Home to Medicine Mountain - Hardcover

Santiago, Chiori

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0892391553 ISBN 13: 9780892391554

Publisher: Childrens Book Pr, 1998

Synopsis

A tribute to the spirit of Native Americans, based on a true story, offers a poignant look at the forgotten history of Indian residential schools, following two homesick brothers in the 1930s who leave school for an exciting journey home.

About this title

From Publishers Weekly:

The real-life experiences of Lowry's father and uncle fuel this account of two Native American brothers in California, sent to a government-run boarding school in the 1930s to unlearn their traditional ways. While the book discloses a sad chapter in the long history of the disenfranchisement of Native Americans, it will also resonate with any kid who has been homesick. But the storytelling wobbles. There is little buildup to the main event?occurring when the boys, still children, ride the rails home for summer break?and the contrast between the regimented life at school and life at home does not create narrative momentum. Lowry's stylized artwork works well both for the prison-like school and the happier scenes at Medicine Mountain: the sharp edges of her compositions lend themselves to a cold, hard look and to a more innocent, naive style. Kids will also be interested to see Native Americans at home in jeans and dresses. This book goes a long way toward replacing romanticized stereotypes with something closer to history, but remains less than satisfying as a story. Ages 6-up.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal:

Kindergarten-Grade 3-For decades, Native American children were taken from their families and sent to government-run boarding schools. There, the youngsters lost precious contact with their cultures, their languages, and their families. In this personal story, the illustrator shows through vivid, full-page paintings the story of her father and uncle finding their way home from such a school in the 1930s. Stanley and Benny Len, inspired by their grandmother's stories, undertook their own adventure to get home for the summer. Late one night, they hitched a secret ride on a train headed for home, a ride that was destined to become a favorite family tale. The boarding school and teachers are shown in an unflattering light, especially as seen through these memories. The artist and author have brought a little-known chapter of history to children's attention, and have done so in an appealing way. The colorful paintings and intelligent text tell a loving story, best for one-on-one or personal reading. A welcome title.
Mary B. McCarthy, Windsor Severance Library District, CO
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Childrens Book Pr
• Publication date: 1998
• ISBN 10: 0892391553
• ISBN 13: 9780892391554
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 30
• Illustrator: Lowry Judith