HALL OF FAME # 2-- HIDDEN ROOTS, by Joseph Bruchac

We decided as a team that every time one of us posts a review, that person is also going to pick a Hall of Fame book, author or series. Although the reviews are one member's opinion, the Hall of Fame books have been unanimously voted as essential Native #ownvoices and kidlit & YALit classics.

Michael, 17 picks...THE HIDDEN ROOTS, by Joseph Bruchac. Bruchac is the one Native author that we were all assigned in school. At least one of his books has appeared on the influential (in Florida) SSYRA lists. I love his scary books. SKELETON MAN was one of the first books I was able to read cover to cover all by myself. I didn't lose my dyslexia, but I was so fascinated by it, I barely struggled to get it read and I wanted to talk to everyone about it and read the first few pages aloud to freak people out.

HIDDEN ROOTS (#ownvoices/Abenaki) was a slower read for me. I kept going back over it, because I didn't want to miss anything. It is a book where the 11 year old MC Sonny doesn't quite understand what's going on in his life and where his family comes from. He is terrified by his father's rages, without understanding the history behind his behavior. He is comforted by his mother, a librarian, and especially his Uncle Louis. I believe every single Native family has dark, secret, hidden roots. What our elders went through is even worse than we imagine, and they often don't want to talk about it. All of us agree there aren't any flaws in this book, it's not quite like any other book, and it should be required reading for all students and families.

Thank you, Mr. Bruchac, for this masterpiece!

Debbie Reese talks about this book on AICL here.

Comments

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Indigo's Bookshelf: Voices of Native Youth

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