Bring Back the Deer

Prusski, Jeffrey

ISBN 10: 0152004181 ISBN 13: 9780152004187

Publisher: Harcourt Childrens Books, 1988

Synopsis

A young brave's hunting ritual, in which he pursues a deer through the winter forest, brings him to an understanding of his identity and inner strength.

About this title

From School Library Journal

Grade 2-4 Harsh reality turns into New Age fantasy in another pseudo-native American tale of a boy's rite of passage. This time the son leaves home in the dead of winter to hunt the deer for his family, who are desperately hungry in the wake of Father's two-day absence. Heeding Grandfather's sage advice to "become" the animal in order to hunt successfully, the boy has a succession of dreamlike encounters with a wolf and a deer. His identity intermingles with that of the animals to such an extent that he neglects to kill eitherand it's a lucky thing, because the deer reveals himself to be the boy's grandfather, and the wolf, his father. The boy is welcomed home and praised for having "looked within to find his power." While Prusski is skilled at developing the plot through literary devices such as foreshadowing and symbolism, his writing is otherwise unremarkable. The sentences are often short, choppy, and full of cliches or are long and awkwardly constructed. Unusual sentence structures frequently make it necessary to reread for comprehension, limiting the book's potential for either independent reading or for reading aloud. The dreamy, romanticized vision of native American life which permeates the text is also reflected in the glossy watercolor illustrations, most notable for their stylistic similarities to the book jacket art of Leo and Diane Dillon. The overall effect of this perpetuation of the "Noble Savage" stereotype is a cheapening of native American spiritual beliefs. Kathleen T. Horning, Madison Public Library, Wis.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Publishers Weekly

This intriguing coming-of-age story centers on a boy's search for identity. In winter, scarcity of food causes the large clans to break into small family bands. The boy's family stays in one place while the father goes to hunt deer. But when he does not return, the boy, following the wisdom of his grandfather's words, seeks to "to walk as the deer walks" and to find his father's path. He faces a wolf without fear and chases the deer; ultimately, the chase leads him home where he realizes that the wolf was really his father and the regal deer his grandfather. Prusski has written an engrossing tale of self-discovery in the tradition of many primitive myths. The rhythm of life is beautifully portrayed and Waldman's illustrations have a lyrical quality that is haunting. Primitive drawings and animal images are harmoniously included in the pictures, making this a splendid debut for both author and illustrator. Ages 3-8.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Harcourt Childrens Books
• Publication date: 1988
• ISBN 10: 0152004181
• ISBN 13: 9780152004187
• Binding: Library Binding
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 30
• Illustrator: Waldman Neil