Two Roads

by Joseph Bruchac

A boy discovers his Native American heritage in this Depression-era tale of identity and friendship by the author of Code Talker

It's 1932, and twelve-year-old Cal Black and his Pop have been riding the rails for years after losing their farm in the Great Depression. Cal likes being a knight of the road with Pop, even if they're broke. But then Pop has to go to Washington, DC--some of his fellow veterans are marching for their government checks, and Pop wants to make sure he gets his due--and Cal can't go with him. So Pop tells Cal something he never knew before: Pop is actually a Creek Indian, which means Cal is too. And Pop has decided to send Cal to a government boarding school for Native Americans in Oklahoma called the Challagi School.

At school, the other Creek boys quickly take Cal under their wings. Even in the harsh, miserable conditions of the Bureau of Indian Affairs boarding school, he begins to learn about his people's history and heritage. He learns their language and customs. And most of all, he learns how to find strength in a group of friends who have nothing beyond each other.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Middle Grade, Historical, Fiction, Indigenous, Native American, Young Adult

320 pages, Hardcover

First published October 23, 2018

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

[Gabi · Rating 2 out of 5]

1 star is for telling the story of the Bonus Army - a piece of history that is often overlooked and unknown
1 star is for bringing awareness to the boarding schools

This book is deemed NOT RECOMMENDED by the American Indians in Children's Literature website. You can read their full review here: https://americanindiansinchildrenslit...
There are two specific issues that are raised in the article: the inconsistency of language and lack of proper information about the stomp dance.

A few things that I noticed while reading this book were the reinforcements of several stereotypes and problematic issues. We see many of these especially in historical fiction but the lack of "educating" or "contracting" to these stereotypes makes them more harmful. Here's what I noticed:
-the stereotype of the "wise Indian" - Cal's dad is described as having above average/almost mystical abilities in their life as hobos including "a way with animals," "tracking abilities," and "knowing the wilderness." Cal is said to have many of these traits as well, a particular instance is where he "knows" the names of the horses. These characteristics fall very much into the "Pocahontas" stereotype. There is also the reoccurrence of Cal "seeing" and having visions of other people, events, times, etc.
-blood quantum - There are many, many references to "passing white," "full blooded," and "mixed" throughout the book. From an instance when Cal and his dad pass as white in their hobo journey to references of bullying vs belonging at the boarding school. Blood quantum was a ploy by the US government to essentially "breed out" the Native American so that there would be no one left to lay claim to the land which they could then sell for government profit. Blood quantum laws have alienated generations from their culture, from their homes, and from each other.

Representing "as it was then" in historic fiction is one thing. Not addressing the harmful instances, references, etc. in historical fiction is another because it allows those harmful historic happenings to persist into the future without teaching why they were wrong, why they are no longer practiced, and how to avoid them happening in the future or how to intervene and correct when those behaviors are witnessed.

[Renata · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this #OwnVoices historical fiction! I haven't read any other books for young readers about hoboes specifically and I as an adult think hobo code is so interesting and I think kids will too. I did know a bit more about the Indian boarding schools but I think this look at one hits a little different--it's set later in time than some other Indian boarding school books, after some reforms have been made, and you get the sense that the schools are still racist but that things are somewhat better and also that the students and their cultures are persevering.

As other reviewers have noted I did feel like the last bit was a bit rushed and a bit too reliant on coincidences? But I think younger readers will be happy with the resolution, and Cal's a great narrator. A great one for kids who like historical fiction that gets into the gritty details of daily life in different eras, and for learning more about Creek Indians and other Native American tribes.

[Phil J · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a high-quality, fast-paced tale of a boy hoboing and living at an Indian boarding school in the late 1920s. Bruchac is an experienced craftsman, and it shows. The characters are distinct, the relationships have arcs, and the historical detail is at just the right level of specificity. The story is accessible for middle grade readers and has strong hooks. The use of flashbacks in the early chapters can be a little confusing, but it comes together quickly.

