Spirit Quest - Softcover

Sharpe, Susan

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0590463543 ISBN 13: 9780590463546

Publisher: Scholastic Inc., 1991

Synopsis

Vacationing on an Indian reservation off the coast of Washington, eleven-year-old Aaron becomes friends with Robert, a young Quileute Indian

About this title

From Kirkus Reviews

The author of Waterman's Boy (1990) returns with another book in which respect for the natural environment plays as important a role as the characters. Aaron Singer and his parents are vacationing on Quileute land in the Pacific Northwest. While Dad paints and Mom studies marine life, Aaron makes friends with Robert, a Native American who's learned about his own heritage at the Quileute school. Though too young for the manhood rite of the spirit quest, both boys are intrigued by the idea; on a camping trip, they hope to get away from Robert's older brother long enough to sample what it would be like. A dramatic incident provides at least the semblance of the quest experience: they find an eagle entangled in a fishing net, and--as Robert makes the dangerous trip to get help--Aaron spends a frightening night sustaining the wild, powerful bird. There's not quite enough plot here to balance the earnest transmittal of information; still, the interplay between Native American tradition and the dominant culture, and the idea of self and self-expression are intelligently handled. The author's daughters (Alison, 8, and Katherine, 11) have provided charming chapter headings inspired by Northwest Coast Indian designs. -- Copyright ©1991, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-6-- Aaron Singer, the 11-year-old son of a painter and a marine scientist, spends the summer with his family on a reservation off the coast of Washington. He thinks he can learn about the Quileute Indian mythology from the books he brings, but comes to a deeper understanding of the Quileute culture through his friendship and adventures with his new Native-American friend, Robert. When the two boys set off on their own spirit quest, Aaron discovers a trapped eagle. He protects it through the night until help comes, believing that the eagle's spirit will remain with him when he leaves the reservation. This short, easy-to-read story is a bit slow paced and a trifle obvious in its message. Mr. Singer explains to his son the problems between the "Indians" and "whites" this way: "And then, when the United States and Canada became real countries, they passed laws against the Indian religion . . . . The idea seemed to be that the Indians shouldn't be Indians, they should be white people." Black-marker illustrations for each chapter heading are childlike sketches in imitation of traditional designs. Not an essential purchase, but an an acceptable one. --Yvonne Frey, Peoria Pub . Schools, IL
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
• Publication date: 1991
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0590463543
• ISBN 13: 9780590463546
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 122