Arrow over the Door (Puffin Chapters) (Paperback)

~ (Author), James Watling (Illustrator) "Watching them rush into the wide Hudson River..." (more)
Key Phrases: eye stone, Stands Straight, Wolf Marked, Robert Nisbet (more...)

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. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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 --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: Puffin; Reprint edition (July 8, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0141305711
• ISBN-13: 978-0141305714
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #229,266 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 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.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

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

By	Lu Lyn Jones (Kannapolis, NC, USA) - 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.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Arrow that hits the mark, November 5, 2006

By	S. Noah "Under His Wings" (England, UK) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I read this book to my daughter as we studied the formation of the thirteen colonies of America. The gracious and touching story of the Quaker family brought home to us some of their views and ideologies in a far better way than a essay on the matter would have done. Reading the cameo of the Native American boy and his world painted thoughtfully in the story, we felt like we had been given a tiny peek into their world of thoughts, values and ways. The interaction between the Native Americans and the Quakers then came as a beautiful culmination to the build up and we came away feeling like we had been there. A well written and thought-provoking book. I would read it again.