[Leslie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A longer post today, and even then if feels inadequate. Bruchac tackles a lot of history and cultural conversation in this slim novel set in a single year.  I don’t often read books that are or are similar to biographies, and this felt like I was listening to an elder telling stories. It's written for middle graders, but I'm going to recommend it to my dad who, like Cal's dad, supplemented my Oklahoma History homework with our own oral histories.
Joseph Bruchac’s Two Roads will come across to many primarily as an educational novel. 1932 was a busier year in US history than many of us will remember from our classes and books.

Bruchac chose the setting on purpose. In an interview with fellow award-winning author, Cynthia Leitich Smith, he explains:

I wanted to have it take place in that time before the New Deal that parallels present day America where the divide between the rich and the majority of people is growing and homelessness is a huge issue…as well as what happens to veterans of our foreign wars.

1932 was a good time to talk about Indian boarding schools in the US, and while Bruchac has written about them in other work, in the same interview he reminds us that “there are so many stories that still need to be told—and not just stories of Indians as victims. I wanted to tell a story which shows how many Native kids managed to stay Native in those harsh environments, forge friendships, and resist assimilation.”

I think the use of 1932 was an excellent choice for a historical moment that will resonate, the code of ethics held by the hobo culture and the veteran’s petitioning the federal government in protests numbering in the thousands is inspiring. But the story of young Native people pursuing and protecting their culture and identity will resonate with a large swath of our young readers.

The novel is told by Calvin “Cal” Black|Blackbird and he injects the novel with a contemplative tone. He’s quick, quietly funny, observant and often takes a listening posture. I read one review that questioned how a 1930s boy could be as articulate as Cal, or some of the others. I question why any presentation of—call it “wokeness”—by any marginalized population before white characters (and people) of the same age became woke would be presumed historically inaccurate or dissonant. His pop, Will, is wise and articulate; and Cal is also that classic, well-read character.

Two Roads is not an action adventure. Its more biographical with moments of action and adventure; Bruchac suggests as much in his “Afterword.”

It’s my hope that this small novel—based not just on years of research but also on the countless stories of boarding school life I’ve heard over the last five decades from friends and elders who were kind enough to share them with me—will […] Entertain with a good story while also, though not in a preachy way, teaching something about parts of American and Native American history that should be better known. (320)

Cal has an unusual ability that a friend will later identify. He can move into the past when a story is being told, actually reside in the body of person present and experience the moment as them—which is terrifying when his veteran father slides into his memories of WWI. Cal can also envision scenes from the future—which helps move the character in a necessary direction late in the story. It’s intriguing and useful, but isn’t as utilized as often as I’d anticipated. For the most part, Cal is to remain in the present where he has more than enough on his mind.

Cal and his pop, Will, are “knights of the road,” hoboes. Using the rails and a strict code of ethics, they work in trade for food and mostly keep to themselves.  It is a fascinating culture, but disturbing when you consider how for many, this lifestyle wasn’t a choice. Before he met his wife, built a farm, and had Cal, Will chose to be a ‘bo. But this past year on the rails, is courtesy of the passing of wife/mother who buried them in medical bills, and the banks failing. If only Will could either receive or borrow against his Compensation Certificate for surviving the Great War.

Will isn’t the only War Vet who thinks “evil Hoover” could do more to care for them. We meet many walking wounded, carrying shrapnel, suffering PTSD and/or the ill-effects of mustard gas. Veterans with reach begin to petition Hoover and the White House for consideration, and soon an occupation is organized: the Bonus Expeditionary Forces (BEF), or the “Bonus Army.” 45,000 veterans and their families set up camp in the capital. While Will would join them, he needs a safer place for his 12 year-old-son; and returning him to his education would benefit Cal as well.

