The Hunter's Promise

June 15, 2015
In a retelling of a story shared by several Northeast indigenous peoples, as Bruchac explains in an introductory note, a lonely Abenaki hunter gains a mysterious “winter wife” who cares for him during his hunting expeditions away from his village. As the hunter prepares to return to his village, the woman asks him to “remember” her (readers may wonder why he doesn’t attempt to bring her back with him). Remember her the man does, season after season, as well as the child she bears, until the village chief’s daughter enlists the help of a poohegan (spirit helper) to cloud his mind so he can marry her. Farnsworth’s handsome paintings depict a lush, light-infused wilderness, putting as much emphasis on the pristine setting as on the characters. The satisfying yet melancholy ending leaves a haunting impression. Ages 6–up. Author’s agent: Barbara Kouts, Barbara Kouts Agency.

June 15, 2015
An Abenaki retelling of a traditional story of various indigenous nations of the Northeast that centers on loyalty and humans' relation to nature. Long ago, a young man travels north to hunt throughout the winter. One day, as he is following the tracks of a moose, he realizes he is lonely and wishes out loud for a partner. Returning to his lodge, he finds a fire burning and food waiting, but there is no one there. This goes on for days; on the seventh night he finds a woman waiting inside. The young man and woman develop a relationship based on respect and loyalty, and the hunter promises to always remember her. When he returns to his village in the spring, he finds himself pressured to take a wife. This tension eventually leads the hunter to live a double life, testing his devotion to and respect for the "great family of life." Through his scenic paintings, Farnsworth evokes the light, seasons, and life in the forested mountains of the Northeast, supporting Bruchac's words and achieving a striking visual depiction of the environment of Abenaki peoples. The narrative itself is elliptical, offering literal readers a story of loyalty but founding it on a subtle exploration of the spirit world and its relation to ours. Bruchac and Farnsworth honor the Indians of the Northeast, the written versions of the tale, and the elders and Wabanaki tellers who keep this story alive. (author's note) (Picture book/folk tale. 6-8)

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July 1, 2015

Gr 2-5-A solid retelling of a traditional Wabanaki Confederacy story. As a young man heads to his winter hunting camp, he is thankful of the great hunter he has become. While walking along moose tracks he is wistfully aware of his loneliness. Soon after he comes home each day to meals prepared and tasks completed. Unaware of who is doing these things, he continues his hunts until one day a silent woman appears. As he leaves for spring she asks him to promise to remember her. Back in his own village he keeps his promise, and returned the next winter to find his wife and child, who grows each day in years. He know has a hunting companion. Again, as he leaves the promise is mentioned. However, upon his return the chief's daughter, who is used to getting her way, tricks him into forgetting so that she may be his wife. When he returns in the winter, his memory clears and he realizes the importance of the wife and children to him. Farnsworth's oil paintings add depth to this story. The feelings portrayed through the images allows readers to understand the emotions of the characters. Bruchac reinforces the importance of balance in the land, and integrity of the keeping one's word. VERDICT A great addition for traditional tale collections. Recommended.-Amy Zembroski, Indian Community School, Franklin, WI

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 1, 2015
Grades 2-5 The prolific, accomplished Bruchac reaches back to his Abenaki heritage to retell the traditional story of a young man who forges an unusual bond while spending the long winter months at his hunting camp. Each spring, he returns to his village with plenty of skins and dried meat. Then, one winter, a young woman appears. She lives with him, does the chores, and tans the hides. When he leaves in the spring, she makes one request: Promise to remember me. The next autumn he returns, and she has borne him a son that grows at a magical pace. The cycle repeats, but, in the interim, the man has been bewitched into marrying the chief's daughter. The mysterious woman and sons disappear into the forest, now revealing their true identitymoose. The hunter follows them, becoming a shape-shifter as well. Younger readers may be puzzled by the story, but the understated telling, falling well within the boundaries of folktale conventions, proves intriguing, while Farnsworth's softly glowing oil paintings capture the tale's mystical feel. A solid author's note offers further background.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)