Copper Sunrise

by Bryan Buchan

The tragic story of the end of the Beothuks comes to life in this novel of the early days of colonization in Canada.

Genres: Canada, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Childrens

111 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1972

Reviews

[C. (Don't blank click my reviews, comment please! · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved "The Dragon Children by Bryan Buchan, 1975. What a long fall to disgust, with the crux of "Copper Sunrise, 1972. It was a needlessly disturbing, extreme demonstration of prejudice in absence of education. There were even non-hunted animal casualties. Heedless death was gratuitous from page two. Authors: in a fictional portrayal of regional history - some lives can be spared! I am astounded this was for children.

If this is a history lesson, it is unclear that the province the Scottish travellers settled was Newfoundland, that the Aboriginals they exterminated were the ‘Beothuk’, and readers are not given the decade of occurrence. It is a shame that such an unmerciful approach prevented enjoyment of this book. The author made a semblance of compassion solely through two brothers, out of the whole Scottish-Canadian settlement. That is a distressing stretch.

I enjoyed the devoutly loyal friendship between the middle brother and the Aboriginal child of his age. The Aboriginal traditions of Heaven and most of the story portions with the boys together were lovely, as was some of the writing. This positive and sole compelling aspect is the reason I granted two meagre stars, instead of the lowest grade possible.

[Barbara Gordon · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read this when my son was assigned it in school, and found it mawkish and poorly researched. Tathani is portrayed as almost ethereally pure, more a wood-spirit than a believable boy, and his death (and that of his family) doesn't come across as a real tragedy, but as a fortunate deliverance from a cruel world that was changing too much for their sacred spirits to endure. Buchan has tried so hard to make his Indians innocent victims that he's forgotten to make them human.
Jamie is a 20th c. boy dropped into a poorly-researched frontier. Read about children in this historical period, and you'll find that the real ones did not have the leisure time and freedom that he is shown as having. Even life in towns was difficult and labour-intensive, and life in the colonies, without servants, and certainly without machines, would be even more so. The only work Jamie does is some fishing, otherwise he is free to wander the woods as if he's on summer vacation.
The adults are cardboard, and that the villain is named 'Craven' is almost too much. Does Buchan have no faith in his readers at all?
The writing is competent, and if the author's aim is to make his young readers feel self-indulgently sad but helpless about the fate of North American Indians, he seems to have succeeded.

[Freya Abbas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun fact: this author is from the same boring Ontario town as me. Anyways, I agree with the review that says this book was poorly researched. I prefer historical fiction that is more detailed and realistic. The generalizations were annoying. Also if you are a teacher, please please DO NOT assign this book to your class. It's NOT the fun history + English interdisciplinary crossover assignment you're looking for. I know teachers who have assigned this to their class and it would be way better if they picked a book by an Indigenous author. Go for something by Richard Wagamese for example. This book is also horribly violent and disturbing, which is ok I guess considering most historical books are like that. But just be warned before reading I guess. The writing style itself was actually pretty nice, which somewhat makes up for all its other shortcomings.

[Emory · Rating 5 out of 5]

Copper Sunrise is about a boy who just started their new settlement. One day he goes out fishing and when he gets a river he sees a native boy fishing a became best of friends. But the people at the settlement would kill the native boy if they ever saw him. Will he keep him away from the peole of the settlement. This is a great book and It is hard not to love.

[Scott Weatherby · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book back in grade 8. I remember how shocking the ending was, but that's about it.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

I give this book a 5 out 5. This book is about a boy named Jamie. He is looking for some food in the forest when right in front of him he sees a boy about his age with copper skin."A savage." and the two of them became friends. I did not like how the story kept on saying he went back to go see his friend but he is not there. I loved how the author told this story in the perspective of Jamie and everything he was thinking, seeing, smelling, touching, tasting and hearing. I think this would be a good suit for someone who likes to read books with lots of detail and like historical fiction.

[Helene · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is about the relationship between Jamie, a young boy from Scotland, who, during the early colonization days in Canada, finds the last of the Beothuk native people, and befriends the native boy, Tethani. The settlers dislike the natives and tell untruths of savage behavior. Jamie learns better but when George Wilfred Craven arrives he stirs up more hate and convinces them to partake in wiping out the natives. Jamie and Tethani work together to foil many of the settlers traps but Tethani and his family are killed in the end. Jamie believes they made it to their spirit world when he sees the copper sunrise.

I remember shedding many tears as a child when reading this book but it's one I would read over and over. I found Jamie's courage to do what was right, in the midst of so many telling him he was wrong, very inspiring.

[Todd · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an excellent book to combine with a unit on Canadian First Nations, the Beothuks are the only First Nation who were exterminated in the settling of Canada. Their history is greatly lacking in the Canadian education curriculum. This book is somewhere around a grade seven level, there is quite a bit of violence, the story is very touching and quite sad.

[Evanne Says · Rating 1 out of 5]

:(

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the saddest stories I've ever read. I loved it.

[Monia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Copper Sunrise is a well written book!

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think it is awesome because my uncle wrote it and I can't wait to read it to my kids one day.