Before the subject of sending Cal to a boarding school comes up and Cal begins to contemplate what being Indian might mean, we’ve already encountered the racism of the US as they travel along the rails in the South. Cal and his father are brown, and when they meet a white man on the road, Will casually reveals the paler skin at the opening of his shirt. Paired with the revelation that he is a vet, the man becomes incredibly hospitable. But it wasn’t just honoring a veteran’s service. We meet a heavily decorated black man further along. Corporal Dart had joined the French Army as a Harlem Hellfighter. The local police threaten a hobo camp to give up any black folk.

Cal has no idea, until his father tells him, that he is half-Creek. Will would sometimes claim they were Italian, but Will is full-blood Creek out of Muskogee, Oklahoma, and Cal’s mother was an Armenian immigrant (put on the orphan train as a child and raised by a Polish couple in Nebraska). There were benefits to passing. Besides not having to be identified alongside negative stereotypes and media representations, “the bank would be more likely to give [a mortgage] to a white couple who are a tanned war veteran and a nurse and not an Indian and a dirty immigrant” (69). Cal is intentionally raised white. The opportunity to place his son in an Indian School forces the revelation.

“Challagi’s how you say Cherokee in Choctaw. Sort of an insult—seeing as how it means cave dwellers. Folks without real houses. […] Naming a school for the way one tribe insults another? Just what you’d expect from Washington” (106).

Challagi Federal Agricultural Indian Boarding School or Plains View was where Will had gone before running away to join the Army. According to Bruchac’s author notes, the fictitious Challagi is patterned Chilocco Indian Agricultural School in Oklahoma. Will tells Cal of his experiences at Challagi, and then we watch as Cal confirms them during his own stay—with a few exceptions: The way discipline is handled changed with the new superintendent and the publication of the Meriam Report. And the population, which is whiter than it had been.

When you consider how the point of the school was to “civilize” aka whiten the Indian; how some students died at school; how Will suffered, and ran away three times; and how he cared for his son, we ask: why would Will board his son at an Indian School? It was a question Bruchac had for Jim Thorpe’s son Jack (see “Afterword”). Jim Thorpe sent his sons to Indian school and so did many other graduates.

--In a disturbing aside, Will admits that if Cal had been a girl, he would absolutely not have sent him. He goes on to tell of a teacher who abused the girls with impunity until one of the students finally (violently) intervened. Because the story is from Cal’s point of view, we only get glimpses of and speculation as to what life looks like for the girls. Cal does note repeatedly that he pities their lack of freedom—freedom boys have from the eyes of the matrons and administrators to go off on their own.—Too, Will finds reassurance in that Cal should pass as full-blood at Challagi, and Cal allows his classmates to assume he is fully Creek.

The explanations written into the narrative vary. Like Will, parents needed a place for their children to be educated, and the agricultural program and other trade skills proved valuable. One kid in the book was the lone Indian where he lived and was happier being with other Indians at the school. Will and the author quote K. Tsianina Lomawaima’s work and “countless stories over five decades” when they cite an unexpected outcome in the boarding schools.

Rather than being made “less Indian,” the Indian schools actually served to confirm their Indian identity not just as members of a particular tribal nation, but in a Pan-Indian sense. This identity was strengthened not in the classroom but in their interactions with other Native students. This was especially so by the 1930s when many Native students, like Cal came to the boarding schools already speaking English and knowing little or nothing about their original tribal communities. […] They  made use of the boarding schools as places where they would not be assimilated or acculturated […] but given the tools to adapt, survive, and even thrive. (319-20)

In Two Roads, Cal falls in with a gang of other Creek boys. Cal expands culturally and linguistically. One of the members leads them in stomp dances in the woods, which provides an opportunity to indulge yet another conversation on what it means to be Indian or of a certain tribe. Is it skin color? Tommy Wilson’s father is full-blood Muskogee Creek like Cal’s dad, but his mother is Norwegian and Tommy has her white looks. Unlike Cal, he was raised in a Creek community and raised as Indian. It was only after Tommy persists and is able to offer new dances (cultural information), that the Creek boys would allow him access.

