The Ledgerbook of Thomas Blue Eagle

by Jewel H. Grutman, Gay Matthaei, Adam Cvijanovic (Illustrator)

A visually stunning fictional account of a young nineteenth-century Sioux warrior's quest for knowledge that takes him from the plains of his childhood to a far-off boarding school where he learns the ways of the white world--and the value of his own traditions.

A hand-calligraphed tribute to the narrative pictographs recorded by Plains artists in the ruled ledgerbooks they acquired in trade, the weaving of Cvijanovic's richly detailed original illustrations in the "ledger" style into a simply written story inspired by actual events holds appeal for young readers and those who wish to learn more about Native American art and history.

Genres: History, Art, Picture Books, Native American, Childrens, Middle Grade

75 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 1994

Reviews

[Dave Schaafsma]

A really carefully and beautifully produced book I bought at the Grand Canyon National Park. It’s the fictional story of a young Sioux Indian, Thomas Blue Eagle, who grew up to hunt buffalo, who lived through the white take-over of the west and their thoughtless decimation of the buffalo population without consideration for the future and his being taken for six years to the Carlisle Indian School to “become white. “ (The educational philosophy of Carlisle can be summarized by its founder Henry Pratt’s motto: “Kill the Indian, Save the Man.” This cultural genocide is being documented for young and old in much historical research and even some picture books such as the Canadian project, The Secret Path by Gord Downie and Jeff Lemire.

I liked this book for several reasons; 1) the concept of a “ledgerbook” journal; 2) the beautiful illustrations by Cvijanovic, done as if by a young Sioux man; 3) the lovely cursive script; 4) the bi-cultural representation of “white story” writing on one page and on the facing page “picture stories” or pictographs which would have been valued in indigenous communities (Even his name is bicultural, as his tribe gave him the name of Blue Eagle, whereas the school gave him the name Thomas); 5) the carefully research in Sioux cultural traditions; 6) the glossary for all the terms representing Sioux culture, 7) the focus on American schooling that reveals that persistent thread of ethnocentrism.

The school experience is sort of soft-pedalled in some ways because it was brutal and a horrific practice and needs to be known as such, but I am glad we have this contribution to the literature for young and old to read.

This is a thoughtful and beautiful cultural critique of white devastation of Indian culture written by two New Yorkers and illustrated by a fellow New Yorker (with consultant Sioux Arthur Amiotte--Good Eagle Center is his Lakota name), and we need books from all kinds of people to make that point again and again since these stories do not make it into our history books. And this is really a lovely story, in so many ways. I am also reading Jason Aaron’s (more brutal, for adults) series Scalped, too, a dark contemporary story about life on a Sioux nation reservation.

[Lisa]

The book as artifact is gorgeous, emulating ledger art created by Plains Indians.

Though Thomas Blue Eagle is a fictional character, the Carlisle Indian School he attends was a real place, a boarding school where Indian children were "educated" in the Euro-American style. Thomas's story barely grazes the real horrors of Indian boarding schools. (The founder of Carlisle, General Richard Henry Pratt, operated with the philosophy of "Kill the Indian: Save the Man.") The narrator refers to war against "Long Hair Custer" and forced relocations but young readers will need supplementary context regarding these events and the boarding schools.

The authors are not Native American, nor is the artist. Arthur Amiotte (Oglala Lakota) acted as advisor.

[Isaac Montgomery]

"I have also learned that the white man does not see with the eyes in his heart and that he does not hear our Mother Earth crying."

Beautiful book.

[Shawn]

Magically done. A real work of art.

[Judy]

3.8

Clever. Compelling. Beautifully presented.

Familiar story, yet will probably seem new to young readers.

The transition from home to school with all of the cultural differences seemed too easy. (And the handwriting is too perfect ... but maybe that was something the schools emphasized. Same concerns about word choices -- they often don't seem appropriate but this could be attributed to schooling.)

I'd like to hear the thoughts of Lakota tribal members.

The story begins ...
I was born in the Moon When Ponies Shed Their Shaggy Hair. I was horseback before I could walk. When I was eight winters, my father, called Iron Arm, gave me my own beautiful pony.

