The Birchbark House

June 28, 1999
Erdrich's (Grandmother's Pigeon) debut novel for children is the first in a projected cycle of books centering on an Ojibwa family on an island in Lake Superior. Opening in the summer of 1847, the story follows the family, in a third-person narrative, through four seasons; it focuses on young Omakayas, who turns "eight winters old" during the course of the novel. In fascinating, nearly step-by-step details, the author describes how they build a summer home out of birchbark, gather with extended family to harvest rice in the autumn, treat an attack of smallpox during the winter and make maple syrup in the spring to stock their own larder and to sell to others. Against the backdrop of Ojibwa cultural traditions, Omakayas also conveys the universal experiences of childhood--a love of the outdoors, a reluctance to do chores, devotion to a pet--as well as her ability to cope with the seemingly unbearable losses of the winter. The author hints at Omakayas's unusual background and her calling as a healer, as well as the imminent dangers of the "chimookoman" or white people, setting the stage for future episodes. Into her lyrical narrative, Erdrich weaves numerous Ojibwa words, effectively placing them in context to convey their meanings. Readers will want to follow this family for many seasons to come. Ages 9-up.

Louise Erdrich's BIRCHBARK HOUSE is reminiscent of Laura Ingalls Wilder's LITTLE HOUSE IN THE BIG WOODS. Both provide detailed windows into life in the mid-1800s--Wilder as a white settler of the northern Midwest; Erdrich as an Ojibwa of Lake Superior. In the cycle of one year, the listener becomes familiar with life-sustaining events, such as the maple sugar and wild rice harvests, and is introduced to young Omakayas and her extended family. Nicolle Littrell narrates with a gentle and quiet voice. Her presentation is light and immediate, giving the listener the opportunity to bear witness to each event, whether it be Omakayas talking to her bear brothers and gaining insight into being a healer or Old Tallow telling of the sickness that impacts both Omakayas's and Ojibwa life. Stories from Ojibwa tradition complement the seasonal narrative. A.R. (c) AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine

April 1, 2002
Gr 4-6-The melody of a lone flute and the beat of a native drum begin each cassette, setting the mood for this Native American story about an eight-year old Ojibwa girl. Omakayas and her family live on the island of the Golden Breasted Woodpecker in Lake Superior in 1847. Based on her own family history, Louise Erdrich has crafted a richly textured historical novel (Hyperion, 1999). Nicolle Littrell's slow, clear narration is rich and inviting. Ojibwa words are smoothly woven into the narration, and their meaning is clear from context. Littrell gives voice to each well-developed character with varied vocal inflections. We observe a year's cycle of activity in her family and the Indian community. Eventually we learn about "the chimookoman" (the white man) as Omakayas overhears her father and his friends talking around the campfire. Although chimookoman lurks on the fringes of the story, he is central to the plot. A white man brings smallpox to the community and Omakayas can't save her baby brother. In this carefully crafted story, we intimately feel the effect of the Westward Expansion of the United States from the point of view of a loving Ojibwa family. Listeners who prefer action to descriptive narration will find the pace slow. The first of a projected series of books, this audiobook will be a fine addition to school and public libraries.-Bonnie Bolton, Cleveland Public Library, OH

Copyright 2002 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.