While Cal does struggle with questions of identity, with homesickness and worry for his pop, troubles at school are resolved pretty quickly, which earns some criticism for robbing the novel of dramatic tension. He’s a quick learner, he has amazing friends (the best of which he meets the first day), and he has access to things and information that he needs to not only survive but to thrive.

The narrative seems to gives Cal a fairly gentle time of it, but it isn’t willing to excuse what is wrong. For instance, the nicest white guy on campus is still inexcusable: The superintendent may not be into physical violence and theft like the last one, he is unapologetically racist and his words make impact.

In such a harsh landscape that is 1932 in the United States, there are good people doing good. Cal clings to his father and his father shows him how to not only survive, but find friendship, joy and a sense of self-possession; Cal finds friends who can offer him that same kind of experience at boarding school. And it feels all the more vital due to the threats of erasure, starvation, physical violence, and countless other indignities.

Bruchac writes a story of a boy who will find his way despite the best and worst intentions of those in positions of authority. Cal finds a community who looks out for one another, often advocating for one another and sharing their resources. I think young readers will appreciate the camaraderie and the determination the heroes in this novel demonstrate. Two Roads is timely and timeless.

Recommended for those interested in Native American History, US History: Depression Era or post-WWI. I think it will appeal to curious readers who like hearing people’s stories, particularly those non-fiction readers. Also, readers of classics, who are likely to catch or approve of the references.  I’ll be recommending this one to my dad.

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[Aolund · Rating 4 out of 5]

Packed full of carefully researched historical detail while not sacrificing readability, Bruchac tells a heartfelt story about Depression-era U.S.A., hobo life, and facets of the Indigenous experience, including Indian boarding schools post the Meriam Report. A story about boys and men (main character Cal travels the roads with his dad after the death of his mother, and the Indian boarding school is sex-segregated), few women appear here-- but there is so much sensitivity, emotion, and solidarity depicted between the characters that the book is absolutely one I'd recommend to youth all along the gender spectrum, feeling confident that the vision it showed of masculinity was a positive one and that "being a man" can look many different ways.

A really beautiful and engaging story about coming to terms with one's identity, forming community, listening to oneself, and being brave.

[Katie]

3.5⭐️
I really enjoyed learning more about history of Native Americans, but I also felt like there was quite a bit left out that probably would have really enhanced the story/plot much more. This book was so slow to me, that I have changed my mind of using it during a book club at school to doing it whole group. I believe my students wouldn’t be able to read this book in small groups because they would be so so bored until almost the very end. It was just so slow.

[Shauna Yusko · Rating 3 out of 5]

Portrays a little represented part of history.

I’m not sure the story holds the interest of intended audience.

“Big reveal” on page 84 not real a big reveal if you’ve read the cover. There’s just no dramatic tension.

[Anita · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic story, masterfully told and set in the Great Depression that captures so many aspects of the era, from hobos and children riding the rails to Indian schools and the Bonus Army's march on Washington, D.C. in 1932.

It's the story of 12-year-old Cal, who we meet after he's ridden the rails as a hobo with his father for the past year. The Great Depression is in full force. There's no work, Cal's father lost the farm, and his mother is dead. Cal's father decides, after a harrowing encounter with police, that life as a "Knight of the Road" is not for Cal. Cal deserves a stable home and a good education, and the only way he can give those to Cal, at this desperate point, is to enroll Cal in Challagi Indian school while he goes off to Washington, D.C. He joins the Bonus Expeditionary Force, an army of civilian veterans pressuring legislators to pay out a promised bonus for their service in WWI.

Cal is stunned to learn he's part Creek, and that his father has less-than-stellar memories of his time spent in the school. The conditions are harsh, the faculty bigoted and racist, and the fellow students tough on each other. He misses his father fiercely.

Cal also has visions, of a sort, like waking dreams, and when he sees danger headed his father's way, he runs away from the school to warn him.

