The Trap

This very moving story of life in the Alaskan wilderness alternates each chapter between the grandfather and the grandson and the very different struggles that each goes through during the four days that pass during the course of the story.

Albert Least-Weasel is an old, very stubborn man, he has lived his whole life in the cold Alaskan wilderness and insists on continuing to live his life on his own terms. He checks his own fur trapping line alone--even though most men his age had given that up long ago. He set out as usual to check his traps, but that day turned out to be anything but usual. He accidently caught himself in his own trap. The story weaves back and forth between Albert stuck out in the open in the freezing wilderness and his grandson Johnny back in the village. Albert's fight for survival is well-presented as is Johnny's plight caught between his worry about his grandfather and others feeling he should wait and his own commitments.

Nice segueway for 6 graders as they should have had US History covering Alaska and Canada as part of their 5th grade social studies. Great boy book as an upper grade next step from Paulsen's work.

An area of concern is the mention of the pervasive alcoholism of the tribal peoples while not glamorized, it is not ignored either.

Grades 6-12

I have a copy of my own if anyone needs to read it.

Crossing Bok Chitto: A Choctaw Tale of Friendship & Freedom, by Tim Tingle

Bok Chitto was a river in Mississippi that served as a boundary between the Choctaw Indian people on one side and the plantations and slaves on the other side. If a slave made it across the river, the slave was free. In this story, Martha Tom a young Choctaw girl is lost on the plantation side when a young boy, named Little Mo (short for Moses) helps her to find the crossing home. Later when Little Mo's family is to be separated by the sale of his mother, he leads his family to freedom by crossing the river in plain sight of the guards and their dogs who are struck still by a seeming band of angels escorting the family to freedom. This story is haunting both in the illustrations and in the cultural customs particularly the songs of each.

George Crum and the Saratoga Chip, by Gaylia Taylor.

Illus. by Frank Morrison.

Part Native American and part African American, George Crum lived at a time when it was difficult for people of color to be taken seriously in school or the workplace. His skills at preparing the fresh fish and game he catches lands him a job in a fancy restaurant where his sister is a waitress. Easily frustrated by the wealthy, fussy customers, one day George responds to a complaint that his french fries are too thick by slicing them very thinly. Soon everyone wants his "Saratoga chips." An author's note situates the story within the known and debated facts. The illustrations are lively and expressive. This would be a fun addition to units on inventors or food.

Grades 1-5

Weedflower, by Cynthia Kadohata

A powerful story of a Japanese internment camp during World War II. Before Pearl Harbor Sumiko works with her uncle's family on a flower farm in southern California and dreams of owning her own flower shop. When the war starts Sumiko's family is split apart and she is moved to a camp in Arizona - a camp located on a Mojave reservation. There she works with a neighbor, Mr. Moto, to grow an award-winning garden and she befriends Frank, a young Mojave. Through her friendship with Frank, she sees the injustices perpetrated on the Native Americans and tries to reason out the very difficult decisions her family has to make. Students will relate to and understand Sumiko's feelings at each step of her amazing story. The author's father was interred at the Poston camp and she writes a moving and well written testimony to the courage and perseverance of Japanese Americans during this dark period in American history. SLJ starred review.

Grades 5 - 8

Blood On the River: James Town 1607, by Elisa Carbone

The story of the first permanent English settlement at Jamestown is told from the point of view of twelve-year old Samuel Collier who serves as a page to Captain John Smith. The harsh circumstances of the journey and settlement, the controversial character of John Smith, and the relationships with the native Americans are seen through the eyes of the young Samuel.

This is an outstanding example of historical fiction including a map, afterword, Author's Note as well as sources for each chapter. Actual quotes introduce each chapter.

Many of the descriptions of the harsh conditions, illness, and violence are quite visceral. Grades 5-8.

Visit the author's website for more information and a study guide:
www.elisacarbone.com