[jet]

“we even prayed to the white man’s god but I do not think he heard us”; beautiful little book about a fictional Lakota child’s experience at the historical Carlisle Indian school. not written by native authors, but had a Lakota advisor.

[Leslie]

The artwork, calligraphy, and even binding in this book is beautiful. Though it is a work of fiction, real places and events are woven through out the story.

[Jillyn]

This book tells the story of Thomas Blue Eagle, and his life as a Native American on the plains. After a battle, he is asked to move to Pennsylvania to attend a school to learn the ways of the white man. Though fictional, this illustrated book gives a historically accurate insight into the life of a young native. The illustrations are beautiful, and look as though they were done by a child in a spiral notebook. Equal parts informative and emotional, this is a great read for kids.

[Angela]

Gorgeous illustrations and a very bitter sweet and beautiful story. A very good way to introduce children , or anyone, to the history of some of the Native American Nations.

[Sylvia]

Bought this book - yes, a physical book - traveling in Nebraska, which is drenched in the history of the American Indians. The book, presented as beautifully evocative Native American paintings on the pages of a ruled ledger book, is striking. The story is a simple story of an Indian boy growing up. There is no conflict or controversy. When I found in the notes at the end of the book that the authors and illustrator are not American Indians, much of the magic vanished; it is still a wonderful set of illustrations, but the story falls flat.

[Ruthie Planamenta]

Masterfully done, with gorgeous artwork. I first encountered ledger book art in Colorado, and I love the style of repurposing paper this way. The story in this book is also told entirely in cursive, which I don’t think I’ve encountered before in a printed book. I wanted to have this in my classroom, but a couple of the pages are a little too violent for elementary school, I think. This fictional story covers a lot of accurate feelings about the clashes between Native Plains Indians and white settlers, and was a poignant read.

[Linda Spear]

With current interest in the Carlisle Indian School all over the news, this is a timely children's fiction title. Very unusual illustrations. My only concern is that is that neither the authors nor the illustrator seem to claim any Native connection; however, there is a Lakota advisor listed. That said, I can't imagine that kids would not get a sense of the the heartbreak and outrage of this period in our history.

[Melanie]

While a children’s/middle grade book, there are several universal lessons in this book. Knowing the historical context behind the story, I hope that Thomas and as able to hold onto his father’s advice. The images in the book are beautiful, and really made the story for me, helping to make Thomas feel more real. I’m glad to have access to narratives that can convey these experiences in such a non traditional way.

[Watch Jamie Read]

This is a beautiful book, both physically and in the written word. It’s a fictional piece based off of historical evidences of such books existing. We follow a Native American boy as he grows up with his tribe and is then forced to attend a white man’s school to “civilize” him. The artwork is moving and the words are utterly compelling. I loved everything about this short, wonderful book!

[Danielle]

The illustrations were beautiful. I feel as I have read the novel before because the story seemed familiar. This book told the story of a Native American and his life as the Foreigners came and began to take his land. It is a short but sweet read!

[Anna]

The Ledgerbook of Thomas Blue Eagle is a unique, thoughtful, well-researched story of history, change, growing up, and what happens when two very different cultures meet, complete with distinctive illustrations. I recommend it for youngsters as well as adults.

[Linda Rusche]

Interesting story style. The illustrations are wonderful and we enjoyed the ledger format.

[Leah Hanley]

Fantastic all around. Highly recommend for adults and YA. Some violence is depicted, so use discretion with younger children.

[Monica]

Good. Very good.

[Kati Stevens]

Beautiful illustrations. Would have been five stars if it were, you know, real.

[Leonore]

It's sad what we did to the Native people. It's a story of truth.

[Sara-Zoe Patterson]

Gorgeous piece.

[Erin Henderson]

A creative way to present historical fiction from a different perspective.

[Jill]

This book is absolutely stunning. It caught my eye right away because it has a blue cloth jacket and is laid out horizontally instead of vertically. And then I opened it and my jaw literally dropped. The book has marbled endpapers and lined pages like a journal. And the illustrations are just spectacular!

