The Birchbark House

I originally read The Birchbark House - Anishinaabe (Ojibwa) author Louise Erdrich's first foray into the world of children's fiction - when it was just published in 1999, but had been meaning to reread it for some time, in order to move on to the sequels (The Game of Silence and The Porcupine Year), when it was chosen as our September selection over in the Children's Fiction Club to which I belong. How glad I am that it was, as I enjoyed this reading just as much as the first!

The story of Omakayas (meaning "little frog"), a young Ojibwa girl growing up on an island in Lake Superior during the nineteenth century, it feels utterly authentic, offering a convincing portrait of Ojibwa life at that time and place. The central importance of show more food gathering, in the lives of Omakayas and her family, the seasonal move between their house in the settlement (used during winter) and their birchbark house (in summer), the growing pressure of incoming white settlers, forcing the Ojibwa ever further west, are all apparent. So too, tragically, is another consequence of white encroachment: the spread of disease to native populations, whose lack of immunity proved so disastrous. This last theme is particularly important, both in setting up Omakayas' story, and in providing one of the central challenges she faces: how to cope with the terrible loss of a loved one.

The Birchbark House isn't just a convincing work of historical fiction, however, but an engaging tale of a girl whose feelings and experiences - though tied in to specific time, place and culture - can be appreciated by readers of all kinds. Any child with a sibling will empathize with Omakayas' frustration with her younger brother, Pinch, or her simultaneous admiration and resentment of her beautiful older sister, Angeline. Similarly, many readers will identify with her searching after meaning and purpose, which eventually leads her - via some very satisfying scenes with some bears - to the realization that she is called to be a healer.

Erdrich's prose draws me in, as do her lovely illustrations (I hadn't even realized, before reading this, that she was an artist, as well as an author!), and the complete experience of The Birchbark House is one of intellectual engagement and emotional satisfaction. I loved the characters, both human and animal (particularly Omakayas' crow, Andeg), and found the story immensely involving. The conclusion, in which Omakayas finds some resolution of her grief, was very moving. Highly recommended, to young readers who enjoy historical fiction, or to Erdrich fans in general. show less

Omakayas' story begins in spring, as her family moves from their cedar cabin to their birchbark home, on the island in Lake Superior. Omakayas looks up to and envies her older sister Angeline, is annoyed by her younger brother Pinch, and adores her baby brother, who she calls "chickadee." Close third person narration follows an eventful year in Omakayas' life, during which the family's work, dwelling, daily life, and diet changes with the seasons. Omakayas encounters bear cubs, makes friends with a crow (Andeg), and helps with chores. A white visitor to a village dance, however, brings an invisible, unwelcome guest: smallpox. The disease sweeps through the village, and despite precautions, several people die, and Omakayas grieves - and show more slowly returns to life, and discovers her purpose as a healer.

Omakayas is a close observer, and there are beautiful descriptions of the natural world throughout - plants, animals, weather, water. Her life is entirely normal to her, making the unfamiliar accessible to the reader; a few overheard conversations about the westward expansion of the whites and peeks of the missionary school hint at the fate of the Ojibwe, but Omakayas is, for now, shielded from that knowledge.

Back matter includes Author's Note on the Ojibwa Language, Glossary and Pronunciation Guide of Ojibwa Terms

See also: Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder, Prairie Lotus by Linda Sue Park, Where the World Ends by Geraldine McCaughrean

Quotes

"We have to stop somewhere, someday. West is where the spirits of the dead walk. If the whites keep chasing us west, we'll end up in the land of the spirits."
"I have dreamed that's where they want us to go, anyway. That will please them."
"They are like greedy children. Nothing will ever please them for long."
"Not until they have it all...
Before they were born, before they came into this world, the [white people] must have starved as ghosts. They are infinitely hungry." (Fishtail, Albert, and Deydey, 79-80)

"Anishaa. We're very small, just human." (Nokomis' prayer, 101)

"Take their ways if you need them, but don't forget your own. You are Anishinabe." (Grandma to Angeline, 110)

...she couldn't help being just who she was. Omakayas, in this skin, in this place, in this time. Nobody else. No matter what, she wouldn't ever be another person or really know the thoughts of anyone but her own self. (220) show less

The Birchbark House is a beautifully written story about seven-year old Omakaya and her family, living within their Anishinaabeg (Ojibwe) tribe in the 1800s. I had meant to read this for a long time, and I'm so glad I finally did. Omakaya is a realistic character who looks up to her sister, adores her baby brother, and can't stand her middle brother. We follow Omakaya through her day-to-day life in the tribe through the entire turning of the year, including the harsh winter. The book doesn't shy away from death, hardship, and grief. While this is a middle-grade book, I'd recommend it for children on the older end of the range (10-12). Towards the end of the book, Omakaya learns about her abilities and her past, setting the reader up for show more adventure and discovery in the rest of the books in the series. show less

Reading The Birchbark House was a wonderful experience. Following Omakayas, a young Ojibwe girl, made me feel as if I was part of her world. The book vividly portrays her family, their traditions, and their deep connection to nature. I watched Omakayas grow from a curious child into someone who faces the difficult realities of her life, and I felt her struggles deeply.

The writing is beautiful and flows naturally. Each chapter, which focuses on a different season, highlights Omakayas's growth while mirroring the changing nature around her. I appreciated how the story captures both the joys and challenges of Native American life, prompting me to think about resilience, family, and hope. By the end, I felt like I had shared in Omakayas's show more journey, leaving me with a greater respect for her and her people. show less

Omakayas is a young Native American girl who lives with her family on an island on Lake Superior. Though the story is set in the 1840s, contemporary readers will empathize with Omakayas' struggles with her siblings, her desire to be treated as a more mature girl rather than a child, and her thoughts about the purpose of her life. These strands weave together so that the mostly episodic plot has a nice cohesion. I think this book serves as a nice counterpoint to the Little House series, which is excellent in many ways but does tend to vilify the Native Americans that appear in that story.

I listened to the audiobook of this story, and found it enjoyable. I think listening to this book on audio was a particularly good decision for me, show more since there are many unfamiliar words and names that I would have stumbled over if I were just reading. show less

Wonderful book, beautifully-written, and featuring history of the Native American populations in northern Minnesota (specifically, on Moningwanaykaning, Island of the Golden-Breasted Woodpecker, or as most European-Americans call it, Madeline Island).

I have been to Madeline Island several times, and it was a thrill to recognize place names and features of the island. The book paints such vibrant pictures of life for our heroine, Omakayas (Little Frog), a young girl living through the seasons on the island, in the middle of the 19th century. Some very adult themes are broached carefully and gently (this is a Juvenile book).

I just loved this book, and I can't wait for the next in the Birchbark House series, The Game of Silence.

Here's show more one example of the beautiful writing:

...the only sound to disturb their dreams was the pine trees sifting wind in a lulling roar.

Lovely! show less

This year’s library challenge included a category for a YA or middle grades book. This book is written for 8-12 year olds: it is the first in a 5-book series. If you have young children or grandchildren, this might be a good choice to introduce them to themes of family, indigenous culture and history. I had never read one of LE’s children’s books; I appreciate her talent and wanted to see how she would handle this challenge. There is a little too much saccharine for me so I won’t continue the series but it might well appeal to a younger reader.