Customer Reviews

Who Will Tell My Brother?

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I think that this book is only ok. It is good because it helps people learn how to stand up for their race, and gain courage. But I did not like the author's style of writing which was in poem form, which made it difficult for me to enjoy the book.

Marlene Carvell, the author of "Who Will Tell my Brother?" puts great detail in describing the actions of the characters. It's about a senior boy who tries to change the school mascot. The school disagrees with his disions and treat him diffent. They go so far that they, or someone, end up killing his dog. But then he realizes that racism is just an opinion. And then everything changes back to normal, excpt butch, Evan's dog. And the worse thing about it is that Butch was Evan's childhood friend and that His brother might not take it to well if he found out what happen to his friend.

This book is one of the few adolescent books that produced a "WOW" from me while reading. I was so moved by the book that I read it to my classes because we did not have enough copies in the library to read individually. The message in this story is clearly and eloquently spoken -- The children shall lead us from our own mistaken courses. I recommend this to everyone from age 12 to 100. If you can read it without being moved, I will be surprised. It has become a staple in my curriculum when teaching about tolerance and change.

We read this book in our freshman English class. I am proud to say that the book was based on events that happened at our school and that Mrs. Carvell works in our district so my class was able to ask her questions regarding these events. Thanks to her son's determination the mascot issue has been resolved in our school. This book, from a Native American's point of view, shows that we do not honor the Natives with these mascots, in fact, we take away there dignity. I liked the fact that this book connects with many students at many different levels.

Who Will Tell My Brother, by Marlene Carvell, is a thought provoking novel written in the Karen Hesse (Out of the Dust) blank verse style. It tells the tale of Evan, a high school senior of Native American heritage, and his struggle with the powers that be in an attempt to remove the offensive Indian school mascot. Carvell's vivid description of the "painted face with empty eyes" picture of the mascot brings the point home clearly that Native Americans are living people as Evan struggles with his heritage and the hatred from his fellow students. The school board also does not understand why Evan is taking this matter so seriously and tell him "Racism is matter of opinion."

Evan's older brother, Jacob, was the first student to attempt to change the mascot, but now is away at college. The title of the story is the main plot point as Evan must tell his brother about a terrible and violent act done to scare Evan away from continuing his struggle. The violence changes the opinion of the majority of the student body from supporting the mascot to silently protesting the mascot's presence at graduation.

Carvell's use of verse was very moving in describing Evan's emotions as he stood up for what he believed in. The act of violence is devastating and will stay with the reader long after they've completed the story. Evan's courage and inner strength will also stay with readers who stand up for what is right.

This is one of the most beautifully created books I have ever read in my entire life. It's sort of wierd how it's written in poetry, but once you start reading it, you can't stop, and you'll start to understand it more. I encourage every sing soul to read this book. Male and female both young and old--you will truly be blessed.

I am a mom of 3 adolescent boys and also a middle/high school English teacher. I'm always on the lookout for good books to share with my children and my students. I went to the library today and happened to see this book...it caught my attention so I borrowed it. I started reading it just over an hour ago and I have finished it (with tears in my eyes, I might add). What a moving account of a boy struggling to find who he is and having the courage to stand up for something he believes in. I have a particular interest in multicultural literature and this one speaks so eloquently of the struggle between how we look, how society perceives us and how we define ourselves. What an absolutely beautiful book! Middle schoolers through high schoolers can definitely relate to this book and it's "easy" enough for even the most troubled reader. Has tons of discussion points and is relevant for any culture, not just the Native American struggle. I highly, highly, HIGHLY recommend this book. You won't be sorry.

Evan is a high school student descended from Native Americans. His father's relatives still live on a reservation and Evan and his mother and brother visit them there. But other than this heritage, Evan is a pretty typical high school student.

But then, one day at a school pep rally, Evan finds himself really bothered by what he sees. His school's mascot is an Indian, a horrible caricature of Indian traditions. The mascot does clumsy Indian dances, wears a headband with feathers and shrieks out war whoops. The cheerleaders have their faces streaked with color to imitate war paint. Evan grows more and more embarrassed and upset as the pep rally continues, until he thinks he can't stand it anymore. He decides to try to do something about the situation.

Like his older brother did years before Evan when he was in high school, Evan goes to the school board to ask them to consider changing the school's mascot to something less offensive. Although he approaches them time and time again, they state that the members of the school take pride in their mascot and it isn't hurting anyone. Evan continues the fight, although he is harassed at school. Can one student win a battle against an entire town?

I liked that the story was told in poems, but each poem was detailed enough to give me a clear idea of what was going on. I liked the ending of this story, too.

I think this story is already a bit out of date, though. In our current state of political correctness, I don't think a school board would dare to refuse a request such as Evan's anymore.

The people who sent this were fast and the book was new. However, this is a depressing book a mom wrote about her kid being picked on. It's biased from a mother's point of view and not uplifting in anyway. If you want to be depressed and think that the world is an aweful place, this is the book for you. Oh, and she keeps noting that her family is part native american. I'm not sure what she's trying to accomplish by this except maybe pointing out that her children are minorities and should be treated differently? She does say that they look white. Who cares? She's trying to make it seem like a racial issue. She's making a bad situation look as bad as she possibly can. A mother trying to heal, the world is so aweful book.

This book is about a typical boy named Evan. He is a senior in High School. At the school the mascot is an Indian. Evan's ancestors are Indians and he feels that the mascot is very offensive and racial. He tries to go to the school board many times to persuade them to agree that the mascot is offensive. Because Evan is trying to get rid of the mascot many of the other students at school taunt and bully him. HE is constantly being taunted because of what he thinks. You have to read the book to find out what happens to Evan and see if they get rid of the mascot.

In the book I liked that Evan never gives up, and he keeps on trying even though he is being taunted so much. In the book I didn't like he was bullied all the time. I also didn't like that when he was taunted only half the time someone would step in and help him.

I think that people that like books that are in poem form would like this book. I think that if you like books that are about people never giving up and are fighting for what they believe in would like this book.