The hand calligraphed text purports to be a journal kept by Thomas Blue Eagle, a fictitious boy from the Sioux tribe who was sent to the Carlisle Indian School at the end of the 19th Century. In the documentation for this book on the website of the terrific Heard American Indian Museum, we learn:

This book was inspired by the magnificent ledger drawings made by Plains Indians in the late 19th century. It is primarily based on letters, pictographs, and documents from the Pratt papers located at the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. It is also based on journals, photos, pictographic drawings on paper, and other materials located at the Cumberland County Historical Society in Carlisle, Pennsylvania."

There is more to the book than the drawings of course, and I thought the quality of the story was a perfect match for the illustrations. Thomas Blue Eagle tells us a great deal about his life in the plains before he goes to school.

He tells a bit about his time at Carlisle - not too graphic but enough information for us to know that it was a culture-killing experience for the Native Americans who went there. He concludes:

I have learned the white man's ways, as my father wished. I have learned his numbers and tools. I have larned to tell my stories with the white man's words. I have also learned that the white man does not see with the eyes in his heart and that he does not hear our Mother Earth crying."

The book is dedicated to “all the brave young Native Americans who took that long, lonely journey into the white man's world and studied at the Carlisle Indian School."

Discussion: Carlisle was an Indian boarding school founded in 1879 for the purpose of “civilizing” young Native Americans so they would give up their own culture in favor of that of the majority culture. Founder and Superintendent Richard Henry Pratt believed that “the Native Americans should be uprooted from their tribal past to “achieve full participation.” In practice, this meant erasing, as much as possible, any trace of Native American customs, culture, language and religion from the children at the school. Indoctrination was not easily accomplished. Hundreds of children died during Carlisle’s 39 years of operation, not only from infectious diseases, but from trying to escape. Physical, emotional, and sexual abuses were not uncommon. Students caught speaking their native languages were beaten, sentenced to hard labor or confinement, or they had their mouths washed out with lye soap.

Nevertheless, The Carlisle School was a model for 26 Indian boarding schools founded by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) across the country. (You can watch an NPR 1-hour documentary on the schools – “a story of cultural genocide” - here.)

This book for children doesn’t show the worst of the negative aspects of the school, but readers can still get a sense of the culture clash that occurred. The drawings by Adam Cvijanovic are so exquisite and the story intriguing enough that one hopes readers will have enough interest to pursue the topic and find out more about what happened to Native Americans, especially those who went to the Carlisle School.

[Mara]

This is a children's book I bought for my daughter at the Museum of the American Indian in NYC. I could tell at the museum that the book was beautiful but it is more than that: This book is exceptional. The drawings and the way the book is made are what make the book so exquisite, though the story is also well told.

If I were just rating the book for story, I would probably give this four stars. However, the narration does make you feel the confusion and the homesickness of a child and it is very well-written.

Though this book is for children, I urge adults to read it as well; anyone who loves books will be moved by this book for many reasons.

[Lars Guthrie]

What I read on my vacation part six. I also got this at Kolb Studio in a American Indian children's book shopping spree. Cleverly presented, well written, and I believe historically accurate, this is a powerful little book that deals with the subjugation of the Lakota people, the cultural imperialism that was part of that subjugation, and the resilience and endurance that resulted in the survival of the Lakota.

[Ptaylor]

Thomas Blue Eagle uses a ledger book to write and illustrate his life on the Great Plains with his tribe and his experiences as a student at the Carlisle School in Pennsylvania. His father has sent him to the school to learn from the white man so that he'll be able to help his tribe. A powerful story and the format is interesting, I recommend this book for all ages although it's written for older children. Adults will find it compelling as well.

[Debra]

This is an extremely unique look at what a Native American child might have experienced when the culture shock of the "white man's world" forced him/her into the classroom of the Carlise Indian School to relate their life prior to that school. Conceptually beautiful and reminiscent of the skin painting Native Americans would have done on the plains.

[Karen]

This is a book lover's book; the presentation of the art and story are very special. It's designed to look like the old ledger that the author describes using. I was fascinated by both the story and illustrations.

I learned to love books as a child and hope that children today still find magic in a book like this. Stories just don't come to life like this on a Kindle.

[Nancy]

Given to me as a Christmas gift by my husband, knowing my love for imaginative children's book illustrations. Adam Cvijanovic's illustrations resemble Indian pictographs that tell the story of a young Sioux Indian. Lovely!