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A review by maryhannawilson
The Birchbark House by Louise Erdrich
informative
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.5
{3.5 Stars, though 5 stars for its value in education}
The Birchbark House introduces children to the 19th-century life of the Ojibwa tribe through the eyes of one tribe member, 7-year-old Omakayas. Readers will spend a year with the tribe and witness tribe life each season. We follow Omakayas during her daily chores, encounters with wildlife, and the tragedy as smallpox hits the village in the winter.
This book is an excellent choice to include in your history study, especially as a companion to Little House on the Prairie. There is plenty of educational value as readers learn about the life of Native Americans at this time.
The plot is slow-moving because we simply watch Omakayas' life throughout the year. She has bear encounters, adopts a crow who becomes a friend, and learns to step into her role as a healer in the family. For many students, the rising action didn't feel like it was rising much at all.
NOTE: Parents should be aware that smallpox kills two characters in the book - including Omakayas' baby brother. There is also a dog brutally killed by its owner. *One of the discussions we had in book club was about reasons these tragic and sad events might be included in a children's book.
The Birchbark House introduces children to the 19th-century life of the Ojibwa tribe through the eyes of one tribe member, 7-year-old Omakayas. Readers will spend a year with the tribe and witness tribe life each season. We follow Omakayas during her daily chores, encounters with wildlife, and the tragedy as smallpox hits the village in the winter.
This book is an excellent choice to include in your history study, especially as a companion to Little House on the Prairie. There is plenty of educational value as readers learn about the life of Native Americans at this time.
The plot is slow-moving because we simply watch Omakayas' life throughout the year. She has bear encounters, adopts a crow who becomes a friend, and learns to step into her role as a healer in the family. For many students, the rising action didn't feel like it was rising much at all.
NOTE: Parents should be aware that smallpox kills two characters in the book - including Omakayas' baby brother. There is also a dog brutally killed by its owner. *One of the discussions we had in book club was about reasons these tragic and sad events might be included in a children's book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death