I won't stay another word or I'll spoil it, but this is an excellent, well-told piece of historical fiction for both Native representation and the Great Depression era and one I'd highly recommend teaching.

Looking for more book suggestions for your 7th/8th grade classroom and students?

Visit my blog for more great middle grade book recommendations, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: https://amb.mystrikingly.com/

[Leonard Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Reads less like a historical novel of road and boarding school life in the 1930s and more like a lyrical chivalric romance (the protagonist repeatedly refers to himself and other hobos as “knights of the road”). Feels old-fashioned in that regard: there’s hardly a female character in sight, and the protagonists are characterized by ability and honor and fraternity. Such a masculine ideal is deservedly met with more skepticism these days, and yet a child could do worse than Cal for a role model. Such a character is rare enough now, and this one well-written enough, that it almost felt more fresh than regressive.

I docked a half-star for the short third part (less than 10% of the book) which felt a lot more like conventional, and less interesting, historical fiction for children. It felt to me grafted-on and rushed. At first, with so few pages left, I even thought an ending wasn’t possible, and the author was setting up a sequel. I would’ve preferred it if this part were omitted, and the book ended with the second part, even with Cal’s father’s fate unresolved.

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Knowing Bruchac as a local Native American author makes it doubly wonderful when you read a book as well characterized and plotted as this. Cal and his father, a veteran are hoboes, working for their measly earnings around the country. But Cal didn’t know that his father was a Creek Indian. His Armenian mother sent west on an orphan train and his dad decided to raise him as if he was white. To make things easier. Yet know his dad wants to march and protest on Washington for earnings from the war and he wants to send Cal to an Indian school.

The relationship between the father and son is emotionally charged and sentimental. As a reader, you’re rooting for both. To accomplish their goals. And get the justice and peace they deserve. The magic is in how they get there.

And Bruchac’s author note is chock-full of additional facts and things to read for those inclined. A worthy addition to historical fiction and specifically one focused on American Indians.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two Roads is an excellent (and refreshingly clean) book for 12 and up by Joseph Bruchac about Cal, a young boy traveling as a "Gentleman of the Road" with his father, Will, during the Great Depression. In order to take care of some business, Will must leave Cal behind--temporarily--at an Indian boarding school. Cal understands his father's decision, yet he knows nothing of being about being a Creek (which had been concealed from him) and yearns to stay with his father, his last living relative.

Two Roads is filled with Bruchac's usual warmth, insight, and rich description. The history and deep empathy make is a winner for middle school or even 9th grade classroom use.

[T.B. Caine · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Booktube

I really enjoyed this read. It handles boarding schools while focusing more on the friendships that are forged between students while still holding that this was an awful experience. It also focuses on the many ways students used to rebel against the authority. It is also very informative so woo.

No thoughts really. But I do really recommend this if you are looking for MG novels.

[Amy Heinert · Rating 4 out of 5]

This would be a good way to introduce parts of American history that are often overlooked - Native American Boarding Schools, the way soldiers of color were treated after World War One, and what life was like for those who were forced to leave their homes during The Great Depression. The topics were covered in a way that is appropriate for middle grade readers, showing the injustice of what happened while keeping the content age appropriate for middle grade readers.

[Cassie · Rating 4 out of 5]

In addition to being a great story about resilience and family, there was a lot of interesting subject matter in this book including Indian schools, hobo life, and the Bonus Army. The afterword gives a lot of information about these topics, which is helpful for those who don't know much about those topics.
I listened to this as an audiobook and I really enjoyed the narrator.

[Erin Irelan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story about a boy and his father. America for vets, specifically minorities, during Hoover's presidency. It is well-written from a native voice. Will be passing this one along to middle-age kids looking for an #ownvoice book.

[Lila Smith · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had to read this book for school and from the start I knew I wouldn't enjoy it. While there was some feel-good moments as well as some slightly interesting sections of the novel I overall didn't enjoy reading it.

[Nevie Lacy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I unfortunately read this book. It was for school. Don't waste your time. It was slow and boring. I understand it was set in the 1930s, but it still could've been better.

