Voices of the People

Voices of the People

Through poems that capture the essence of each person's life, acclaimed Native American writer Joseph Bruchac introduces readers to famous indigenous leaders from The Peacemaker in 1000 A.D. to modern day dancer Maria Tallchief and Cherokee chief Wilma Mankiller. Each poem is illustrated by a modern-day tribally enrolled artist. Gr 7 Up—In this collection of biographical poems, Bruchac explores the history of Native Americans from pre-colonization to modern times. "Although there are more than 600 state and federally recognized Native American tribal nations…there is still a surprising lack of awareness about the history—or histories—of the indigenous peoples of America," he says in the introduction. The poems cover individuals from Jikonsahseh, who lived circa 1100 A.D. and "became known as the Mother of Nations" among the Iroquois, to Jim Thorpe, who lived from 1887 to 1953 and whose Indian name was "Wathahuck, the Light After the Lightning." The voices are a mix of male and female, and of those who resisted colonization and those who partially assimilated in hopes of improving lives. They include people who are mentioned in history books and some who are left out. The poems are strong and written well, and the artwork really elevates the book. Each poem is faced by a piece of art from a Native American artist whose name and tribal affiliation(s) is provided. A few pages feature only artwork. There is a variety of art, but the majority is photography. The art provides a modern contrast to the historical figures' lives. Many of the photographs show Native Americans blending pop culture stories of resistance into their lives. Back matter includes a short paragraph or two of more information on each of the individuals featured. VERDICT Visually stunning artwork combined with character sketches reveal the depth of Native American history in an intriguing way. A good first purchase for libraries.—Tamara Saarinen “Visually stunning artwork combined with character sketches reveal the depth of Native American history in an intriguing way. A good first purchase for libraries.” – School Library Journal “A brilliant integration of Indigenous American art and history.” – Kirkus Starred Review “Those you are about to meet are real people, not stereotypes. They are women and men who truly were, through their words and their deeds, voices of the people. Bruchac’s (Abenaki) biographical poems provide chronological introductions to thirty-four notable Native Americans, from the Peacemaker, a Wendat (Huron) leader who united five warring nations around 1000 C.E., to twentieth-century activist Wilma Mankiller, who was the Cherokee Nation’s first woman head chief. What stands out most, however, are the accompanying reproductions of artwork by different contemporary Native artists working in a variety of mediums. Bruchac explains his selection process: some artists were paired with biographical subjects from the same tribe; other artists’ work ‘connects to the subject of the biography in an important way.’ An appended ‘More about the Voices’ section provides short paragraphs of information about the people highlighted, and Bruchac includes a poem about his own life. Intended to educate non-Native readers and to additionally inspire Native readers (per the author’s note), this ambitious undertaking should encourage all people to learn more about the biographical subjects and to seek out work by the featured artists.” – Nicholl Denice Montgomer – Horn Book Starred Review A tribally enrolled citizen of the Nulhegan Abenaki nation, Joseph Bruchac's poems, stories, and essays often reflect his deep interest in Native history and culture. His work has appeared in hundreds of publications, from Junior Scholastic and Parabola to The Paris Review and National Geographic and he has published over 170 books. Award-Winning Excellence: "Voices of the People" has garnered recognition from esteemed sources such as Horn Book (Starred Review), Junior Library Guild (Gold Standard Selection), School Library Journal (Best Poetry Books 2022), and it's been rated as the #1 New Release in Native American by Amazon INTRIGUING WORK | Written and illustrated in a brilliant way to educate readers about Native American history SIGNIFICANCE OF POETRY | Demonstrates to children that freedom of expression and freely use of language can be useful to gain new perspectives on history, life, and experiences READING LEVEL | Geared towards children 9-12 years old and grade levels 3-6 REYCRAFT BOOKS | Authentic stories and illustrations reflecting the voice and vision of children 2024 Notable Social Studies Trade Book Award Winner!