17 year-old Mickey Church, a Tlingit Indian didn't see anything special about his hometown. Perched on an island in Southeast Alaska, the small town of Wrangell was shabby, wet, and isolated. Mickey spent his time acting out, lighting up, and practicing his unstudied air of casual defiance. But when Dr. Bernet, the skinny, tenor-voiced new teacher gave his first history lecture, something inside Mickey shifted. Those old stories about the Tlingit people, the early Russian settlers, and American explorers began to resonate with the rootless orphan. It's a coming-of-age story about a boy caught between the ages. Should Mickey embrace the ways of his ancestors, or concentrate on finding his future in today's modern world? Set against the lush backdrop of Southeast Alaska, The War Canoe has its share of fistfights, bear attacks, and belly laughs. It is the perfect read for any preteen or young teenager who is at the crossroads of adolescence - or any adult who is looking for a little common ground.

Reviews

Mickey Church, just 17, is a Tlingit Indian who is a troublemaker in his small Alaska town of Wrangell. He discovers his own proud heritage, and the history of his town and people, as he sets out to build a traditional Native American war canoe. An extensive appendix includes actual military reports of the events that shaped Wrangells history. Bryson, a master storyteller, involves the audience from the very first page. --- School Library Journal.

Selected by the Alaska Association of School Libraries "Battle of the Books" book list for 2011-2012,

-- Jamie S. Bryson * Alaska Association of School Libraries *



Book Information
ISBN 9780882407586
Author Jamie S Bryson
Format Paperback
Page Count 180
Imprint Alaska Northwest Books
Publisher Graphic Arts Center Publishing Co
Weight(grams) 272g