The Arrow Over the Door

by Joseph Bruchac, James Watling (Illustrator)

To fourteen-year-old Samuel Russell, called "coward" for his peace-loving Quaker beliefs, the summer of 1777 is a time of fear. The British and the Patriots will soon meet in battle near his home in Saratoga, New York. The Quakers are in danger from roaming Indians and raiders—yet to fight back is not the Friends' way.

To Stands Straight, a young Abenaki Indian on a scouting mission for the British, all Americans are enemies, for they killed his mother and brother. But in a Quaker Meetinghouse he will come upon Americans unlike any he has ever seen. What will the encounter bring? Based on a real historical incident, this fast-paced and moving story is a powerful reminder that "the way of peace... can be walked by all human beings".

Genres: Historical Fiction, School, Fiction, Childrens, Historical, Middle Grade, Young Adult

89 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 1998

About the author

Joseph Bruchac lives with his wife, Carol, in the Adirondack mountain foothills town of Greenfield Center, New York, in the same house where his maternal grandparents raised him. Much of his writing draws on that land and his Abenaki ancestry. Although his American Indian heritage is only one part of an ethnic background that includes Slovak and English blood, those Native roots are the ones by which he has been most nourished. He, his younger sister Margaret, and his two grown sons, James and Jesse, continue to work extensively in projects involving the preservation of Abenaki culture, language and traditional Native skills, including performing traditional and contemporary Abenaki music with the Dawnland Singers.

He holds a B.A. from Cornell University, an M.A. in Literature and Creative Writing from Syracuse and a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from the Union Institute of Ohio. His work as a educator includes eight years of directing a college program for Skidmore College inside a maximum security prison. With his wife, Carol, he is the founder and Co-Director of the Greenfield Review Literary Center and The Greenfield Review Press. He has edited a number of highly praised anthologies of contemporary poetry and fiction, including Songs from this Earth on Turtle's Back, Breaking Silence (winner of an American Book Award) and Returning the Gift. His poems, articles and stories have appeared in over 500 publications, from American Poetry Review, Cricket and Aboriginal Voices to National Geographic, Parabola and Smithsonian Magazine. He has authored more than 70 books for adults and children, including The First Strawberries, Keepers of the Earth (co-authored with Michael Caduto), Tell Me a Tale, When the Chenoo Howls (co-authored with his son, James), his autobiography Bowman's Store and such novels as Dawn Land, The Waters Between, Arrow Over the Door and The Heart of a Chief. Forthcoming titles include Squanto's Journey (Harcourt), a picture book, Sacajawea (Harcourt), an historical novel, Crazy Horse's Vision (Lee & Low), a picture book, and Pushing Up The Sky (Dial), a collection of plays for children. His honors include a Rockefeller Humanities fellowship, a National Endowment for the Arts Writing Fellowship for Poetry, the Cherokee Nation Prose Award, the Knickerbocker Award, the Hope S. Dean Award for Notable Achievement in Children's Literature and both the 1998 Writer of the Year Award and the 1998 Storyteller of the Year Award from the Wordcraft Circle of Native Writers and Storytellers. In 1999, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Native Writers Circle of the Americas.

As a professional teller of the traditional tales of the Adirondacks and the Native peoples of the Northeastern Woodlands, Joe Bruchac has performed widely in Europe and throughout the United States from Florida to Hawaii and has been featured at such events as the British Storytelling Festival and the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesboro, Tennessee. He has been a storyteller-in-residence for Native American organizations and schools throughout the continent, including the Institute of Alaska Native Arts and the Onondaga Nation School. He discusses Native culture and his books and does storytelling programs at dozens of elementary and secondary schools each year as a visiting author.

Reviews

[Nicholas & Megan Clinch · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story was best absorbed in short readings, just a few pages a day, to mimic the waiting, the fear, & the wondering. If we had tried to read it in one sitting (since it’s a short read, easy mistake to make,) it would have fallen flat. Read aloud alongside the Courage of Sarah Noble & Evangeline.

