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misspippireads's review against another edition
5.0
It is Little Hawk's turn to become a man. He needs to survive three months in the woods - alone. When he returns to his people, he will be seen as a man. Unbeknownst to him, he will return a man, but face greater challenges when he returns home.
Wow. Wow! After I finished listening to Jim Dale read Susan Cooper's story I could not put into words my reaction or my review. I wanted to savor it and let it sink in. It was so captivating - a book that I might not read again, but a book that I will always take with me. Little Hawk is part of the whole story - as a child, a man, an observer, a friend. I fear saying too much, because I want readers to experience this story themselves. I could see where some of the storyline was going and wanted to reach in an intercede. Other parts of the story completely surprised me. I would recommend this tale to older middlers, high schoolers, and adults. It's a fantastical historical fiction piece that a wide range of readers will enjoy.
The amazing Jim Dale read Ghost Hawk. Most listeners are familiar with his renditions of Harry Potter, but he's read a wide range of pieces. He's a master of narration. I especially appreciate his use of silence and quiet. The use of a good pause to difficult to master and Dale does an excellent job.
Reviewed from an Audiobook Jukebox copy. Thank you, Simon & Schuster Audio!
Wow. Wow! After I finished listening to Jim Dale read Susan Cooper's story I could not put into words my reaction or my review. I wanted to savor it and let it sink in. It was so captivating - a book that I might not read again, but a book that I will always take with me. Little Hawk is part of the whole story - as a child, a man, an observer, a friend. I fear saying too much, because I want readers to experience this story themselves. I could see where some of the storyline was going and wanted to reach in an intercede. Other parts of the story completely surprised me. I would recommend this tale to older middlers, high schoolers, and adults. It's a fantastical historical fiction piece that a wide range of readers will enjoy.
The amazing Jim Dale read Ghost Hawk. Most listeners are familiar with his renditions of Harry Potter, but he's read a wide range of pieces. He's a master of narration. I especially appreciate his use of silence and quiet. The use of a good pause to difficult to master and Dale does an excellent job.
Reviewed from an Audiobook Jukebox copy. Thank you, Simon & Schuster Audio!
gillothen's review against another edition
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Susan Cooper addresses the European invasion of New England in the seventeenth century, told by a member of the Wampanoag people. There are some problematic aspects, as the focus switches halfway through the book to one of the settlers, making the Indigenous experience secondary, and the "white saviour" element of the figure introduced at the end is also somewhat questionable.
On the other hand, Cooper writes with her customary fluency, developing strong characters and some moving situations, while confronting the devastating effects of Europeans on the culture and people of the area and the hypocrisy of the church-centred society unable to recognise the "Indians" as fellow human beings.
I understand why some critics of the First Nations peoples have objected to this, though I have no reason to doubt Cooper's sincerity or the accuracy of her research. I enjoyed the story, though it is not in the same league as her best work, particularly the "Dark Is Rising" sequence.
On the other hand, Cooper writes with her customary fluency, developing strong characters and some moving situations, while confronting the devastating effects of Europeans on the culture and people of the area and the hypocrisy of the church-centred society unable to recognise the "Indians" as fellow human beings.
I understand why some critics of the First Nations peoples have objected to this, though I have no reason to doubt Cooper's sincerity or the accuracy of her research. I enjoyed the story, though it is not in the same league as her best work, particularly the "Dark Is Rising" sequence.
cindyjac's review
3.0
It was an entertaining story somewhere between fantasy and historical fiction. I started to read the reviews and was very interested in this perspective: http://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com/
offered on this blog that critiques children's literature featuring American Indian characters, culture, and "history". As a teacher I will continue to read the reviews offered here to get a different point of view. If this book offered nothing else it was the chance to discover this review site.
offered on this blog that critiques children's literature featuring American Indian characters, culture, and "history". As a teacher I will continue to read the reviews offered here to get a different point of view. If this book offered nothing else it was the chance to discover this review site.
aoosterwyk's review
3.0
Susan Cooper is just an amazing author and this book is highly relevant for my middle grade students. For us, this is our local history, covering the period of time when the Puritans landed at Plymouth and started to displace the natives by disease, war and farming.
The temperaments and attitudes of the two main characters (one native and one colonist) allow them to see both sides of the situation and in contrast, other characters are revealed to be intolerant and judgmental.
Thank goodness for Roger Williams, a voice of peace and reason in the colonial landscape.
The story provides an explanation for King Phillip's war that kids will understand, something I haven't seen before.
A timeline after the book details all the appalling land-grabs against the native tribes by the government throughout US history. It also mentions the story of the last "wild Indian", Ishi. The last member of the Yahi in California, who emerged from the wilderness in 1911. I will definitely be reading his story.
Just great!
The temperaments and attitudes of the two main characters (one native and one colonist) allow them to see both sides of the situation and in contrast, other characters are revealed to be intolerant and judgmental.
Thank goodness for Roger Williams, a voice of peace and reason in the colonial landscape.
The story provides an explanation for King Phillip's war that kids will understand, something I haven't seen before.
A timeline after the book details all the appalling land-grabs against the native tribes by the government throughout US history. It also mentions the story of the last "wild Indian", Ishi. The last member of the Yahi in California, who emerged from the wilderness in 1911. I will definitely be reading his story.
Just great!
cimorene1558's review
4.0
Excellent, as Cooper's writing always is, but pretty tough. This is all about the European settlement of Massachusetts, which brings with it both the nastiness of the religious persecution by and of people who had left Europe to escape exactly that, and of course the horrors of the slaughter of the native people of the region. It is very moving and somewhat hopeful, but it's also pretty awful at times, as regards "man's inhumanity to man".
carolineroche's review against another edition
5.0
Another great book from Susan Cooper which I wouldn't be surprised to see on the Carnegie shortlist next year. Dealing with the first experiences of white settlers in America it follows two boys, one English and one Native American as they seek to live in the land together. Beautifully observed, I couldn't put it down.
situationnormal's review
2.0
I was really into this book for the first half, and then extremely uninterested and thrown off by the weirdness in the second half. I thought it was an interesting gimmick, but had SO much trouble connecting.
maureen_fox's review
Rating to come. the book is beautifully written, but based on a cursory reading of reviews on americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com this is another example of a romanticized view of Native Americans from a white writer.
Watch this space...
Watch this space...
book_lover06's review
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
snowblu3's review
1.0
Listening to Jim Dale as the voice of an indigenous American boy is so cringey. I can't get through this one.