In prose poetry and alternating voices, Marlene Carvell weaves a heartbreakingly beautiful story based on the real-life experiences of Native Ameri...
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Feb 09, 2009
Katie
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"Sweetgrass Basket" tells the story of two sister's, sent away to a school in New York, away from their family and Mohawk traditions. They are sent to the schoo to learn to be "civilized". The school presents challenges for both sisters.
The way the book is written is unlike anything I have ever read before. First of all, it is written in a poetry style, using short lines in the center of the page. Also, the book switches narration from one sister to the other, represen More...
The way the book is written is unlike anything I have ever read before. First of all, it is written in a poetry style, using short lines in the center of the page. Also, the book switches narration from one sister to the other, represen More...
Feb 03, 2012
Emily
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Pages: 243
Age range: 12 and up
Genre: Poetic Novel / Historical Fiction
Race/Culture/Ethnic Group: Native American (Mohawk)
Summary: Told in the voices of two sisters, Mattie and Sarah, Sweetgrass Basket, is a poetic novel telling the story of these two young girls during their stay at Carlisle Indian School.
Evaluation: According to the author blurb on the jacket, this book was “inspired by the experiences of [the author’s] husband’s great-aunt Margaret, who att More...
Age range: 12 and up
Genre: Poetic Novel / Historical Fiction
Race/Culture/Ethnic Group: Native American (Mohawk)
Summary: Told in the voices of two sisters, Mattie and Sarah, Sweetgrass Basket, is a poetic novel telling the story of these two young girls during their stay at Carlisle Indian School.
Evaluation: According to the author blurb on the jacket, this book was “inspired by the experiences of [the author’s] husband’s great-aunt Margaret, who att More...
Apr 18, 2011
akibird
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Sweetgrass Basket by Marlene Carvell (2005)
Novel in Verse, 243 pages
In heart-wrenching dual free-verse narratives, Carvell crafts the voices of two Mohawk sisters, Mattie and Sarah, who are sent to an off-reservation school after their mother dies. Doing what he thinks is best, their father sends his children away to go to school, where they have lessons, march, and do domestic work. In their alternating voices similar to diary entries, the girls share their stories of leaving home More...
Novel in Verse, 243 pages
In heart-wrenching dual free-verse narratives, Carvell crafts the voices of two Mohawk sisters, Mattie and Sarah, who are sent to an off-reservation school after their mother dies. Doing what he thinks is best, their father sends his children away to go to school, where they have lessons, march, and do domestic work. In their alternating voices similar to diary entries, the girls share their stories of leaving home More...
Mar 16, 2010
Stephanie
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A father sends his two daughters to the Carlisle Indian School because he thinks it will be best for them after the death of their mother. The journey to and time spent at the school follows the alternating view points of the two Native American sisters: Sarah and Mattie. To me, this was the most appealing part of the book, Sweetgrass Basket, written by Marlene Carvell. The way the reader is exposed to the different thoughts of the two sisters is insightful throughout the book.
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Mar 14, 2010
Samantha
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This work of fiction told through poetry gives us a window into two sisters thoughts as they are sent to live at a boarding school. Everything that relates to their Native American heritage is taken away and forbidden. They are determined to protect each other and make their father proud. One is emotional, while the other tries to stay strong. They make some friends and try to avoid conflict with some of the women running the school. Their story talks about racism, difficult economic times, a pa
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Nov 17, 2009
Bernice
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The story of two Mohawk sisters, Sarah and Mattie, reveals how the lives of children change with the progression to modern society. After the loss of their mother, these sisters are sent away by their father to a school to learn about the domestics of American women. They are forced to do pointless tasks, as well as follow strict rules lead by a dreadful awful Mrs. Dreyer, head of the school. The girls are forced to leave their homes with little memories to keep of their Native American life a
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Apr 07, 2010
Scarlett
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This novel in verse tells the story of two sisters, Maddie and Sarah, who are relocated to an Indian boarding school. Before reading this book, I had read a review from a noted Native American reviewer of children's books that said even though Carvell was not Native American, this story was really well-written. Carvell includes some words in the sisters' native language (Mohawk?), however she doesn't include an author's note which would help give some background and authority to the story. Ca
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Nov 18, 2010
Cathy
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From 1879-1918 the Carlisle Indian Industrial School was America's first off reservation school for Native Americans. The students were from the Mohawk Nation, as it was situated in Pennsylvania, and the author's husband's grandfather was a student at the school.
