Sees Behind Trees

by Michael Dorris

Troubled by his poor eyesight, Walnut is worried about how he can prove himself ready to be an adult by accurately shooting an arrow, but his extraordinary listening ability comes to his aid, in the story of a young Native American boy in sixteenth-century America.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Young Adult, Native American, Middle Grade, Historical, Childrens

104 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

Michael Dorris was a novelist, short story writer, nonfiction writer, and author of books for children

The first member of his family to attend college, Dorris graduated from Georgetown with honors in English and received his graduate degree in anthropology from Yale. Dorris worked as a professor of English and anthropology at Dartmouth College.

Dorris was part-Native American through the lineage of his paternal. He founded the Native American Studies department at Dartmouth in 1972 and chaired it until 1985.

In 1971, Dorris became the first unmarried man in the United States to adopt a child. His adopted son, Reynold Abel, was diagnosed with fetal alcohol syndrome and his condition became the subject of Dorris' The Broken Cord,(the pseudonym "Adam" is used for his son in the book).

In 1981, Dorris married aspiring writer Louise Erdrich. Throughout their relationship, Erdrich and Dorris edited and contributed to each other's writing.

In 1991, Dorris' adopted son, Reynold Abel, died after being hit by a car. In 1996, Louise Erdrich separated from Dorris. On April 10, 1997, Dorris committed suicide in Concord, New Hampshire.

Reviews

[Natalie Herr · Rating 4 out of 5]

For kids’ history - a story of an indigenous boy who is not quite like everyone else and is chosen for a special task.

[Emmet]

Sees Behind Trees was Written by Michael Dorris. Sees Behind Trees is about a native American boy named walnut. In his culture you must a piece of moss in the air with a bow and arrow. Once he does that he will become a man and get an adult name. The problem is he has blurry vision so he can’t see very well. So for him to pass he might have to see in a different way. One morning instead of training with his mom they go to a part of the forest he never seen and blindfolds him. Then his mom asks him what he sees, but he has to see with his other senses. What is his mom doing? Why are they doing this? How will this help him? Read on and find out.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another remarkable American Indian early chapter book by Dorris. A Native American boy with a special gift to "see" beyond his poor eyesight journeys with an old warrior to a land of mystery and beauty.

[Juxhin Deliu · Rating 3 out of 5]

Noce è un giovane nativo-americano che sta per entrare nell'età adulta, attraverso una prova che richiede dimestichezza nell'uso dell'arco. Egli è però quasi del tutto cieco (riconoscendo perlopiù forme e colori nel corso della trama) ma ha gli altri sensi così affinati da dargli l'innata capacità di percepire cosa vi sia "oltre gli alberi", da qui il titolo e il suo nome adulto. Questo incuriosisce un anziano del villaggio, il fratello della matrona, il quale è legato ad un posto speciale da un fatto della sua giovinezza, non ricordando però come tornarci; egli decide difatti di sfruttare il ragazzo e partire per l'avventura, volendo così chiudere il cerchio. Suggestiva storia di iniziazione pervasa da spiritualismo indiano.

[Elza Kinde · Rating 4 out of 5]

The trial to earn his adult name is fast approaching, but Walnut knows he'll never be able to pass. No amount of training will fix eyes that can only see blurry colors and swimming shapes. Even his mother's strange methods won't make his arrow hit the mark.

Sees Behind Trees is an immersive coming-of-age tale told with gentle wisdom that I found deeply refreshing. Friends in strange places, lost and found things, and a quest for a secret place. It's one of those stories that feels longer than it is because it's so satisfying.

I highly recommend Sees Behind Trees to readers interested in Native American culture, survival stories, and historical adventures.

[C.J. Milbrandt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Walnut cannot become a man unless he masters the bow and arrow, but he is near-sighted. He cannot see the target, but with his ears, he can "see" things no one else can. So he earns a man's name—Sees Behind Trees. Best friends and Brings the Deer. Father's footfalls and finding a needle. Outrunning the sunset and becoming a raindrop. The power of wanting and the weight of stories.

Thoughtful, sometimes wistful, gentle, and expansive. I will not soon forget Sees the Trees and his journey. This is a story I will reread ... and treasure.

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well-written children's book of a Native American child prior to European colonization who has limited eyesight. A coming of age story. I read this as the same time as my son since it is part of the curriculum we're using for school. This is ideal as a reader for elementary aged kids.

[Madison Henson · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's seem little dull but still good storying. I've hard visions "sees behind trees" of relate to all saying. So it not clearly for me.

