book data
40 ratings,
3.35
average rating, 8 reviews
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published
August 27th 2001
by Puffin
(first published August 27th 1998)
details
Paperback, 160 pages
isbn
014131236X
(isbn13: 9780141312361)
description
Chris's life is complicated. At school, he's been selected to lead a project on sports teams with Indian names. At home, on the Penacook reservation…more
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 56)
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5 stars (4)
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4 stars (14)
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3 stars (14)
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2 stars (8)
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1 star (0)
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avg 3.35
editions: all | this edition
editions: all | this edition
Read in June, 2000
recommends it for:
Young Readers Interested in Contemporary Native Americans
Joseph Bruchac, a Native American of Abenaki descent, is one of my all-time favorite children's authors, and I am always amazed at the almost-comprehensive catalogue of genres he has mastered. From picture books to plays, folktale collections to nonfiction, as well as historical, contemporary, fantasy and horror fiction, his work is diverse in form, but consistent in both its quality, and its commitment to issues relevant to America's indigenous peoples.
Heart of a Chief is no excepti...more
Heart of a Chief is no excepti...more
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Joseph Bruchac created a well-written and thoughtful story in The Heart of a Chief. This book offers students a different perspective as the story is told by a pre-teen Native American boy, which allows students to see and feel what he does throughout the story. The main character, Chris, shares his “two sides” throughout the story as seen, for example, in the first chapter when Chris shares information about his name in both Christian terms and beliefs and in Penacook terms and beliefs. A v...more
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Read in February, 2010
Chris is Penacook. The native people who live on his reservation are divided over building a casino to help ease the economic stress of life on the reservation. Chris has strong feelings on the issue but he has been raised to be respectful of all opinions, and to abide by the will of the group. New at the local middle school, his first experience on at off-reservation school, Chris discovers that his calm manner and soft spoken ways are appreciated by his teachers and his classmates. When they c...more
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Read in October, 2009
Chris lives on a fictional reservation, the Penacook reservation in New Hampshire. However, the issues he has to deal with, like the alcoholism of his father, the potential building of a lucrative casino on a sacred island, and most of all, fitting in in the sixth grade at Rangerville Junior High. He unexpectedly takes a leadership role in a group project in social studies class involving protesting the name of the school team, the Chiefs, that is disrespectful to the Indians, and learns a lot...more
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Read in March, 2007
recommends it for:
8 year olds and up
I really enjoyed this story. It tackled not one, but many social struggles that could be facing a young American Indian. Learning about the Penacook culture and language was inspiring as was following Chris as he grew throughout the story. The issue of racist sport team names is a great topic to present to younger readers as some teams remove certain names and figures while others fight to maintain others. Excellent class debates could be held after reading this book. It will also keep stud...more
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Read in February, 2007
recommends it for:
anyone
I really enjoyed reading The Heart of a Chief by Joseph Bruchac. The voice of the narrator is very strong. I can see what he is seeing and feel what he is feeling. Throughout the book I was taken back to middle school and I recognized similarities, such as how friends in elementary school are no longer your friends in middle school and how difficult that is sometimes to deal with. I liked how Chris grew and at the end of the book I cried when Chris says that, “the heart of a true chief beat...more
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Read in February, 2008
Engaging enough and mildly interesting, but a little heavy-handed with the Awesomeness Of Indian Culture line. I do appreciate the idea of young people being politically active and caring about their communities, though.
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Read in February, 2008
This is such a powerful book. It sends a wonderful message to kids that they really have the power to change the world.
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bookshelves:
american-history,
childrens-lit,
coming-of-age,
cultural-studies,
family-drama,
fiction,
native-american-history,
new-england-us,
racial-issues,
sports,
substance-abuse
Read in March, 2010
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native-american (on 3 people's shelves)
fiction (on 3 people's shelves)
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young-adult (on 2 people's shelves)
ya (on 2 people's shelves)
childrens (on 2 people's shelves)
ya-fiction (on 2 people's shelves)
childrens-lit (on 2 people's shelves)
substance-abuse (on 1 person's shelf)
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