The story is set there, but totally fiction, about two sisters whose mother has died and who are sent to this school with its stern headmistress and where they are stripped of all their Indian possessions. The story is told More...
The story is set there, but totally fiction, about two sisters whose mother has died and who are sent to this school with its stern headmistress and where they are stripped of all their Indian possessions. The story is told More...
Nov 15, 2009
Laura
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Mar 11, 2010
L-Crystal
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Sweetgrass Basket is recommended for students in grades 6-8 and is a book written in free verse poetry. This book describes the lives of two Mohawk sisters with alternating passages as each sister tells their life story in their own words. In alternating passages, two Mohawk sisters describe their lives at the Carlisle Indian Industrial School, a school that educates Native Americans, as they try to assimilate into white culture. It also describes how they feel about their mother’s death, life a
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Mar 21, 2010
L-Melissa
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This book is for grades 7 through 11. This book of poetry is unlike any poetry book I have ever read. Two girls, Mattie and Sarah tell a story that takes place at the beginning of the twentieth century through free-verse narratives. Without the font changes, the two girls can be easily confused at times. Mattie and Sarah's father who belongs to the Mohawk Indian tribe decides to send them to a boarding school in PA. The boarding school is called Carlisle Indian Boarding School. Their father
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Mar 16, 2010
Gina
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Format: Chapter Book
Interest Level: Middle School and up
Awards: ALA Notable Book 2006, Jane Addams Book Honor 2006, Notable Social Studies Trade Books 2006
The story of two sisters is told from alternating points of view. Through free verse poetry we learn about their lives at the Carlisle Indian School. The girls are sent to this school because there father thinks it is best for them. The girls try to hold on to their memories from home as their school director tries to More...
Interest Level: Middle School and up
Awards: ALA Notable Book 2006, Jane Addams Book Honor 2006, Notable Social Studies Trade Books 2006
The story of two sisters is told from alternating points of view. Through free verse poetry we learn about their lives at the Carlisle Indian School. The girls are sent to this school because there father thinks it is best for them. The girls try to hold on to their memories from home as their school director tries to More...
Oct 17, 2009
Sally
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Sweetgrass Basket, the touching story of two Mohawk sisters, Sarah and Maddie, and their gruff assimilation into mainstream culture, was recommended to me by my good friend, Sister Ann Cornelia, the Holy Names Academy librarian. Written it a prose poetry format that alternates between the two sisters' voices, it a surprising quick, but equally satisfying read. Having known someone who actually lived the experience of being taken from her native family and forced to go to "white man's"
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Mar 14, 2010
Christine
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Approximate Interest Level/Reading Level: Junior High/High School
Format: Chapter Book
Awards: ALA Notable Books for Children (2005), Jane Addams Book Honor (2006), Notable Social Studies Trade Books (2006)
Through alternating chapters in free verse, two Native American sisters tell the story of their experience at an off-reservation school during the late 1800s/early 1900s. Along with the other children at the boarding school, the girls are forced to abandon t More...
Format: Chapter Book
Awards: ALA Notable Books for Children (2005), Jane Addams Book Honor (2006), Notable Social Studies Trade Books (2006)
Through alternating chapters in free verse, two Native American sisters tell the story of their experience at an off-reservation school during the late 1800s/early 1900s. Along with the other children at the boarding school, the girls are forced to abandon t More...
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Jul 09, 2011
Shannon
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Age: Middle Readers (9-12)
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Diversity: Family, Prejudice, Segregation
Illustrations: The Hiawatha Belt design is used on the first several pages by the author.
Personal Response: This was a fast read about two sisters who were taken to an Indian boarding school. It changes perspectives back and forth from sister to sister. It is also written in poetic verse. I enjoyed the story and felt a lot of sympathy for the girls and their horrific More...
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Diversity: Family, Prejudice, Segregation
Illustrations: The Hiawatha Belt design is used on the first several pages by the author.
Personal Response: This was a fast read about two sisters who were taken to an Indian boarding school. It changes perspectives back and forth from sister to sister. It is also written in poetic verse. I enjoyed the story and felt a lot of sympathy for the girls and their horrific More...
