The Birchbark House by Louise Erdrich

Themes

• Anishinabe Culture and Ojibwa Language
• The Difference Between People and Nature
• White (Non-Indian) Immigration

Synopsis

Sweet, affectionate, mature, caring and friendly 7-year-old Omakayas (Little Frog) is the only person to not fall ill during the first smallpox outbreak on Spirit Island. She's called Little Frog, because her first move was a hop. Omakayas and her family reside on the land which the inhabitants call the Island of the Golden-Breasted Woodpecker. The chimookoman (white settlers) invade more and more of the Anishinabe people's land and their life continues as much as it always does. During the season of neebin (summer), Omakayas and her family build a new birchbark house as shelter. During the three other seasons dagwaging (autumn), biboon (winter) and zeegwun (spring), activities that are completed by the family include harvesting and feasting at the ricing camp, relocating from the birchbark house to the cedar log house before the first snows are visible, and celebrating the end of lengthy and frosty winters at the maple-sugaring camp at the end of the island. In between, Omakayas constantly bickers with her irksome and problematic younger brother Pinch, plays and cares for her newborn baby brother Neewo and tries to develop into a beautiful young lady, just like her older sister Angeline. Although Omakayas and her family mainly live a happy and peaceful life, things start to go downhill once a visitor comes to their lodge one winter night and spreads the smallpox disease. As a result, the smallpox epidemic begins to conquer the land and take the lives of other islanders for the second time. After going through such hardship, Omakayas finds her calling and begins her spiritual walk.

Why did I love reading The Birchbark House?

I read The Birchbark House as a teenager and decided to read it as a young adult. Since I was a teenager, I've had a penchant for learning about the various First Nations cultures and languages, which drove me to reading The Birchbark House in the first place. I even learned some new Ojibwa words from the book, and I want to remember them for future purposes!

Reading The Birchbark House not only gave me a chance to "travel freely to a reserve", but also to continue exploring the culture of the Anishinabe people and the Ojibwa culture. If I didn't read this book, I wouldn't have learned as much as I did now. I loved observing how the characters would live "device free" and rely on nature to survive. Activities like fishing, hunting, birchbark house building and maple-sugaring are not what people do nowadays, unless you still live on the reserves. Although fishing and hunting can be practiced leisurely by anyone, the Anishinabe people did it for survival. It was really neat to learn about how other people would live without ovens, microwaves, toasters and other technology that you typically use to cook.

Furthermore, I found it quite inspirational, because Omakayas taught me so many useful lessons to remember for the rest of my life. For example, after her baby brother Neewo died during the second smallpox epidemic, she grieved like she lost someone precious to her. Although she was sorrowful and felt dead inside of her, she was able to focus on the good around her and appreciate the other things that life had to provide for her. At such a young age, she was able to grasp the concept of grief and she dealt with it in such a mature fashion. She had her friends, other family members and of course the art of nature! She knew that life goes on, and that Neewo was no longer in anguish.

Who do I recommend The Birchbark House to?

In my opinion, The Birchbark House is suitable for people of all ages, genders, reading levels, abilities, races and religions. Although it is mainly targeted to middle-schoolers and young adults, I don't see why adults won't benefit from reading The Birchbark House. People who have a penchant for both Indigenous culture and language would also enjoy reading this lovely story. You can easily find it on Amazon, at your local bookstore, at the local libraries and on multiple reading platforms online. Once you immerse yourself in the story, you won't regret your purchase of Louise Erdrich's The Birchbark House.

My rating: 5/5!

Thank you for taking the time to read my review on The Birchbark House. I hope you read and enjoy the book one day, just as much as I did! If you found this book review resourceful and enjoyable, please give it a ❤️, share it with others and don't hesitate to send me a tip to show your appreciate and support. Please subscribe to me and stay tuned for more awesome stories, poems and articles on a variety of fascinating subjects! Connect with me on Instagram and don't hesitate to reach out to me at any time on Instagram messenger!

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