Scan barcode
A review by cboettcher
How I Became a Ghost: A Choctaw Trail of Tears Story by Tim Tingle
3.0
Upon discovering this book on the American Indians in Children’s Literature (AICL) blog, I knew that it was a story that I wanted to pick up and enjoy. Just the premise is an attention-getter: a young boy who is for sure going to become a ghost while walking the Trail of Tears. It’s a powerful idea for a story.
From the opening, there is an element of suspense. The very first lines introduce the main character, Isaac: “Maybe you have never read a book written by a ghost before. I am a ghost.” The story then goes on to tell you that he will become a ghost somewhere throughout the book. The instant hook is sure to pull in all readers: when will Isaac become a ghost? Or, to put it more bluntly, when does he die?
The suspense makes for a gripping story, as if a story about the Trail of Tears isn’t gripping enough. Seeing how Isaac navigates through this experience is heart-wrenching, and is sure to touch any reader’s soul.
WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD!
My main critique with this book, however, is that it almost puts too much of a happy spin on history. In the end, we are left with a daughter reunited with her family, but the circumstances in which she got there are unbelievable. When the girl (Naomi) saves the Leader and he lets her go, it seems absolutely ridiculous. Any group of people who would knowingly and happily light fire to people’s homes, give them smallpox blankets, and force them into servitude would not give one lick about whether their lives were saved. There are moments in which Isaac is able to see the humanity in some of the other soldiers, but Leader is portrayed as relentless, and to suddenly show him doing an extremely good deed is extremely off-putting. The idea of Choctaw people being stronger than the soldiers is a great premise; the idea of a cruel and evil-spirited man suddenly having a heart seems to be a bit too convenient, as if the story needs to be wrapped up with a nice bow.
END SPOILERS!
Despite my annoyances with some of the plot, I did find this to be an enjoyable and eye-opening read. It would pair really well with a middle- or high-school history lesson, because history is so often told by the victors, and this provides a fresh perspective and gets to the raw emotion of the Trail of Tears. I am glad to have read this book and look forward to any more installments in the series.
From the opening, there is an element of suspense. The very first lines introduce the main character, Isaac: “Maybe you have never read a book written by a ghost before. I am a ghost.” The story then goes on to tell you that he will become a ghost somewhere throughout the book. The instant hook is sure to pull in all readers: when will Isaac become a ghost? Or, to put it more bluntly, when does he die?
The suspense makes for a gripping story, as if a story about the Trail of Tears isn’t gripping enough. Seeing how Isaac navigates through this experience is heart-wrenching, and is sure to touch any reader’s soul.
WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD!
My main critique with this book, however, is that it almost puts too much of a happy spin on history. In the end, we are left with a daughter reunited with her family, but the circumstances in which she got there are unbelievable. When the girl (Naomi) saves the Leader and he lets her go, it seems absolutely ridiculous. Any group of people who would knowingly and happily light fire to people’s homes, give them smallpox blankets, and force them into servitude would not give one lick about whether their lives were saved. There are moments in which Isaac is able to see the humanity in some of the other soldiers, but Leader is portrayed as relentless, and to suddenly show him doing an extremely good deed is extremely off-putting. The idea of Choctaw people being stronger than the soldiers is a great premise; the idea of a cruel and evil-spirited man suddenly having a heart seems to be a bit too convenient, as if the story needs to be wrapped up with a nice bow.
END SPOILERS!
Despite my annoyances with some of the plot, I did find this to be an enjoyable and eye-opening read. It would pair really well with a middle- or high-school history lesson, because history is so often told by the victors, and this provides a fresh perspective and gets to the raw emotion of the Trail of Tears. I am glad to have read this book and look forward to any more installments in the series.