Mother Earth, Father Sky [School & Library Binding]

Sue Harrison (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1991

In a time before history, in a harsh and beautiful land near the top of the world, womanhood comes cruelly and suddenly to beautiful, young Chagak. Surviving the brutal massacre of her tribe, she sets out across the icy waters off Ameria's northwest coast on an astonishing odyssey that will reveal to Chagak powerful secrets of the earth and sky... and the mysteries of love and loss.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Chagak, a primitive Amerindian woman, survives the massacre of her tribe and family and later challenges gender roles by learning to be both child-bearer and hunter. According to PW , the "childlike language, slow-paced plot and unsophisticated characterizations" here are no threat to Jean Auel's novels of the prehistoric wilderness.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Harrison has gone back 9000 years in time to tell the story of Chagak, a young woman who struggles to survive when her family and village are slaughtered by the warlike Short Ones. Her only ally is a crippled recluse who offers her shelter on his island. But what can either of them do when Chagak is demanded in marriage by one of the men who killed her family? Likely to be compared to Jean Auel's "Earth's Children" books, Harrison's novel is constructed on a much smaller scale, but her depiction of early American civilizations is nevertheless convincing. Chagak is a believable and appealing heroine; readers will care what happens to her. Given the popularity of fiction set in prehistoric times, this should be in demand in public libraries. Literary Guild main selection; previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 3/1/90.
- Beth Ann Mills, New Rochelle P.L., N. Y.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• School & Library Binding
• Publisher: Tandem Library (September 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0833570013
• ISBN-13: 978-0833570017
• Product Dimensions: 7.2 x 4.3 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (39 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,680,752 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Love, loss, self-discovery..., October 14, 2003

By 

Rachel (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mother Earth Father Sky (Mass Market Paperback)

Mother Earth Father Sky by Sue Harrison is a powerful book about a young woman who searches for a sense of belonging and ends up finding a whole new family, and, more importantly, she discovers more about her own character; through her journey, she lived through love, loss, and self-discovery. Chagak, of an Indian tribe, had just become a woman. While she was picking berries, her whole tribe was burned and killed; the only survivors were herself and her little brother Pup. After giving each one of the members of the tribe a proper ceremony of death, with her little brother, she decided to go to her grandfather's tribe to seek assistance. She ended up on an Island with a man named Shuganan. On this island, Pup died and Chagak grieved. Shuganan gave Chagak food, water, and shelter and they became friends. They shared their experiences and became very close.

A man comes to the beach and claims that he is good, but in reality, he is a killer, which is explained in his name, Man-who-kills. He impregnates Chagak with force and is very brutal toward both her and to Shuganan. The two kill him and are free from his cruelty. She gives birth to the son and he is named Samiq.

The story is then intelligently intertwined with the story of another tribe. These two tribes later meet and live amongst one another. The leader of that tribe is Kayugh and his son has not eaten healthy because his mother died and he couldn't be breastfed. Chagak agrees to feed him; she, in the end, saves his live.

Chagak, traumatized over her experience with Man-who-kills, never wants another husband for fear of being treated so harshly. Kayugh wants her as his wife. You'll have to read the book to find out what happens next.

Through Chagak's journey, she realizes that although she is a woman and is supposed to be inferior, she is still strong. She had the strength to bury her whole family, being raped and giving birth to the child as a result of that, and so much more.

I really recommend this book because Sue Harrison really gives all her characters a unique personality. She brings her characters, including the whole book to life; it's like your watching a movie and not really reading. In addition to this, Harrison did a lot of research on the Native American culture, which brings out the richness and virtues of their lifestyle. The story shows how a woman can have strength within and use it to persevere and overcome any obstacles.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining, February 15, 2008

By 

Serene (Marina, CA, United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mother Earth Father Sky (Mass Market Paperback)

Chagrak is a young prehistoric girl whose village is massacred by evil foreigners called short ones.. She flees the village with her little brother. Later she encounters an elderly hermit and lives with him until the Short Ones arrive and make trouble. Can Chagrak fight back and reclaim her dignity?

I found Mother Earth Father Sky a gripping read from start to finish. It was difficult at times putting it down. The cover itself is nothing much... So don't let it fool you. If you like Prehistoric fiction, you'll like this one. Downsides? The beginning where the heroine's village is massacred is very cliche. Also, Chagrak is only 13, and while I know this was considered an adult back then I had difficulty envisioning her being quite that resilient. Finally, her relationship at the end seemed passionless and uninteresting. I would've liked to see some attraction between the two. There was more of a bond between her and Shuganan despite his age.

5 stars. A gripping read.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Motherhood Remembered, December 5, 1999

By 

"mamanatowic" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mother Earth Father Sky (Mass Market Paperback)

Mother Earth, Father Sky by Sue Harrison Spellbound with magnitude. First Man revered their children. Mothers had joy and laughter and work, companionship, hardship, sheer terror. But the strong undercurrent of this novel struck me as these mothers were basically prolife, with reverence to the spiritual world around them, they desired long life for their offspring, so that they might become the best at their different talents and personalities. Even the harmony of those living with neighbors not so 'nice'.

The first to read in this series, only recently did finished, I couldn't wait to read the second. And now onto the third of your first series. Never knew of their existence until Nov, 1999, now I want to read all of your books. Sue, you have a wonderful way with stories. Thank you for the work you are doing. I am most thankful that Storytellers are still among us.