Hidden Roots

"Hiding your roots might make it better for you. If not being Indian might mean that people would treat you better, if it meant you'd have more of a chance in life, well, then, that was how it would be" (p. 118).

SUMMARY

Hidden Roots is a story about an eleven year old boy, Sonny, growing up in New York during the 1960s. Sonny is a bit of an outcast and struggles to make friends at school, although he never fully understands why. That is until the summer before his sixth grade year when his Uncle Louis comes to visit. During his visit, Louis takes Sonny out into the woods by their house and helps him develop an understanding and appreciation for nature. As Sonny begins to mature, his family decides to finally tell him the truth about his 'hidden roots' and the horrific plight of his Native American ancestors.

MY REACTIONS

I initially chose this Bruchac novel because of the mystery behind its title (the cover art is mysterious too!), and come to find out, it ended up being one of my favorites! I enjoyed the transformation of maturity in the leading character. It's one I often witness myself as a 5th grade teacher, and I found myself connecting Sonny to many of my former students.

Sonny will be an easy character for many young adults to relate to, regardless of sex or cultural background. The raw emotion Bruchac presents throughout Hidden Roots, allows readers to empathize with the characters, and ultimately we end up rooting for the family to accept their history and embrace their future. The historical events explored through this novel are embarrassing for our nation's history, but important for students to understand and learn from as they mature into young adults. I really appreciated the author's note that Bruchac included at the end of the novel. It helped distinguish fact from fiction in the novel and made my aesthetic experience that much more powerful.

IDEAS TO EXPLORE WITH THIS NOVEL

• Students can examine an individual's role in society- how can one person make a difference?
• Students can identify constant supports that generations have relied on throughout the years. What supports have stayed the same? What supports have changed? Why do students infer these generational changes have taken place?
• Students can relate a personal challenge that led to triumph which they faced in their own lives and compare it to Sonny's.
• Students can research other factors that led to the plight of Native Americans throughout our history. Review the Native American Timeline of Events to identify other factors.