Description
Rachel's Children is a true story, based on real events. It is an engaging and humorous account of a contemporary Ojibwa household and the woman and her children who are at its core. As their lives unfold, we understand how traditional beliefs and oral history help Rachel and her family cope as they encounter racism and educational discrimination in rural northern Michigan. When a white educator arrives in Rachel's household to learn about "Indians," she discovers the harsh reality of backwoods life. Beardslee is the queen of sucker punches-she writes in an unexpected combination of ethnography, theatrical script, and novel, echoing the Ojibwa style of storytelling. Her absorbing story about survival of the Native American family encourages a greater understanding of cultural diversity, and will be valuable for instructors in Native studies, multicultural education, women's studies, and anthropology.
About the Author
Lois Beardslee has been a teacher and writer for 25 years. She is also an accomplished artist whose works are in public and private collections worldwide. She is the author of Lies to Live By (Michigan State University Press, 2003).
Reviews
Using contemporary stories that put to test the values of the traditional stories, Rachel's Children is a collection of laugh-out-loud narratives and a searing indictment of racism in the United States. -- Beverly Slapin, Oyate
Rachel's Children is gripping. It starts at a gallop and reads fast, pulling the reader along. * Sault Area Arts Council *
I am not aware of any other book quite like this one, neither from the point of view of illuminating American Indian women's lives in such personal detail, nor of a more didactic approach that explores contemporary Ojibwa, or American Indian, issues. It is unique and refreshing in both style of presentation and content. . . . A number of times while reading it I laughed out loud because Beardslee had perfectly captured some of the crazy absurdities and ironies of life as perceived from an Indian point of view. -- Susan Lobo, author of Native American Voices
Book Information
ISBN 9780759106901
Author Steve Beard
Format Paperback
Page Count 160
Imprint AltaMira Press
Publisher AltaMira Press
Weight(grams) 259g
Dimensions(mm) 227mm * 167mm * 11mm
About the Author
Lois Beardslee has been a teacher and writer for 25 years. She is also an accomplished artist whose works are in public and private collections worldwide. She is the author of Lies to Live By (Michigan State University Press, 2003).
Reviews
Using contemporary stories that put to test the values of the traditional stories, Rachel's Children is a collection of laugh-out-loud narratives and a searing indictment of racism in the United States. -- Beverly Slapin, Oyate
Rachel's Children is gripping. It starts at a gallop and reads fast, pulling the reader along. * Sault Area Arts Council *
I am not aware of any other book quite like this one, neither from the point of view of illuminating American Indian women's lives in such personal detail, nor of a more didactic approach that explores contemporary Ojibwa, or American Indian, issues. It is unique and refreshing in both style of presentation and content. . . . A number of times while reading it I laughed out loud because Beardslee had perfectly captured some of the crazy absurdities and ironies of life as perceived from an Indian point of view. -- Susan Lobo, author of Native American Voices
Book Information
ISBN 9780759106901
Author Steve Beard
Format Paperback
Page Count 160
Imprint AltaMira Press
Publisher AltaMira Press
Weight(grams) 259g
Dimensions(mm) 227mm * 167mm * 11mm
