Best Friends

by Loretta Krupinski

Set in Idaho in the 1870s, this story limns the friendship between a settler's daughter and a Nez Perce girl and of the circumstances that allow Charlotte to warn Lily that soldiers are planning to round up her people. First Charlotte teaches Lily to read and write, and then she sends her a message hidden in the head of the doll with which the girls often played. There is no character development to speak of, and Charlotte's voice as she looks back on the events seems detached, both from the action and from the people she describes. The most interesting feature here is the archival photography that is scattered in spot illustrations throughout, but even the impact of these pictures is vitiated by the unconvincing, expressionless figures in Krupinski's gouache paintings, which are given more prominence.
From School Library Journal
Grade 1-3.

Genres: Picture Books, Historical Fiction, Native American

33 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

Loretta Krupinski (1940) is the author/illustrator of many cherished books for children and adults. Working for many years as an illustrator and graphic designer, Loretta has chosen to pursue a dual career as a maritime artist as well as an author and illustrator of books for children. She has won numerous awards for both. Among her 27 children's books are Dear Rebecca, Winter is Here by Jean Craighead George, The Old Ladies Who Liked Cats by Carol Greene, The Royal Mice: The Sword and the Horn, How a Seed Grows, by Helene J. Jordan, and her own Bluewater Journal: The Voyage of the Sea Tiger, and Pirate Treasure.
Living on the coast of Main as a studio painter, Loretta prefers to paint local harbors and classic wood boats. Her love of Maine has prompted special interest in historical paintings of the maritime industry. As a sailor herself, she has come to know first hand the subjects she chooses to paint. Her latest treasures, A Maine Artist's Garden Journal and Looking Astern: An Artist's View of Main's Historic Working Waterfronts are true labors of love and have received much aclaim.

Reviews

[Tasasha Battle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scared and nervous a little girl named Charlotte is on her way to the new west. To help with the move Charlotte’s aunt brought her a very special doll. Mary, the doll, was to be her first friend at her new home. Until Charlotte ran across an Indian girl Lily who discovered her “secret hiding place.” From there friendship grew despite the language barrier or cultural differences between them. The friends will soon find that it is their differences that will help save Lily’s village. I could not find any information on the author Loretta Krupinski and her connection to diversity. I will use this book in the historical context of the Native Americans culture. This narrative shows the perspective of the Native Americans during the time of western expansions and the lost of their land. The historical aspect of the story is further useful with its authentication of pictures of real everyday items from the 1800s that Krupinski utilizes to enhance the story. Students can use this book to tell family stories or about significant family items by taking pictures or making pictures of these stories or items to present to the class. Best Friends serves the purpose of friendship and diversity in the fact that these two girls are from completely different backgrounds but still found friendship in the mist of their differences. They learned from each other and accepted their different ways. I want to exhibit how differences between two people can be a positive instead of a negative attribute.

[Zilha B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This narrative is about two best friends, Charlotte and Lily, who were separated after the "Nez Perce Indians" fled the land because of the help of Charlotte and her family. Loretta Krupinski, the author, tells the story from Charlotte's perspective at an older age, who reminisces back about the time she and Lily were friends because of the memories in her doll. As a teacher, I would use this book to discuss migration or the Trail of Tears ("... soldiers are coming this way to round up the Indians," he said.). I would also use this book to teach students that it is okay to have friends who are different from you because you can learn so much from each other. For example, Lily did not know how to read or write, but Charlotte taught her, and that is how she was able to receive the message about the soldiers coming their way (" I gave Lily chalk and a slate, and began to teach her how to read and write."). I appreciate Krupinski because she traveled to Idaho, where she was inspired, and worked closely with the Nez Perce National Historical Park. I also appreciate her, as an illustrator, because the illustrations, as well as the real-life pictures, added to the story-line.

[Phally Pech · Rating 2 out of 5]

Charlotte lost her best friend when she moved to the western wilderness. On her little adventure in her new environment, she ran into a Native American girl named, Lily. Charlotte and Lily became so close that they became the best of friends. Charlotte and Lily shared everything, even their secrets that they share through Charlotte's doll. The girls were soon parted due to an unfortunate event.

I am not a fan of the book. From the beginning to the end, the story did not keep me interested. The illustrations were okay, I felt that they didn't really tell the story or truly illustrated the events that occurred. Without the written story, the illustration could be a mixture of various stories.

[Olivia Lagore · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Charlotte moves out west with her family, she is sad to leave behind her friends. But she soon makes a new friend in Lily, the Native American girl she meets by the river. When Lily and her tribe are threatened by soldiers, it is up to Charlotte to warn her friend.
I loved the story itself, with its two main characters so different, yet so alike, but what really sold me on this book was that the illustrations were complimented by photographs from the era the book is set in.
Although it might not be a book that would appeal to all students, it could be placed in the classroom when studying the pioneers and/or Native American rights as supplemental reading for interested students.

[Gloria]

This book had a lot of words but it was a book about friendship. I liked the photos it contained, some were the illustrators rendition but others looked more real.

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful story about long lasting friendship. It had me in tears at the end.

[Jennifer Burke]

This is a nonfiction story that looks at the friendship between a girl who moved from Kansas to indian land near Oregon. It shows how despite differences, friendships can run deep and last many years.

Tags: Native Americans, Friendship, Settlements

I would use this story to demonstrate that non-fiction can come in the form of stories. I would also use this story to share about how valuable it is to have friends that are different from yourself.