Longwalker's Journey: A Novel of The Chocktaw Trail of Tears [Hardcover]

Beatrice Harrell (Author), Tony Meers (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up

Based on the author's family history, this moving novel shows the bravery and hardship of those who traveled the infamous "Trail of Tears." In 1831, ten-year-old Minko Ushi is part of the forced removal of his Choctaw people from their homeland in Mississippi to Indian Territory. Minko's father decides to travel on ahead by foot, taking Minko and his beloved pony, Black Spot, with him. As he walks hundreds of miles across Arkansas Territory through howling snowstorms, Minko learns that his people are much like his stubborn little pony: They may suffer, but their spirit will never be broken.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Harrell tells the story of her great-greatgrandfather, who set out ahead of the other Choctaw to pave the way for their settlement in the new "Indian Territory." "Ten summers" old, Minko and the other Choctaw are evicted from their homelands in Mississippi, and forced to walk hundreds of miles to a newly established Indian Territory in Arkansas in 1831. Minko must also leave behind his beloved pony, Black Spot. After they encounter a brutal wagon leader, bitter winter weather and inadequate supplies, Minko and his father, Itilakna, go on ahead of their family and tribe to prepare their new home. Joined by the stubborn pony that would not stay behind, they bravely traverse the wilderness. The novel begins awkwardly, introducing important facts without integrating them into the flow of the story, and doesn't fill in the details as vividly or with the same immediacy as the first-person narration in Cornelia Cornelissen's recent story of the Trail of Tears, Soft Rain. However, Harrell smoothly introduces Choctaw beliefs and values, which surface in the father and son's treatment of animals, nature and even in their forgiveness of the wagon leader. The character of John Turner, a freedman who helps Minko and his father when they come to Little Rock, brings up a little-known thread of historic cooperation and assistance between Native Americans and escaped slaves. Final artwork not seen by PW. Ages 8-11.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-6-In 1831, 10-year-old Minko Ushi's tribe is forced by the government to move from Mississippi to Indian Territory (OK). The young Choctaw must leave his pony behind, along with the rest of his family's possessions. Black Spot, however, is determined to follow the boy. Eventually, Minko's father decides that he and his son will finish the journey alone and take the pony with them. Hardships abound along the way, but the two persevere, find their new land, and build a cabin. When Minko's mother finally arrives, along with one surviving elderly relative, she describes the horrors of the ordeal. For the most part, the white characters do not transcend unfavorable stereotypes. The good folk are a bit too good and the bad a bit too bad. The plot develops in waves of narrowly averted disaster a bit too regular to be riveting. The Choctaw Trail of Tears was so full of inhumanity and suffering that the humor, compassion, and optimism evident in this novel seem almost discordant. However, by focusing on Minko's journey and keeping the most tragic details in the background, Harrell is able to provide a gentle introduction to a historical event that had few happy endings. The dignified portrayal of a strong family and their heritage, the humorous scenes centering on a stubborn pony, and the upbeat conclusion make this book worth reading.
Jody McCoy, The Bush School, Seattle, WA
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Dial; 1st edition (March 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0803723806
• ISBN-13: 978-0803723801
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #661,499 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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