The Arrow over the Door [Hardcover]

Joseph Bruchac (Author), James Watling (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 1998 | Age Level: 7 and up | Grade Level: 2 and up

To fourteen-year-old Samuel Russell, called coward for his peace-loving Quaker beliefs, the summer of 1777 is a time of fear. The British and the Patriots will soon meet in battle near his home in Saratoga, New York. The Quakers are in danger from roaming Indians and raiders--yet to fight back is not the Friends' way. To Stands Straight, a young Abenaki Indian on a scouting mission for the British, all Americans are enemies, for they killed his mother and brother. But in a Quaker Meetinghouse he will come upon Americans unlike any he has ever seen. What will the encounter bring? Based on a real historical incident, this fast-paced and moving story is a powerful reminder that the way of peacecan be walked by all human beings.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-6?A thoughtful and eminently readable work. The story takes place during the summer of 1777 and is told in alternating voices by two young men from different cultures. Samuel Russell, a Quaker, wrestles with his faith's pacifism. He hates being called a coward by neighbors whose tolerance for the Quakers has been strained by their refusal to fight for independence. Stands Straight is an Abenaki whose family was killed by colonists. As British troops move toward Saratoga, he joins his uncle in a scouting party as the Abenaki try to decide which side to support. When the scouts reach the meeting house where the Quakers are worshipping, the two boys meet and each one grows as a result of the encounter. An author's note recounts Bruchac's research into the varying accounts of this true event and carefully notes any changes he made in his retelling. Full-page drawings in shades of gray fit the mood of the story without breaking the narrative flow. With a surprising amount of drama and even suspense, this tale of pacifism triumphant makes a good choice for historical fiction collections.?Elaine Fort Weischedel, Turner Free Library, Randolph, MA
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 4^-7. Fourteen-year-old Samuel Russell hates being called a coward because he is a Quaker, and he vows to defend his family if Loyalists or Indians try to harm them. Stands Straight, an Abenaki boy whose mother and brother were murdered by white men, has joined his uncle's scouting party, though he questions why Indians should fight in the white man's war. In alternating narratives, the two boys tell this quietly compelling story, which is based on an actual incident that took place in 1777, just before the Battle of Saratoga. As Samuel's family sits in the meeting with the rest of the Quaker congregation, the Indian scouting party to which Stands Straight belongs surrounds the cabin. Stands Straight follows his uncle Sees-the-Wind inside, and after being assured that there are no weapons in the cabin, the Abenakis leave their bows and arrows outside and sit with the Quakers in silence. At the end of the meeting, the Quakers and the Indians share the handshake of peace, and Sees-the-Wind places an arrow over the cabin's door to show the Abenakis that the Quakers are people of peace. Simple black-and-white drawings reflect the dignified tone of the story, which explores the complexities of the Indian-white relationship, focusing on two lesser-known groups who were involved in the conflict. An author's note provides thorough historical background about the incident, as well as a brief history of the Quakers and the Abenakis. A truly excellent example of historical fiction for the middle-grade/junior-high audience. Karen Hutt

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 7 and up
  
• Hardcover: 96 pages
• Publisher: Dial; 1st edition (March 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0803720785
• ISBN-13: 978-0803720787
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.7 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,922,506 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Joseph Bruchac is a highly acclaimed Abenaki children's book author, poet, novelist and storyteller, as well as a scholar of Native American culture. Coauthor with Michael Caduto of the bestselling Keepers of the Earth series, Bruchac's poems, articles and stories have appeared in over 500 publications, from Akwesasne Notes and American Poetry Review to National Geographic and Parabola. He has authored more than 50 books for adults and children. For more information about Joseph, please visit his website www.josephbruchac.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Historical fiction at its best!, June 25, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Arrow over the Door (Hardcover)

Both of the little-understood groups featured in this book, Quakers and Native Americans, are portrayed with depth and understanding in this short account of a true 1777 incident near Saratoga, NY. The incident - in which Quakers were gathered in silent worship when a tribal group recruited to fight for the British came upon them - has been passed on orally among Quakers and others, although it has remained tainted by old conceptions of the "savage" Indian. This book corrects those faults and re-tells the story in more accurate detail than has been done previously. Though written for children, adults will also be rewarded in historical understanding and modern sensibilities by reading this wonderful book.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Bruchac At His Best, June 29, 2000

By 

Lu Lyn Jones - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Arrow over the Door (Hardcover)

Native American literature is such a new genre but it will be a thriving one if THE ARROW OVER THE DOOR is any indication. Joseph Bruchac is an Abeneki Indian who is both rediscovering his family's culture and teaching us all about the peaceful acceptance of others through out the pages of this book. Samual, a young Quaker, and Stands Straight, a young American Indian, have seperate lives which are on an inevitable path towards each other. Their meeting and the way in which they handle themselves shapes the immediate fate of their communities. The book is based on an actual event and offers much to readers of all ages.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Quaker oral tradition: Abenaki and Quaker cultures meet, March 23, 2007

By 

Chatelaine "HiddenArtist" (Connecticut, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Arrow over the Door (Puffin Chapters) (Paperback)

Samuel Russell was a young Quaker boy, who thought it would be better if his family wasn't nonresistant. He thought he should be able to protect his family if the British came, or, more realistically, the Indians attacked. It was also hard for him to endure the taunting of the patriotic neighbors, especially as he did wish to join them.

Stands Straight was an Abenaki who was concerned about fighting for the British, a concern shared by others in his family. They decided to surround a meeting of the Americans they are supposed to be fighting, and judge from their response whether they are hostile or not.

Chapters alternate between the two boys until they meet inside the Quaker meetinghouse. The arrow over the door was a sign of friendship and protection from the Abenakis to the Quakers. This book is based on a true incident during the War for Independence, and is one of the many stories in Quaker history. Quaker ideas are incorporated, as is the history known of the Abenakis.

The book is written on a level for 9 - 12 year olds, although younger children would easily follow the story if read aloud. Some of the attitudes Samuel demonstrates are not the best, but in the end he came to see that his father was right in his nonresistance. I would recommend the book for learning about these two people groups in this time period, as I have not seen much about them; also as it is a retelling of history, not pure fiction.