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1: A Realistic Picture of Pioneer Days Without Being Mawkish or PC
Speare gives a realistic picture of the edgy but generally humane interactions between the Native Americans and the European settlers. SOTB is unstintingly honest but not depressingly so, and is interesting in its description of life in those days. And it gives many interesting details about life as lived in earlier and simpler times. I enjoyed reading it to my kids and they seemed to enjoy it too. Recommended.
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2: Sign of the Beaver Book Review
I rmember reading this book as a child, so when I found it again as an adult, I knew I HAD to have it again.
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3: Perpetuates Stereotypes
As a fourth grade educator, I would never introduce this book to my students as anything else other than an example of popular culture that perpetuates stereotypes of Native Americans. Attean and other Native American characters speak in broken English, giving the reader the impression that these characters are inferior to their White counterparts. The terminology used is highly offensive (squaw)for both Native people and for women. The relationship that Attean has with girls in his tribe as well as with animals is unrealistic and down right inaccurate. Joseph Bruchac and Michael Dorris are two authors which do an excellent job of writing from the Native American perspective.
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4: One of the greatest literary adventures of my childhood.
This book is captivating and impossible to put down even now as I approach age 30. As a girl I found it spellbinding, the kind of book that makes your own world and time dissolve around you and casts directly in the life and time of the characters. It is far to rare that an author can weave that kind of story. Elizabeth George Speare certainly has that gift. Don't hesitate to buy this for the children in your life. Also by E. G. Speare be sure and check out The Witch of Blackbird Pond and one of my all-time favorites, Calico Captive. Enjoy and keep a clock nearby as you're surely going to lose track of time while reading this book.
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5: Sign of the Beaver-CD
The voice reading Sign of the Beaver was pleasant and easy to listen to. Since I was not listening to the whole book in one sitting, it was difficult to find where on the CD I left off. It would be more efficient to have the track for each chapter labeled on the CD.
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