[Scarlett O · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn’t really enjoy the book but someone who likes history and easy to follow plots might. I needed a little more plot twists and this book was definitely not written for me. It did have some good historical accuracy which I appreciated

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set near Saratoga, New York in 1777, this short historical novel follows the parallel stories of two young boys, one a Quaker farm-boy, the other an Abenaki scout. As Samuel Russell agonizes over the right course of action, should violence ever come to the peace-loving Friends, Stands Straight remembers his mother and younger brother, murdered by the American colonists. But despite the cultural conflicts of the day, and the chaos of the Revolutionary War, when Stands Straight's scouting party comes upon the Quaker Meeting House, the exchange is peaceful.

Based upon an actual event, known as the Easton Meeting, The Arrow Over the Door is told in the alternating voices of Samuel and Stands Straight, and manages to clearly depict the differences in perspective and perception between the Abenaki and the Euro-American settlers. The immensely talented Joseph Bruchac, always one of my favorite children's authors, manages to involve the reader emotionally in both young men's stories.

This chapter-book novel is a powerful argument for the possibilities of peace, and would serve as an excellent introduction for young readers to both the Abenaki and the Quakers. I was moved by some of the Quaker beliefs, as Bruchac described them, particularly the idea that one might encourage the "Light" in others by attending to it in oneself. A highly recommended little book...

[Irla Doci · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this as part of the curriculum to 4th graders and found the thematic ideas interesting: peace vs violence and making assumptions about others without knowing them. The ending was pretty conclusive, but I did find myself animating more and exaggerating my tone to keep the kids interested because it was a bit dry.

[Little House · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this to my kids for school. There was a lot of good history in it, but the story was only so-so.

[Eliza Fitzgerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read aloud to the kids..
I loved this short but powerful gem of a book. I've been wanting to read more about Quakers and this was a perfect book to balance out all the history books written from the perspective of people who thought Indians were savages.
I have really appreciated all of Joseph Bruchac's books and intend to collect more of them.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short Children’s book, but very interesting. Shows different perspectives in the time of the Revolutionary War and based on a possible similar event in history.

[Eden Silverfox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Samuel Russell is 14 and has been called a coward for his beliefs of peace between all people. It's the summer of 1777 and it is a time of fear. Samuel knows there will soon be a battle. He knows his family and the rest of the people in his town are in danger from the British and Indian raids. But fighting is not the friends way.

Stands Straight is a young Abenaki is on a mission to scout for King George. To him, all Americans are enemies. They killed his mother and his brother. But when Stands Straight and his party come upon a Meeting house, they find Americans unlike they've ever seen before.

The Arrow Over the Door is a historical fiction book, based on true events of the Easton Meeting, but most of the characters in the book are fictional. Joseph Bruchac, along with the help of his sister Marge, have done their research well and in my opinion, have retold an important story in history that is mostly forgotten.

I had never heard of the Friends, who are Quakers, until I've read this book. It was interesting to learn some about Friends and I will continue to do my own research to learn more. I think the book is great, it handles some intense and important issues of that time period well. The book is seen through two perspectives, that of Samuel who is a Friend and Stands Straight who is Abenaki, which is interesting and you learn the two boys aren't all that much different.

I think the most important message of the book is that of peace. All humans can live in peace.

I recommend this book to anyone who likes history, especially lesser known history. It's short, easy to read and has a great message as well as a note from the author, Joseph Bruchac, which is also great to read.

[Tibby]

This was an interesting book. I really enjoyed the story as it was a story about history, friendship, and people coming together in peace, but it was so simply and beautifully told. Bruchac has a wonderful way of telling stories that builds tension and excitement without killing you with suspense. For me, who gets so nervous I flip ahead to be sure everything will be okay, this style helps keep me in the story. I think it can work really well for younger readers too.

