HIDDEN ROOTS

Author (last name first):
Bruchac, Joseph

Publisher, Date of Publication: 

Scholastic Press/2004

Grade Level/ or Age Level: 
5-6

Classification:
Fiction

HIDDEN ROOTS is about an eleven year old boy in the 1950's dealing with his father who is angry all the time. Also, he must deal with a secret his mother is keeping from him. His life at home involves avoiding his father much of the time, and his life at school involves trying to remain invisible among his fellow students. The boy, Howard, and his mother have a very close special friend they call Uncle Louis . Uncle Louis teaches Howard privately about ancient Indian people and their ways. Howard likes to read. One of his favorite books is "The Last of the Mohicans"because it is about Indians along the Hudson River where he lives. Howard finds out the secret his mother has been keeping from him is that his Uncle Louis is his grandfather(his mother's father), and that they are Indians.

They have been living in secret to escape the discrimination and prejudice in their society against Indians. His father's anger has been building up over the years because they always have to hide who they truly are so that they will not be persecuted. In the end the family makes peace with each other, and Howard even begins to make friends at school. 

Although the book is classified as fiction, the story draws on real life experiences of the author and some of his friends. They remember hiding their heritage so that they could live peacefully among others, especially Caucasians. The plot and the dialogue of HIDDEN ROOTS flow well. 

It is a good book that can teach a part of history from a different perspective: that of the Indians and how they were treated in an essentially white society. Overall, it was believable  characters and interesting theme that hold the reader's attention.

Reviewer: Jen Bengfort