Title The Birchbark House Author Ouise Erdrich Call Number ps3555.R42B572002 Location 3rd Floor Muth Rating Somewhat Recommended Book Review One of the several books by Erdrich, known as the Lara Ingalls Wilder for the First Nation's people of Minnesota. This story recounts the life of an Anishinabe family, living off the land, who form animal friendships, the encroachment of white people on their land, and with them comes small pox and death. It is narrated by a young girl, Omkayas, who has her own troubling beginnings. In the story she helps nurse her family when the disease spreads, and sadly, her baby brother dies. She is heartbroken for many weeks, and almost dies herself of grief. Eventually she learns of her own origins as the last surviving member from a small pox outbreak of another Anishinabe family from another island. She was raised by her new family from a baby, and her antibodies had kept her from catching small pox a second time so she survived. I enjoyed the rich descriptions of the forest life, and thought the nature stories handed down from elders to kids were beautiful. Submitted By Annalisa Goode Department or Major Law Status Staff Chapman Email agoode@chapman.edu