Where the book really shines is in sharing a very different perspective on the familiar history of the Revolutionary War. We are told, especially in elementary school when history tends to be simplified, that a bunch of plucky colonists stood up to big, bad King George and established our own country on principles of freedom and equality. We all know as adults that this isn’t quite the whole truth and that it was a lot more complicated than that. The Arrow Over the Door presents the Native perspective in which they are sucked into a war that is not their own with two sides they are not fond of. This isn’t to say that the book bashes the colonists and the British. It simply offers a very different narrative from what we normally hear.

The story also reveals that, at least for a number of tribes, they were not wild people living in the forests. They were settled in villages with churches (introduced here by the French) often wearing Western clothing and had been for two generations or more. There is also the exposure to the Quakers, a religious movement that is not often seen in elementary history books. All around an interesting bit of history couched in an exciting story.

[The other John · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a slightly fictionalized account of an event that took place during the Revolutionary War. I say "slightly" fictionalized because the story itself has been around for over 200 years now. When the author took it upon himself to retell the tale for modern audiences, he cleared away some of the inaccuracies that had crept into the earlier versions of the tale. Anyway, the core story itself is about an encounter between a group of Quakers and a band of Native American warriors. It's wartime and tensions between Colonists and the Indians (not to mention between Colonists themselves) are high. Quakers--the Society of Friends--are pacifists and desire to be friends to everybody. But when the shooting starts, few combatants would trust a pacifist's claims. Mr. Bruchac provides us with two fictional characters through whose eyes we can see the story. Samuel is a young Quaker who struggles to define his beliefs amongst neighbors who are pushing for war. Stands Straight is a young Abenaki whose people are seeking the right path through this war between the whites. All in all it's a nice little tale. Check it out.

[Tracy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The description here on Goodreads says "A powerful story...". The Arrow Over the Door is a fictionalized story, retold with a little more research. The author, Joseph Bruchac, alternates points of view of young Samuel, a Quaker, and young Stands Straight, an Abenaki Indian whose tribe are scouts for the King in the Revolutionary War.
Booklist recommends this book for middle grade and junior high audiences. This is definitely a middle grade reader or read aloud. We read this for homeschool in Sonlight's World History Part 2. It was a little young for my kids. The story end very abruptly and the author has nine page author's note at the end explaining his research and why he wrote the book and.. and... The information there could have been handled within the dialog of the story and a short introduction.
This story is less than powerful, but definitely informative. I would recommend for 3rd - 6th grade American History audience.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

These are dangerous times for the American settlers: King George is trying to recruit the different Indian tribes to fight for the British in the American Revolution. But Stands Straight and his uncle Sees-the-Wind, of the Abenaki tribe, don't know whose side they should take. So, they decide to observe a group of settlers for themselves. Who they observe are Samuel's family, and others, belonging to a Quaker Settlement. Samuel is not sure he can "make peace" and stand being called a coward by those who know he won't fight. What if the Indians attack them? How will they defend themselves without weapons? But the Quaker way is for total acceptance and love toward all people.

What happens when these two points of view merge? They establish, through silence and non-aggressive behavior, trust and friendship.

[Alyssa Mongelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent book that focuses on American history in the 1770's. The story is told from opposing point of views one being a local native indian as the other is narrated through the eyes of a Puritan. The two main characters express their perspective and beleifs as they share their events that eventually lead the two characters stories to intertwine. It takes into account perspective, individual and group beleif as well as compromising through conflict. The development of the story instills native philosophy with in the natural realm as well as the Purtina beleif upstanding to a growing tension society. This is an exciting, relatable story that is a great way to start an American history lesson.

[Carrie Daws · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was nice to see both sides of the story, with parts focusing on a son of the Quakers and his struggle to be peaceful no matter what and other parts focusing on a Native American struggling with wanting to do the right thing. I also liked how the author showed how the Native Americans mixed the religion they were being taught through the French Priests with their own cultural beliefs.

