Sing Like A Hermit Thrush.

________________ CM . . . . Volume III Number 2 . . . . September 20, 1996

cover Sing Like A Hermit Thrush.
Richard G. Green.
Ohsweken, Ontario: Ricara Features, 1995. 132 pp., paper, $12.95
ISBN 0-911737-01-4.

Grades 4 - 9 / Ages 10 - 14.
Review by Joan Payzant.
**/4

excerpt:

" "Like today. I knew I was going to hit a home run and win the game."
"How'd you know that?"
Darrin pulled out his rabbit's foot. "Because HE tells me." He handed the rabbit's foot to Totah. "When something's gonna happen he gets kinda warm."
Totah felt the rabbit's foot and dangled it. "It don't feel warm to me," he said.
"It's not warm now because nothing's gonna happen now."
Totah gave Darrin the rabbit's foot. "I used to know a seer once," he said. "Long time ago." He picked up his cup and took a drink. "Maybe you should go down to the river and see Truman Cloud. He's in atohwitshera* and knows about orenda.**"
" * atohwitshera = The Society of Faces
** orenda = spiritual power

Richard G. Green has previously written for New World Indians publications, and has published a book, "The Last Raven and Other Stories". "Sing, Like a Hermit Thrush" will appeal to boys, especially those who live on Indian Reservations, familiarly referred to as the "Rez" by Darrin, chief character in the story. The cover of the book is attractive with an imaginative painting by artist Raymond Skye of a realistic eagle soaring into the sky with a hermit thrush on its back, and Darrin clinging to its legs.

Darrin has visions or dreams that give him the power to see into the future. This puzzles and upsets him until he comes to terms with it through talking to his grandfather (see excerpt) and Truman Cloud. He is helped over another hurdle in his life when Fox teaches him to defend himself against the bully, Arley.

Perhaps this reviewer, as an older woman, is too critical. I found some of the language offensive and the story did not flow well. Why is Darrin's last name, Captain, never mentioned until it is called out at a baseball game? Then Darrin, thinking the coach is calling him, mistakenly answers, when in reality the coach is calling for the Captain of the team. The incident falls flat because the reader has not learned up to this point in the story that Darrin's last name is Captain.

What happened to Darren's parents? They are mentioned early in the story, but never appear again. Why does he live with his cousin Brenda?

On a positive note, Mohawk words are scattered throughout the book which is rather intriguing since a glossary or "ohenton" at the front of the book gives English translations. The celebrations at an Indian wedding, a pow-wow, and costumes for Indian dancers are described adding further insights into life on a Reservation.

Because of the language, and the above inconsistencies I would recommend this story with lower case "r" reservations for selected readers only.

Recommended with reservations.

Joan Payzant is a retired teacher/librarian living in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.

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Published by
The Manitoba Library Association
ISSN 1201-9364

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