[Atina · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book Sees Behind Trees by Michael Dorris tells the story of a boy/man named Walnut who cannot see well as others do. However, he was given the ability to see what lies beyond the ordinary view. Given this ability, a man named Gray Fire wishes to use Walnut´s ability to see the magical land of water that he had once seen in his early childhood. Walnut had only promised to Gray Fire that he can at least try. On this journey, Walnut and Gray Fire have encountered much of the unrevealed answers, unanswered questions, and importantly, unexpected aspects that will be later revealed throughout the travels. Overall, I thought the book was quite fascinating for its spectacular plot and lively narrative story. The heavily described details are what brought out the best for this novel and for many others.

[Ryan Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a story as much about the reader seeing the world differently as it is about the main character seeing with his ears. It is about longing and about loss, but not in the way we normally read about those issues. I, as a man of European descent, cannot see the world from a Native American perspective, but I can get glimpses of different ways of seeing life from a novel like this. Michael Dorris' own ethnic identity may be ambiguous, but he certainly spent his life experiencing a variety of types of indigenous thought through experiences with relatives and with his research. It helps me see things differently too.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

E enjoyed this book much more than Children of the Longhouse. I think she identified with the main character and his feeling of "otherness" from the other boys of his tribe. She did a great looking map summary of the book. An excellent selection to start off the school year. But a little below her reading level.

[Brett · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't like this book very much. The plot of a First Nations boy finding his strengths and weaknesses is good but it was a little confusing at some points. It was also kind of just boring for me because I don't like this kind of book, but people who like mystery books or surprising books would love it. But all in all, it was an okay book because some of the parts in it were really good.

[Landon · Rating 1 out of 5]

this book is about a young indigenous boy who gains his manhood and goes on a trip with a fellow man. they go through many obstacles while on this trip. I liked how it educated me about first nations culture, however, I did not like how the events played out because it was not very interesting. If you want to learn about first nations culture then I would recommend this book to you.

[Gabe · Rating 3 out of 5]

I give this book a 3, I probably wouldn't recommended this book to anyone because I don't no anybody who likes this genre. Its about a boy who cant see really well but has other good senses and goes on a journey to find something his friend lost. I didn't like it because the plot is so slow and has a quick ending

[Justine · Rating 1 out of 5]

i didn't really like the book/story at all,

[Parker · Rating 2 out of 5]

I personally don't like this book very much. The storyline was a great idea in the end but they took to long to actually get to the point. It was really boring for most of the time because nothing was happening. The protagonist (walnut) is blind and his other senses are much better.

[Paityn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't enjoy this book as much as i wish. I do recommend to read it. Some parts I really enjoyed, but then it got boring afterwards. You need to read the book yourself I think in order to know if you like it, its good if you like things to do with social studies and first nation.

[Rian Angeli · Rating 2 out of 5]

It wasn't the best but it wasn't the worst. It kind of got boring at some parts but sometimes I also really wanted to know what happens next. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone that doesn't like this genre.

[Ava · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book wasn't may favourite book but it wasn't a bad book, it just didn't catch my interest as much as I like it to. It had a lot of good description but just the title wasn't catching my attention. I not saying that the book is bad because it's really not, it was just not for me.

[Peter · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was not good at all. There were no parts in this book where I wanted to know what was going to happen. The plot was really BORING!!!!! They go find some waterfall and then come back. I kept asking myself the point of the book but I never figured it out.

[Ethan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sees Behind Trees is about a Native American boy named walnut. Walnut is almost blind. He faces many challenges in his life. The biggest challenge yet is to use his bow and arrow to show that he is ready for his adult name. This book shows we all face challenges.

[Clarke · Rating 2 out of 5]

this book wasn't my favourite . It kind of got boring at some parts but sometimes I also wanted to know what happens next. I would recommend it to anyone that likes out doors,it is more of a mature read.

[Katie ratherbereadinggg · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I tend to enjoy a book based on its overall picture it's overall moral. More so than worrying about the details. But there were a few details in this one that I thought were inconsistent or I possibly read incorrectly. Such as the boy who has had a hard time seeing describing the shiny blue trout scales. Or them playing with a ball I can't see a ball being part of this time. None of this made much of a difference though because the story itself was so good.


This is me speak/typing things I want to remember, For me. It's unlikely it will make sense to anyone else.


A girl old enough to visit the woman's house once a month.


. Being able to talk to other grown-ups. In a way that is both equal and respectful.


How to be quiet when it made no sense to speak or how to speak when everyone else was silent.


Using the correct tone to convey respect.


It is a mistake to make any one thing about yourself become that important.

Can words show you something that you have never seen


the words my parents have taught me to say "thank you for the gift of your story".

I will fast until you get home.





Your body will remember where it has been if you let it . it recalls but not as you're mine does . with your mind you stand outside the world and look in. with your body you are inside already.