The drama was written well, building in the story as the two came closer to confrontation, but the over all story wasn't as exciting as I thought it would be, particularly with the inherent drama. My children will still read this as part of their school, but I don't know that any of them will be excited over it.

[Michelle]

Based on a real historical incident in 1777 during the Revolutionary War. At a Quaker Meetinghouse, Samuel Russell, a 14-year-old Quaker, meets a young Abenaki Indian, Stands Straight who is on a reconnaissance mission. Neither party is sure what to make of the other. When the Quakers refuse to fight, the Abenakis leave them in peace.

I love that this story focuses on the perspective of the two boys rather than the adults. I also like that the story brings to light the moral dilemma that both groups faced during this time of war. I can picture students having quite a spirited discussion about how they would have felt and what they would have done if they were one of the boys.

[Michele · Rating 3 out of 5]

This short chapter book is a nice story about peace between Native Americans and Quakers during the time of the American Revolution. It is told from alternating points of few by a Abenaki Indian and a Quaker boy. Both have thoughts filled with the worry of war. The story highlights the Quaker belief in listening and peace. A nice story, probably will garner most interest with parent or teacher guidance, as it is really a short episode without much action. Children interested in historical fiction or war stories may also like it.

[LuAnn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short, straightforward retelling of the Saratoga/Easton Meeting of 1777 that took place in Saratoga New York between a Quaker Meeting and a group of Native Americans, possibly Abenaki as in the book. You get an immediate sense of the feelings of the Quakers and Native Americans at the time about the rebellion of the colonists against the British and the spirituality and concerns that motived the two groups not to take part. A wonderful story to introduce young readers to another approach to conflict and viewpoints beyond the British and American perspectives.

[Graham Barrett · Rating 3 out of 5]

(Read in 2005, review from 2023).

One of the first books I read at a new school in 7th grade. Honestly a bit middle of the pack of those books, didn’t actively dislike it but it was the most unmemorable of the three. Only part I can recall was that it involved a native tribe joining a Quaker Meeting For Worship and that magically creating peace among them. Even if it is inspired by true events, felt a little too on the nose to promote Quakerism among new students at the Quaker School like myself.

[Miss Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

gr 4-6 80 pgs

1777 American Revolution, New York State. Fictionalized story based on historic events. Told alternating between 14 year old Samuel Russell, a Quaker and pacifist, who wishes to protect his family, and 14 year old Stands Tall, an Abenaki who, along with his uncle, is scouting for the British. When the two characters come into contact, the outcome is different from what either one had been expecting.

An interesting story. I wish it were a little bit longer.

[Jon · Rating 2 out of 5]

terrible writing, redeemed in literature circles but being a children's book with a good theme. AGain, terrible confusing writing, its like the author barely read it through and knew it'd be accepted into middle school curriculums so he didn't care.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Packed with action and history. I could not believe this book was based on true incidents in history. This is a great book to introduce community, culture, history, and conflict. This is another book that was thrown into a yardsale box like it was trash! Your trash my treasure!

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

A chapter book for young readers about a suspenseful encounter between two young boys, one a pacifist Quaker, the other an Abenaki Indian, near Saratoga, New York right before the Battle of Saratoga in 1777. Based on a true story.

[Shannen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writing in this felt quite novice. I like how we got to talk about different perspectives, and how it was based on a true story, but many parts were hard to read aloud because the sentence flow could really use improvement.

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

2 and a half stars

[Joanna]

An interesting look at Amish people vs. Indians. Will they fight? Who will win?

[Tyler Durboraw · Rating 5 out of 5]

great story line but the book is so short it can't develop

[Kambree]

The arrow over the door

[Dawn Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice, short story about a Quaker boy's peaceful encounter with Native Americans during the Revolutionary War.

[Mrjoslin · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was okay, not great. I love Bruchac's The Winter People, and was hoping this would be more like that...it wasn't.

[Katrina Mundt · Rating 3 out of 5]

1777