Erdrich, L. (1999). The Birchbark House. New York, New York: Hyperion Books for Children.
Brief Annotation: A Native American girl, Omakayas, was a survivor of smallpox and was found on Spirit Island, an island in Lake Superior. Omakayas became part of an Ojibwa family who she became to love and develop deep relationships with. This story is about Omakayas and her relationships with her mother, sister, and her annoying younger brother. We see the life of the Native Americans and how they operate on a daily basis.
Genre: Culturally Diverse
Grade Level: 6-8
Readers who will like this: Readers who like to read about different cultures many years ago and like to learn about their daily lives.
Response/Rating (1-4): *** This book was a great read and gave deep insight into the lives of Native Americans many years ago. This book provides history of the Native American culture, specifically the Ojibwa tribe.
One question you would ask before a read aloud: What do you know about Native Americans? What do you know specifically about the Ojibwa tribe?
I've never read this book even though I'm a huge fan of Erdrich AND both of my kids read the book in 4th grade. You've given me inspiration to read it based on your strong review.
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