Alexis, 19: They say never judge a book by its cover. That's definitely true for Andrea L. Roger's brilliant, surprising MARY AND THE TRAIL OF TEARS, A CHEROKEE REMOVAL SURVIVAL STORY. It's one book in the GIRLS SURVIVE series. We applaud Capstone for having Rogers, who is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, tell this story. It makes all the difference for authenticity and makes this book essential reading in families and schools.
Ashleigh, 13: The beginning of Ms. Andrea's book reminded me of MORNING GIRL, by Michael Dorris. That's one of my favorite books and all schools should teach it for Columbus Day. In MARY, we get to see a happy Cherokee family before their removal. That makes them loving of each other and self-confident. It's also a book about sisters, and Mary and Becky remind me of me and Vi.
Alexis, 19: Books about the Trail or Tears focus on the genocide, the worst horrors. That's in here. But the novel also shows exactly how everything people know is suddenly taken away from them by oppressors. Step by step, trying to make them inhuman. I was holding my breath at one point. It reminded me of quality Holocaust books. I thought, "Why don't more people write like this?" Then I remembered how few novels there are about the Trail of Tears by Indigenous authors. Choctaw Tim Tingle has told them well. Every Nation that was removed should tell their own stories.
Michael, 18: The family and community always seem real. There's nothing fake in the book. It's a short book and while the illustrations don't look like my idea of the characters, Ms. Andrea makes each word count. And the illustrations breaking up the text make it easier to read with dyslexic kids like me. This is one book (not audio) that I didn't struggle with. Ms. Andrea writing makes the story engaging, but it is always in service to the story and characters--and to her Cherokee ancestors.
The Cherokee Nation is #still here--more than 355,000 strong
Charlie, 17: We understand from the beginning what the whites don't see: that Native nations have always been complex. Even going back to 1838. Like this part, which even surprised me.
Charlie: If you think about the brutal deaths of elders and a baby in this book, I'm surprised it didn't just make me mad! Sometimes I did want to throw it down. But I wanted to see what happened more!
Ashleigh: Ms Andrea makes the ending happy and hopeful. Mary may lose her burden basket but she has her folks. We've been a little mean about the illustrations--the family at the end is the best one!
Illustrations by Matt Forsyth
Alexis: Some parts of this book really stuck with me. When they're excited to go out of the dirty camp to gather plants for medicine and maybe hunt for rabbits. "We got some other children together. They were nearly dancing with joy to leave the camp. But when we walked outside the camp, my heart fell. Everything was so brown. "The drought?" Jenny asked?"
Michael: When they sing "Orphan Child" to Becky when she's sick and...
Charlie: And Raven shoots a bear for a feast. I liked his character.
Alexis: Langston, your comments aren't stupid. We don't always know Indigenous history, outside our own, with all the stereotypes and colonialist education for all children. Ms. Andrea shares her wisdom--the parts she chooses to share-- with us through Mary's story: "I thought of all the places my family had cried on the trip to the new Cherokee Nation." This is the work we are calling authors to do to give us pride and self-respect, and to teach all children the truth.
All: HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!! Shonabish, Andrea L. Rogers--we understand this was traumatic for you to write, but we are so glad you did. We will continue to talk about & share Mary's story.
<3<3<3<3
*Thanks to Ms. Ann and Alexis' mom Gail for helping us put this review together and check for mistakes. If we made any errors (big or small) please let us know!
Ashleigh, 13: The beginning of Ms. Andrea's book reminded me of MORNING GIRL, by Michael Dorris. That's one of my favorite books and all schools should teach it for Columbus Day. In MARY, we get to see a happy Cherokee family before their removal. That makes them loving of each other and self-confident. It's also a book about sisters, and Mary and Becky remind me of me and Vi.
Alexis, 19: Books about the Trail or Tears focus on the genocide, the worst horrors. That's in here. But the novel also shows exactly how everything people know is suddenly taken away from them by oppressors. Step by step, trying to make them inhuman. I was holding my breath at one point. It reminded me of quality Holocaust books. I thought, "Why don't more people write like this?" Then I remembered how few novels there are about the Trail of Tears by Indigenous authors. Choctaw Tim Tingle has told them well. Every Nation that was removed should tell their own stories.
Michael, 18: The family and community always seem real. There's nothing fake in the book. It's a short book and while the illustrations don't look like my idea of the characters, Ms. Andrea makes each word count. And the illustrations breaking up the text make it easier to read with dyslexic kids like me. This is one book (not audio) that I didn't struggle with. Ms. Andrea writing makes the story engaging, but it is always in service to the story and characters--and to her Cherokee ancestors.
Charlie, 17: We understand from the beginning what the whites don't see: that Native nations have always been complex. Even going back to 1838. Like this part, which even surprised me.
Until a few years ago, New Echota had been our capital. It had housed a newspaper, the Cherokee Supreme Court, the Council house, a school, stores, and houses laid out in a grid system.Langston, 13: That surprised me too! I also thought they kept marching and didn't stop. I know that sounds stupid. I didn't realize they had to make these awful camps where everyone got sick and stay there a long time. I like how they help each other and sometimes have to stay back or go a different way in the worst situations. Their tears weren't just from walking a long way and their feet hurting. I guess I never thought about it. Our people stayed in the territory called Florida, hid in the Everglades. But we're connected. There's Seminole in Oklahoma too.
Charlie: If you think about the brutal deaths of elders and a baby in this book, I'm surprised it didn't just make me mad! Sometimes I did want to throw it down. But I wanted to see what happened more!
Ashleigh: Ms Andrea makes the ending happy and hopeful. Mary may lose her burden basket but she has her folks. We've been a little mean about the illustrations--the family at the end is the best one!
Alexis: Some parts of this book really stuck with me. When they're excited to go out of the dirty camp to gather plants for medicine and maybe hunt for rabbits. "We got some other children together. They were nearly dancing with joy to leave the camp. But when we walked outside the camp, my heart fell. Everything was so brown. "The drought?" Jenny asked?"
Michael: When they sing "Orphan Child" to Becky when she's sick and...
Around our family, other voices rose too. It felt like the entire camp was singing. "u we do li s di ka ne gv ga tv gi a tsi sa. u ni do da na. nu ne hv na u na da ni ya dv. As we sang the song, the rain stopped.Ashleigh: That gives me shivers. Becky tell Mary the things she likes about spring while they're walking. "Not wearing shoes!" Me too!
Charlie: And Raven shoots a bear for a feast. I liked his character.
Alexis: Langston, your comments aren't stupid. We don't always know Indigenous history, outside our own, with all the stereotypes and colonialist education for all children. Ms. Andrea shares her wisdom--the parts she chooses to share-- with us through Mary's story: "I thought of all the places my family had cried on the trip to the new Cherokee Nation." This is the work we are calling authors to do to give us pride and self-respect, and to teach all children the truth.
All: HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!! Shonabish, Andrea L. Rogers--we understand this was traumatic for you to write, but we are so glad you did. We will continue to talk about & share Mary's story.
<3<3<3<3
*Thanks to Ms. Ann and Alexis' mom Gail for helping us put this review together and check for mistakes. If we made any errors (big or small) please let us know!
Comments
Post a Comment