both James and Anikwa, this story brings to life their friendship and the cultures that surrounded them. As the tagline suggested, this truly is "A story of friendship in the time of war." Boys especially, will like the hunting and wilderness aspects, but there is enough historical intrigue and friendship to interest female readers as well.
The audiobook edition to which I listened to, also added an entire new dimension to the story. The narrators were brilliant and really helped narrarted the concerns and emotions of the two twelve year old friends.
I received this book for free from Librarything Early Reviewers in return for my honest and unbiased opinion.
aoosterwyk's review against another edition
4.0
Told in two voices from 1812: James, his family owns the trading post at Fort Wayne in the Miami nation, and Anikwa, a young boy from the Miami village of Kekionga.
The boys and their families are friendly, but the white settlers and their government want more land. The British have enlisted the help of the Native Americans to defend their land and go to war against the white Americans.
The story actually has three voices, one being "salt", or what is necessary for all life to survive. Much of the description in the story is of the difficulty and importance of gathering and keeping food. The destruction of food is one way the US controlled and destroyed the natives and their culture. Food is also one of the ways the two families showed their humanity to each other and the reader.
Ultimately, we all share the same needs and desires.
Easy to read and understand and good for classroom use. This would be a great follow up to the American Revolution.
The boys and their families are friendly, but the white settlers and their government want more land. The British have enlisted the help of the Native Americans to defend their land and go to war against the white Americans.
The story actually has three voices, one being "salt", or what is necessary for all life to survive. Much of the description in the story is of the difficulty and importance of gathering and keeping food. The destruction of food is one way the US controlled and destroyed the natives and their culture. Food is also one of the ways the two families showed their humanity to each other and the reader.
Ultimately, we all share the same needs and desires.
Easy to read and understand and good for classroom use. This would be a great follow up to the American Revolution.
nsusdorf's review against another edition
4.0
Salt is a beautiful novel of poetry that tells the story of two young boys, one a settler and one a Native American, who live through a battle in 1812.
I must say, both my students and I are really into this whole novel in poems trend. It definitely makes poetry accessible to young readers and creates emotion in ways that prose can not.
I must say, both my students and I are really into this whole novel in poems trend. It definitely makes poetry accessible to young readers and creates emotion in ways that prose can not.
listen_learn's review against another edition
4.0
A historical fiction about the war of 1812, this is a story told from the prospective of two young teen friends. One of the boys is native american and the other is a white settler.
I picked this up when I was browsing the shelves of my local library looking for historical fiction and was delighted to find that it was a story told in verse.
I read it in one night, and it felt like a small time capsule. It strecthed my mind to think about a corner of history I hadn't really considered before.
The emotions of the boys were realistic and it seems clear that this author did her research before writing the book.
I recommend for those who like stories about friendship, poetry as a form of narrative, and are interested in the relationship between native americans and settlers in this fraught time period.
I picked this up when I was browsing the shelves of my local library looking for historical fiction and was delighted to find that it was a story told in verse.
I read it in one night, and it felt like a small time capsule. It strecthed my mind to think about a corner of history I hadn't really considered before.
The emotions of the boys were realistic and it seems clear that this author did her research before writing the book.
I recommend for those who like stories about friendship, poetry as a form of narrative, and are interested in the relationship between native americans and settlers in this fraught time period.
heatherday916's review against another edition
4.0
Quite a different read for me. I've never read a novel written entirely in verse before, but I found all the elements weaving together in this book. First, there are relatable characters and an interesting plot. Second, there is the flow and the rhythm that is created with the cadence of the verse. Add the two together and you have a very engaging story. A beautifully structured story. I really enjoyed it.
crystal_reading's review against another edition
4.0
I read this, but didn't notice some of the things that Debbie Reese brings up here http://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com/2013/10/initial-thoughts-about-helen-frosts.html
Glad she shares her perspective.
Glad she shares her perspective.
sandraagee's review against another edition
3.0
I liked this book. I enjoyed the poetry and the way that the narrators' different styles stood apart from each other to both make for easy reading and to add some stylistic symbolism. The book was readable and enjoyable, and I really appreciated that it covered a period in history and a specific cultural group that is often neglected by historical fiction writers.
Despite all of the good things that this book has to offer, I couldn't help but feel like it was missing something. That one something that would take it from "very nice" to "wow!" Still not sure what that something is - perhaps the book was simply over-hyped? Or perhaps the books deserves a closer reading than the one I gave it.
Despite all of the good things that this book has to offer, I couldn't help but feel like it was missing something. That one something that would take it from "very nice" to "wow!" Still not sure what that something is - perhaps the book was simply over-hyped? Or perhaps the books deserves a closer reading than the one I gave it.
thecottagefrog's review against another edition
4.0
4.5
a very good, short story about two boys during a snippet of the War of 1812. very enjoyable, and I like that the book also contained notes on the reasoning behind the structures of the poems, the significance of the title, proper pronounciatian of the Miami words, and discussion questions and prompts for learners. this will definitely be a book I have in my future classroom.
a very good, short story about two boys during a snippet of the War of 1812. very enjoyable, and I like that the book also contained notes on the reasoning behind the structures of the poems, the significance of the title, proper pronounciatian of the Miami words, and discussion questions and prompts for learners. this will definitely be a book I have in my future classroom.