Two Roads

by Joseph Bruchac

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Juvenile Fiction. Juvenile Literature. Historical Fiction. HTML:A boy discovers his Native American heritage in this Depression-era tale of identity and friendship by the author of Code Talker It's 1932, and twelve-year-old Cal Black and his Pop have been riding the rails for years after losing their farm in the Great Depression. Cal likes being a "knight of the road" with Pop, even if they're broke. But then Pop has to go to Washington, DC�??some of his fellow veterans are marching for their government checks, and Pop wants to make sure he gets his due�??and Cal can't go with him. So Pop tells Cal something he never knew before: Pop is actually a Creek Indian, which means Cal is too. And Pop has decided to send Cal to a government boarding school for Native Americans in Oklahoma called the Challagi School. At school, the other Creek boys quickly take Cal under their wings. Even in the harsh, miserable conditions of the Bureau of Indian Affairs boarding school, he begins to learn about his people's history and heritage. He learns their language and customs. And most of all, he learns how to find strength in a group of friends who have nothing beyond each… (more)

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Great story and moves at a nice pace to maintain interest. It is meant for middle readers / young adults, but written well enough for an adult. (

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rosenmemily | Jan 7, 2024 |

I really enjoyed this book -- loved the history of the Bonus Army, the spotlight on Hobo culture, and complicated portrayal of Residential schools. I found Cal and his Father's relationship very moving. I thought the story was really well paced and the history felt really alive. Particularly liked that Cal (biracial) didn't know his heritage until partly through the book -- that's an important facet of Native cultural genocide in the US that is not often portrayed. Loved to see him connect with the other boys at the Residential school, despite the toxic and harmful nature of the place.

There's so much in this story that is sensitively portrayed -- from the appalling treatment of WWI veterans, to the change that their march on Washington ultimately caused, to the different struggles of characters based on their race. I think it's a particularly apt choice in time to write about, given recent history in the US -- a reminder of how much has not changed, but also a reminder of the power in social unrest to effect change. (

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jennybeast | Apr 14, 2022 |

RGG: The best kind of historical fiction, compelling characters within a fascinating setting--WWI veteran, Hobo culture, Bonus Army of the Great Depression, Indian Boarding Schools. Historical references make for a more difficult read.

rgruberexcel | Nov 10, 2021 |

t's 1932, and twelve-year-old Cal Black and his Pop have been riding the rails for years after losing their farm in the Great Depression. Cal likes being a "knight of the road" with Pop, even if they're broke. But then Pop has to go to Washington, DC--some of his fellow veterans are marching for their government checks, and Pop wants to make sure he gets his due--and Cal can't go with him. So Pop tells Cal something he never knew before: Pop is actually a Creek Indian, which means Cal is too. And Pop has decided to send Cal to a government boarding school for Native Americans in Oklahoma called the Challagi School. At school, the other Creek boys quickly take Cal under their wings. Even in the harsh, miserable conditions of the Bureau of Indian Affairs boarding school, he begins to learn about his people's history and heritage. He learns their language and customs. And most of all, he learns how to find strength in a group of friends who have nothing beyond each other.

wichitafriendsschool | May 30, 2021 |

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The Best Children's Books of the Year (2019)

NCSS/CBC Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People (Sixth to Eighth Grade – 2019)

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Juvenile Fiction. Juvenile Literature. Historical Fiction. HTML:A boy discovers his Native American heritage in this Depression-era tale of identity and friendship by the author of Code Talker
It's 1932, and twelve-year-old Cal Black and his Pop have been riding the rails for years after losing their farm in the Great Depression. Cal likes being a "knight of the road" with Pop, even if they're broke. But then Pop has to go to Washington, DC�??some of his fellow veterans are marching for their government checks, and Pop wants to make sure he gets his due�??and Cal can't go with him. So Pop tells Cal something he never knew before: Pop is actually a Creek Indian, which means Cal is too. And Pop has decided to send Cal to a government boarding school for Native Americans in Oklahoma called the Challagi School.
At school, the other Creek boys quickly take Cal under their wings. Even in the harsh, miserable conditions of the Bureau of Indian Affairs boarding school, he begins to learn about his people's history and heritage. He learns their language and customs. And most of all, he learns how to find strength in a group of friends who have nothing beyond each

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