Nov 14, 2009
In prose poetry and alternating voices, Marlene Carvell weaves a heartbreakingly beautiful story based on the real-life experiences of Native American children. Mattie and Sarah are two Mohawk sisters who are sent to an off-reservation school after the death of their mother. Subject to intimidation and corporal punishment, with little hope of contact with their father, the girls are taught menial tasks to prepare them for life as domestics. How Mattie and Sarah protect their culture, memories of
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Jan 17, 2009
Marcia
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Written in free verse, Sweetgrass Basket tells the story of 2 Mohawk Indian sisters, Mattie and Sarah. After their mother dies, their father sends them to the United States Indian School in Carlisle, PA. It's a boarding school established about 1879 to educate Native Americans. The children are stripped of their native languages and native cultures in an attempt to Americanize them. Abuse is used to punish and publicly shame the children. Author Carvell uses the experiences of her husband's fami
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Jul 03, 2007
Erin
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Mattie and Sarah are Mohawk sisters who, in the late 1800s, find themselves sent far away from home after the death of their mother. Although their brothers and sisters are all separated, the two find themselves together at the Carlisle Indian School. Unfortunately for the two, the white teachers tend to look down upon the Native American children and utilize corporal punishment. Mattie and Sarah both want to return home, but know that they should obey their father and stay at the school.
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May 28, 2010
Marguarite
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A nice selection for historical fiction, its the story of two Native American sisters who are sent by their father to a school that will help them become more "civilized." Written in prose, this is a good selection for kids needing to read a historical fiction novel who don't normally enjoy historical fiction. Note: Some offensive language on one page in the book
Aug 15, 2011
Jenny
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Two Mohawk sisters are sent to the Carlisle Indian school after the death of their mother. Told in verse and alternating voices, Mattie and Sarah struggle to remember who they are in the face of hostility and corperal punishment. Memories and now friends aren't enough, and Mattie runs away home, but becomes ill and is returned to the school to die.
Apr 18, 2011
Crystal
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This was a wonderful way to show what an Indian Boarding School was like. The very beginning is difficult as the format is switching between two characters, it is poetry, and there are some words in Mohawk. The way it is setup is a bit difficult to follow initially. Also, a warning, the phrase "squaw bitch" shows up once in the book.
Nov 23, 2009
Sara
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This book is about two sisters that are sent away to a school. They have a common "sisterly" bond and both miss their home very much. It's a really touching book but not one of my favorites. It was really good, just no a book I would feel the need to go back and read for a second time.
Dec 13, 2011
Maggie
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This poetic/prose novel of two sisters sent to live at the Clearwater Indian School in southern, PA is beautiful, heartbreaking, and totally revealing concerning a shameful piece of American History. Think "Rabbit Proof Fence" or "Lakota Woman" for young adults.
May 26, 2009
Mr. Steve
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Pretty good historical fiction novel taking place at the Carlyle School. Two Mohawk sisters are sent there to rid themselves of all "Indian" and become "White". The poetry is beautiful, and better than the plot. Solid choice if you like poetry.
Jul 18, 2011
Mare
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A quick read. Very touching story of two Mohawk sisters ,Mattie and Sarah, trying to survive after their mothers death when their father is forced, due to financial problems, to send them to Carlisle Indian School. Based on a true story.
Jan 03, 2008
Lisa
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Heartbreaking novel in verse about two sisters sent to Carlisle Indian School. What they gave up, how they were treated, and how the experience ended up breaking everyone's heart despite good intentions was quite saddening. Having lived in Carlisle as a child at a time when the truth was not spoken, it resonated with me. Sad, but probably a fair representation of what happened.
Jun 30, 2008
Corinneecomly
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A little hard at first to get into the book because it is written in poetry. The story is the thoughts and actions of two Mohawk sisters at a boarding school in the 1900s. The poetry provides a concise and flowing story line that give you a glimpse into the hardships of being a Native American in a white American world.
Jan 13, 2008
Mom
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Historical fiction based on the life of the author's husband's aunt, a student at the off-reservation school for Mative AMericans in Carlisle, PA. A good "sisters" story told in alternating first-person narrative voices.
Apr 07, 2010
Gail
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This is a beautifully written verse novel told from the alternating points of view of two Mohawk sisters attending the Carlisle Industrial School. The book is accurate and the ending is sad.
