The Heart of a Chief

by Joseph Bruchac
The Heart of a Chief
book data
40 ratings, 3.35 average rating, 8 reviews (more data...)
edit

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


find at:   AmazonWorldCatmore options…

There is a good chance some of your friends read this book. Sign in to see!

There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Be the first to start one »

friend reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

other reviews (showing 1-20 of 56)

sort: default (?) | date
filters: all | text-only


Abigail
Jun 16, 2008
Abigail rated it: 4 of 5 stars (review of isbn 0803722761)

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
Like this review?   yes   (1 person liked it)
  add a comment

Lynne
Feb 08, 2009
Lynne rated it: 4 of 5 stars

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
Like this review?   yes  
  add a comment

Ch_jank-caporale
bookshelves: realistic-fiction
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
Like this review?   yes  
  add a comment

Carolynne
Oct 12, 2009
Carolynne rated it: 4 of 5 stars

bookshelves: indian
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
Like this review?   yes  
  add a comment

Samantha Sostarich
Feb 04, 2008
Samantha Sostarich rated it: 5 of 5 stars

bookshelves: young-adult, youth
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
Like this review?   yes  
  add a comment

Renee
Apr 10, 2007
Renee rated it: 5 of 5 stars

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
Like this review?   yes  
  add a comment

earthy
Mar 02, 2008
earthy rated it: 2 of 5 stars

bookshelves: ya
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.
Like this review?   yes  
  add a comment

Hannah
Feb 28, 2008
Hannah rated it: 4 of 5 stars

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.
Like this review?   yes  
  add a comment

Lauren
Mar 03, 2010
Lauren rated it: 3 of 5 stars


Kylee
Feb 26, 2010
Kylee rated it: 3 of 5 stars (review of isbn 0803722761)

bookshelves: 2010

David
Feb 20, 2010
David rated it: 2 of 5 stars

bookshelves: childrens

Ryan Belville
Feb 16, 2010
Ryan Belville rated it: 4 of 5 stars


Faith
Feb 16, 2010
Faith marked it as to-read

bookshelves: to-read

Linda
Feb 02, 2010
Linda marked it as to-read

bookshelves: native-american, to-read

Amanda Lanyon-LeSage
Jan 19, 2010
Amanda Lanyon-LeSage rated it: 5 of 5 stars


Suzanne
Oct 23, 2009
Suzanne marked it as to-read


Lindsey
Oct 21, 2009
Lindsey rated it: 2 of 5 stars

bookshelves: native-american, ya-fiction

Talisha Chambliss
Sep 22, 2009
Talisha Chambliss rated it: 3 of 5 stars


MaryAnn
Sep 17, 2009
MaryAnn marked it as to-read

bookshelves: adie-botb-to-read, to-read



recent status updates | recommend it | blog it

The Heart of a Chief (Hardcover)
The heart of the chief: With connections (HRW Library)
The Heart of a Chief: With Connections  (Unknown Binding)







Code Talker: A Novel About the Navajo Marines of World War Two
Skeleton Man
Wabi: A Hero's Tale
The Dark Pond
Whisper in the Dark

More…