The Potlatch Family

by Evelyn Sibley Lampman

Looked down at by her classmates because of her darker skin and alcoholic father, a Chinook Indian girl gains a new outlook when her brother returns from Vietnam.

135 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1976

About the author

(1907-1980) Mrs. Lampman grew up in Dallas, Oregon, granddaughter of pioneers in that region. She graduated from Oregon State and worked for many years in radio. Her first book was published in 1948, and she was most recognized for sensitive books about racial minorities, especially Native Americans.

Reviews

[Moonkiszt]

This author is one of my hometown heroines! It can take awhile to track down her books, but I'm doing it, bit by bit.

The Potlatch Family tells of Plum's struggle with her life in her partially indigenous community, and her mixed generation home life. Her father drinks too much, her mother is hard-working at her day job, Grandmas mind the growing kids and keep everything moving along, just like all the other families. They live on land that was formerly known as part of the Grand Ronde Reservation, but the reservation had been closed by Plum's time. In their community there were mixed white and native families, and at school it was mostly white faces she saw. There were bullies, and she was sullen, and rarely smiled. With all the fun they made, why should she?

But Plum has her own judgment issues - the one girl who tries to be her friend Plum rejects, often and at every turn because Mildred, a white girl, is made fun of too. She's fat. Plum has troubles enough. Who needs that kind of friend?

Once the background is laid out of Plum's life, and issues, her oldest brother, the golden boy in their family comes home from serving in Vietnam. Simon. Beautiful and full of ideas to rebuild and restore love of their culture, history, people and folkways. From there, a story grows that could be any family. . . for we all come jammed packed with culture, history, people and folkways. We all come to a place in our growing up when we are sullen, and sure we have the worst lot of anyone we know, and are faced with the most unredeemable circumstances. Standing in that place, on whatever day or moment it happens. . .light fills our dark spaces - if even for a moment and we catch a vision of how things can be different, but that it will take action on our part. This is Plum's epiphany. It is lovely, and comes at a high price. But most do, right?

4 stars. Chinook, Tutunti, Klamaths & Cayuse. . . .

[Squeaky]

A gentle story, of the sort kids OUGHT to be reading, instead of Twilight and The Hunger Games, about Plum, a teenage girl who gets in touch with her Chinook Indian roots.

[Catherine]

I found this little book interesting. I felt it was vague on Simon's injuries, but it shows how one family member can change things for a family and an entire community.

[Kathleen Brumbaugh]

Mesmerized me as a pre-teen. Shows the difference a sibling can make in his family, and the difference a family can make in their community.

What a treasure a book club can be to a child! Thanks, Mom, for investing in me with a subscription to Popcorn Bag.