Then don't not your head if you don't admit your confusion you'll never learn anything you don't already know


When rain falls into a river how does it know which way to flow ? When a mouse leaves its house how does it ever get back ? when a bird flies away for the winter how does it look at its nest when it returns in the spring because they know not to think

if A mouse ever begin to consider its situation it would be very unhappy I thought about think and I am mediately began to fee worried you can't get lost from yourself after all you're always friends are not letting things be two and four but it was odd to eat alone I found it wasn't as hungry tell me about the other where aunts saved you she had to be right always on this thread strangeand the strange thing is that she always was Autre cannot be denied I think somehow she knew she would never have a child of her own my mother must have minded but I don't remember that she objected Autre head out a way of making you believe that you wanted what she wanted blaming herself for allowing me to become separated it was startling to hear people talk but to make no sense of the words I didn't know who she was and I knew everyone do you mean there are people besides us actual people suddenly I didn't know anything for certain settling anything for possible meeting strangers and it is an adventure for you news to report when you get back home make a lot of noise so they will hear us coming and not be surprised remember to them we are the strangers Yum Yum as if you were addressing a small child even bumped his tummy Autre said the whole village would be our children they offered us more food and let us leave next to them near their fire they are believe that we are not travel I realize the great fire and I have been chuckling a lot also not ordinary last but ha ha are we having a good time last took the place of words even the baby seem to laugh and reassurance I feel good to somehow feel like we had shared conversation it was hard to be friendly for so long it made me feel tired for seasons pressed upon surface of plants digging in their way into the air deep within its memory I heard the passage of steps taken so long ago the flat pounded earthflow it like a boat or still waters LOL as if they believed it was the polite way to say good morning you don't learn a trail that you've only run-athon and pain with your mind if you stand outside the world and look again but with your body you are already inside of the world but Cici paid no attention he shifted his body wait until he was comfortable then looked at the Words with a large dark eyes old age felt face every time they passed me they would touch my hair neck to see if I was really there again my father was so glad to be able to eat again it would not be polite to repeatedly ask something a person is not ready to tell tell me before you tell anyone else you can't really tell a story that you don't understand

[Ricki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading works by Indigenous authors to share with my kids.

I adored the first half of this book. I was thinking it would be a perfect read-aloud for my kids in just a year or two (at 8 or 9 years old). But the ending threw me. I feel that this book did not deliver on its contract with the reader. (This is actually a HUGE pet peeve for me—a book or book series that starts out at a certain reading level and maturity level, but ends on a higher maturity level.) Not only did this book get uncomfortably dark for a book that started out all sunshine and daisies, but also this fantasy element came out of nowhere in the third act, with mystical places and mental powers. If these ideas had been set up earlier, I would have been much more comfortable with their appearance near the end.

Finally, it helps that this author has some indigenous background, but I'm still uncomfortable with certain elements. The way that the main character thought no people existed besides his tribe—did the author know of any actual tribes that were so extremely remote that their children thought they were alone in the world? Nowadays the idea of an "empty" North America is considered a harmful inaccuracy. As well, the magical Indian trope appears with the twin brother and sister who lead the village. In the second last chapter, it is revealed that the twins share each others' thoughts, which is a common fantasy conceit about twins (one I'm not a fan of), but I am not sure it is an Indigenous one. I would have appreciated an author's note or citation of sources, so I could know whether these are legitimate Indigenous elements, in which case I could give them a pass.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars rounded up

Several hours after finishing this book, and I still can't believe one of the supposedly wisest men in the tribe explains the concept of strangers to a younger boy by saying: "Some can be interesting or funny, though even the best of them are in some ways as ignorant as babies. They can't talk sense or understand it. They behave rudely, laugh at the wrong times. They are secretive and unpredictable, eat odd foods, dress in unusual clothes—or no clothes at all!" (bolding mine) ...I get that this was meant to be set in 16th century America when people may have had less contact with non-tribe members and so were understandably even more skeptical of—even prejudiced against—outsiders, but considering the target audience is children/middle grade, I'm not sure it's a helpful message for such young minds to be internalizing uncritically :/

That said, I did find this to be a light and easy read and the appreciate the wholesome ending; I also enjoyed the overall atmosphere Dorris created, in terms of venturing into the natural world and savoring its beauty as well as providing a glimpse into the early Native American lifestyle.

Also kinda cute point: I've had this book sitting on my shelf for a good decade and finally decided to give it a read before donating it to the library—and it was only after finishing the bulk of this review that I Googled the author and realized he was married to Louise Erdrich, who wrote a few other novels on my TBR that also feature Native American characters :')

[Paulina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Walnut had a hard time seeing. Walnut and the other boys had to prove they were adults by their accuracy of arrow shooting. Walnut was worried about how he was going to hit the target since he didn’t have a good eye sight. The ceremony came and the boys were asked to “see” what could not be seen. When that all happened Walnut earned the respect he deserved, he became a man and got the name of “sees behind trees.”.

