Customer Reviews

The Heart of a Chief

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(25)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I read this book for an Elementary Ed Teaching Literacy course, and I really enjoyed it. It seems very real, but also encouraging and hopeful. I like how it dispels some common stereotypes about Native Americans, but there are also many situations and emotions the main character experiences that can be related to any person of any ethnicity, which I think would help children see Native Americans as very much like themselves, but also appreciate their different ways of life.

I found some of the issues presented very relevant to real situations in New England (the school mascot names, the casino controversies, even some of the tribal names which correspond to places or rivers in New England that students may recognize).

This book teaches that even children can make a difference and people will listen if you stand up for what is right. It also exemplifies that there is always hope, possibilities, and alternative solutions to problems. It doesn't pretend there are no problems, it's real, and also encouraging.

I especially liked the stories that the wise old Doda told to teach life lessons. My favorite is in chapter 6. :) But I don't want to give it away.

I highly recommend the book!

Chief vs. Casino
I read Heart of a Chief. It is about a boy named Chris Nicloa. Chris is nervous because he is about to start his first day of middle school. Chris, to his surprise, becomes class leader and is very popular to the people in the school. He discovers that his town leaders have decided to place a casino on his island Penacock Indian Reservation. He decides to stand up for himself and class mates for what he believes in and to get the casino built somewhere off the island.
I think this a very good book because it shows someone with a lot of courage doing what he believes in. This book gives the mind encouragement in doing what's right. It makes you think anything is possible and worth trying. Chris is really bright and smart and does things that most people would be too scared to do. This is a heart-warming story that I think everyone can relate to in the end.

Joseph Bruchac presents a vivid and heart-warming story about the life of a contemporary Native American boy living between the wrenching descrimination and exploitation of his People and the beauty and peace of his home. I do not profess to know much about the Native American lifestyle, but I would trust any book Bruchac writes. His book has given me an authentic and sensitive picture of one boy's struggle to balance his heritage with the pressures of life on and off the reservation. I can now only imagine how this story is familiar to many people in the U.S. Beautifully written.

Hi, my name is Mark, and I just finished reading The Heart of a Chief. My star rating for this book is 4/5 stars. I thought the book was difficult to get into in the beginning, but if you stick with it, it's a great book, and you won't be disappointed! I learned many things from this book, and they could turn out to be life lessons. I learned that Native Americans don't like team names such as "Chiefs" or "Redskins", or any other name that involves Indian names, because that insults the Indians rather than honors them.
Also, present day Native Americans are similar in many ways, such as schools they go to, transportation they use, houses they live in, and sports they play or enjoy. But not all Indians are like that. There are still many Indians who live on reservations and still live in Wigwams and Tipis, and also some still speak their native languages.
In the book, the main character's name is Chris. Chris and I are alike because he believes strongly about things, and when he is trying, he can make a big difference for many people. Chris also goes through many of the same hardships that anyone could. Chris is different because he still does many things from his culture in nature such as peeling bark, making appliances, chopping logs, telling stories, and sharing time with his family and tribe.
My favorite part of the book was in the end when Chris finally, after all of the hard work and cooperation, not only did he manage to change the school team name, but he made friends who shared his beliefs.
An excerpt, or part of the book that I thought was important is this, which is on page 128. `" Before we begin our presentation," I say, "I would like to tell you a story that my grandfather told me. A Penacook man drives into a gas station. The gas station attendant comes out and sees that the man is Indian. `Shall I fill it up, chief?' the gas station attendant says. `No, just give me ten dollars worth, Mr. President.' The Penacook man says." Some people laughed, especially Coach Takahashi, attracting the attention of the Rangerville reporter, who is already taking notes. "The point is," I continue, "that not every Indian is a chief, the same way every not-Indian is not the president of the United States. When you call someone a name they have not earned, it just becomes a joke."'
I would definitely recommend this book to other kids. I would say they should read this book because it helps you understand that even though you may be joking, you could be hurting someone very deeply. This book has taught me a very important life lesson, and I think it could do the same to many other kids if they just give this book a chance!

THE HEART OF A CHIEF

My name is Alec and I finished reading THE HEART OF A CHIEF. If I had to rate the book I would give it 5 stars because of the dialogue. I learned that present day Indians drive cars, live in reservations, have small councils, and live in trailers. It really annoys them when team names are named after them. Chris is like me because he is Indian, and he cares for nature. He is different because he lives in a trailer and he lives with his grandparents. My favorite part is the chapter talking stick. An excerpt in this story is : The "Aye" that comes back so load so strong that it shakes the building like a giant roar of thunder

. Other kids should read this book because it teaches about present day Indians. It's a great book!!