A theme for this book may be, making a weakness a strength is an important skill or virtue to have. Walnut thought he didn’t have the same capacity as the other boys. He took his weakness and made it into a strength while helping Gray Fire find the land of water. As soon as they reached the land of water Sees Behind Trees had lost Gray Fire and pronounced him dead.

I really liked this book. I really enjoyed how Walnut got the respect he deserved. Even though he didn’t have good eyesight he did his best to get out there and prove everyone wrong. He was given the ability to see beyond the ordinary view. His ability to use his other senses earned him his adult name “sees behind trees.” I really liked that. It is a beautiful story.

[Kamon SecondAccount · Rating 4 out of 5]

เรื่องราวของเด็กชายชาวอินเดียนแดง ในช่วงก้าวย่างสู่วัยผู้ใหญ่และการผจญภัยของเขา

วอลนัทมีปัญหาสายตามองแทบไม่เห็นมาตั้งแต่เด็ก เมื่อต้องผ่านพิธีทดสอบยิงธนูเขาจึงกังวลมาก แม่ของเขาหัดให้เขามองโดยใช้ประสาทสัมผัสอื่นจนเขาสามารถผ่านพิธีมาได้อย่างน่าประทับ และได้ชื่อของผู้ใหญ่ว่า ‘มองผ่านป่า’ ความสามารถนี้ทำให้ ‘ไฟสีเทา’..ท่านผู้เฒ่าน้องชายของแม่เฒ่าหัวหน้าเผ่าขอให้เขาร่วมเดินทางไปหาดินแดนแห่งน้ำที่ผู้เฒ่าไฟสีเทาเคยเจอตอนเด็ก และเกิดเรื่องที่เป็นปมคาใจท่านมาจนถึงทุกวันนี้

คนแต่งเล่าเรื่องได้กระชับฉับไว แต่แฝงคำพูดหรือแง่น่าคิดไว้หลายจุด เช่น เรื่องของตัวตน ("หากคนเราไม่มีใครสักคนมาให้เราเป็นใครสักคนของเขา มันก็เหมือนกับว่าเราไม่ได้เป็นใครเลยนั่นแหละ") ความโดดเดี่ยว ("เจ้ารู้สึกโดดเดี่ยวเร็วกว่าคนอื่น ... อะไรที่อยู่เกินระยะนี้ สำหรับสายตาของเจ้า สิ่งนั้นก็เหมือนไม่มีอยู่")
...โดยส่วนตัวแล้วคงต้องหยิบเล่มนี้มาอ่านอีกครั้ง คิดว่าน่าจะสะดุดกับอะไรเพิ่มได้อีก

ใครอยากหาอะไรอ่านสั้นๆ มีเนื้อเรื่องให้ติดตามตลอด เขียนได้ดีมีแง่คิด แนะนำเล่มนี้ค่ะ

[Sylvia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Positives
-It's a short read, well-paced.
-It shows how personal weakness and strengths can be two sides of the same coin.
-There are realistic and wholesome family interactions.
-It explores the tricky transitions between child and adult.
-Walnut/Sees Behind Trees is relatable, Gray Fire is lovable, Checha brings hope and redemption.
-Gray Fire's story warns against pride, Otter's story warns against jealousy (inverted pride).

Negatives
-Gray Fire's death could possibly be intentional on his part?
-I really didn't understand how Sees Behind Trees could see the water place so well despite his visual impairment. What am I missing?
-The instinct lesson was vague. Sees Behind Trees ended up using tracking methods with moss anyway. I suppose Gray Fire was teaching more of a mindset, but why not some tracking methods too?
-Otter's plot wasn't believable. I accepted it after some thought, but the initial reaction was "yeah right, who would do that?"

[Marsha Valance · Rating 4 out of 5]

A 15th-century handicapped Powhatan boy with a special gift to "see" beyond his poor eyesight journeys with a respected village elder on a pilgrimage to find the land of water, a place that has eluded the old man since his youth. This compelling coming-of-age story begins as Walnut, a bright and earnest, but seriously myopic boy realizes that, try as he might, he will never master the skills he needs to become a competent hunter. His mother, who is responsible for his training, takes a different tack and encourages him to "look with his ears." The boy hones his unusual talent so well that he earns the right to his grown-up name. Minnesota Book Award, Young Adult Fiction (1997), One Book One San Diego, Children's Companion Title (2013).