Hi my name is Jessica B

I think Heart of the Cheif was well written and pretty interesting.
Some things I learned from were that Native Americans are just like regular people, they go to school and celebrate holidays and I also learned what life is like to live on a reservation.
I also think that Chris is just like me and a little different at the same time. Chris is the same as me because he is just a kid trying to fit in at school and he has some personal problems too. But Chris is different because he's a Pennacook Indian who lives on a reservation.
I would also recommend this book to another student because this book interesting and a good way to learn about different cultures.
I think my favorite part of the book was when Chris was going through his first day of middle school.
On page 13 it says- No matter how bad things seem, remeber one thing. They can always get worse. In Rangerville Junior High that is probably going to be my maximam. I feel like an exposed nerve ending. If I were a rabbit I would start sniffing the air. If I were a deer I would be swivling my ears back and forth to listen for predators sneaking up behind me.- That was my favorite paragraph.
Over all it was a great book!!

My name is Becca and I finished reading The Heart of a Cheif.I would give this book 5 stars

I learned that Indians don't like it if you nane sports teams after them.

My favorite part is when they save the island from getting a casino built on it.

My favorite excerpt is on pg.153:

" And I know that whatever happens to me from now on,whether good or bad,I will always remember this: that the heart of a true chief beats with the hearts of the people."

Other kids should read this book because it teaches you to stand up for what you believe in and it's really good.

Hi my name is Marissa and I just finished reading Heart of a Chief.

I give this Book a **** star Rating because I thought it was really good especially the end.

The whole book had such detail! The only thing I did not like was the beginning because I thought it was slow.

Chris, the main character and I are alike and not alike in some ways, Chris is like me because he and I both go to a regular school.

We are different because, our families do things a little bit different.

I learned a lot from this book Here are some things I learned:

Native Americans may drive cars, but many are very poor.
Many Native Americans no longer speak their language.

The Pennacook Indians were enemies to the tribe.

The kids in the tribe in the present day go to school just like us!
Many Native Americans, like Mito, suffer from the disease, alcoholism.

My favorite excerpt

was when Muskrat Mike is on in the morning and says:

''And for you young bears taking that long treck on that long yellow beast keep your headphones on!''

I like this sentince because...

Muskrat Mike calls all the young kids listening young bears because he is talking to Native American kids.


I would recommend this book to another student because:

This book teaches you a lot about native Americans, and it shows you what to be thankful for.

So

Enjoy!

Reading

The Heart of a chief!

Hi, my name is Cara and I am almost finished the book Heart of a Chief. My rating for this book is 4 stars.

I learned about Indians in this book. Some of the things I learned in this book are that most Indians today live on reservations, go to school and drive cars.

Chris is like me in ways and not like me in ways. He is not like me because he is an Indian and he wears Indian clothes and shoes. He is like me because he is a human being and he goes to school and has friends.

My favorite part is when Chris and his friends burn the surveyors flags. I like that part because it shows that Chris cares about and loves his island.

My favorite excerpt is on page 24-
"We are the kinds of Indians that know hope rhymes with nope."

Other kids should read this book because it shows kids how to respect what they have because some people don't have as much as they do
and it is a very good life lesson to know so they don't grow up to be a snob.
I really enjoyed the Heart of the Chief, and you probably will to!

Hi my name is MeeRee and I read The Heart of the Chief. The book is about a young Indian trying to handle everyday problems. The story takes place during around this time today.


When I read this book I learned ten things about the modern day Native Americans. I learned they live on reservations and go to regular schools, they drive in cars, and really enjoy following their cultures. What I found interesting is that a lot of them don't speak their native tongue. Native American kids today also enjoy doing what regular kids like to do. Most Indians now live in houses on reservations instead of teepees or wigwams. They eat our food and most of them shop at stores instead of poaching for food like deer or turkeys. They also wear regular clothes. They don't wear deerskins or hide anymore. Native Americans are very different today!


There is a sentence that inspired me. "And I know that whatever happens to me from now on, whether it is good or bad, I will always remember this: that the heart of a true chief beats with the hearts of the people." That sentence was my favorite in the whole book! It shows that to be a true leader you have to think about your people before yourself.

Chris was the main character in this book. His family have a lot of similarities and differences to people

today. Chris lives in a modern day house and goes to regular schools, just like me. Chris lives on a reservation for Native Indians and he and his friends are still called nicknames, which they got after something they did incredible or something they are. People today are still a lot like Chris and his family.

The part I enjoyed the most was when Chris and his friends did their report on Indian names being used as sports logos or team names. I thought that the report they did really started to make a difference.

I would definitely recommend this book to a friend especially if they wanted to learn more about Native Americans. Out of 5 stars I would give a 5! It was well written and had a good moral.

I think the book was really inspiring. It shows not to give up. A little believing can make a big difference!