[John Driscoll · Rating 4 out of 5]

A surprisingly good middle-grade novel about a Depression-era hobo boy who rides the rails with his father until he's put into an Indian boarding school so his father can join an ongoing veterans' protest in Washington in hopes of getting a better life for the two of them.

This is a great book in a lot of ways. Cal is an easily likeable kid, and as an outsider to his own culture is a perfect vehicle for readers to learn about how things were for many Indians at the time. Set against a historical backdrop from a time that most people don't know that much about (since our history classes basically tell us nothing of the 1930s other than it was the Great Depression and the beginning of the New Deal), we're given a fascinating window into several different parts of American society at that time. The hobo lifestyle that Cal and his father are living is interesting (if more than a little romanticized in young Cal's head).

And then there's Challagi, the school where Cal eventually starts attending. I knew that Indian schools of the time were focused on assimilating Native Americans into white society and discouraged them from practicing their own cultures or speaking their languages, but it hits differently when you see it in action. Pointless military-style parade marching. Barely any actual education or learning beyond that of menial tasks. Casually racist comments even from the supposedly well-meaning superintendent. Kids teaching each other all the things that the schools weren't.

Also interesting were the tidbits of information about the Bonus Army movement that Cal's dad went off to join - a massive group of thousands of WW1 veterans and their families trying to get President Hoover to pay the bonuses that these men were promised for their service. I read up a bit on it since I had never heard of this before, and it seems that the bonuses were explicitly not designed to be paid until 1945 (which the book does not mention). Otherwise though, it happened just like in the book, including when General MacArthur ran the protesters out of town and destroyed their camp, which helped contribute to Hoover losing the next election to FDR.

So the historical information was all fascinating, and the author did a great job presenting it in a way that the emotional impact of it all was easy to understand and process. Sure, Cal seems to be a little good at everything and smarter than everyone around him, but this is a kids' book so I can forgive that.

[J · Rating 5 out of 5]

The right book at the right time

It's the story of a father's son. A boy not yet a man, hopping trains and dusty roads longside his old man, unaware of so much and content with so little, til the day all secrets spilt and the road was split in two, and life for him would never ever be the same.


I honestly can't say one bad thing about this book. It's got a bit of an old fashioned American boy adventure vibe to it, topped with train-hopping hobos of the Great Depression and a sad depressing little something called Indian School. It's a really neat coming of age story full of stuff you probably won't find in your old history books. ;p

Strange how in so may ways, life in America has changed so, so much. And yet we've still so much more to go...


This book has some kind of magic to it. The magic of hope. The magic of finding gold in a miserable messed up swamp of circumstances. Of finding true belonging and lifelong kinships in the what might seem the least likely of places. If life is a war zone, we survive it by finding family where we are. And family, true family, whether by blood or spirit, is the strongest force there is. Strong enough to exorcise the stormiest of shadows rotting in the coldest of caves.

Strong enough to sing along to forgotten song and dance to forgotten dance. Strong enough to make the tounges of ancients leap forth with laughter once again.

Strong enough to bring people of all colors under one flag. Strong enough to challenge and change a nation's fate. Strong enough to try.

Strong enough to try.

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two Roads by Joseph Bruchac, 320 pages. Dial Books (Penguin), 2018. $17.

Content: Language: PG (3 swears); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG.

BUYING ADVISORY: MS – ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

12yo Cal and his dad have been living as hobos on the railroad tracks for the past year. It is 1932, during the Great Depression, and Cal likes living with his dad, but when Cal’s dad goes to Washington D.C. to support veterans from World War I, Cal finds himself at a boarding school for Native Americans. Cal misses his dad but starts to find his place as a Creek Indian among his friends.

I loved the voice of Cal and the unique perspective of riding the rails during the Depression. Cal and his father have a great relationship and the good and the bad of the government school are portrayed. The Bonus Army march on Washington D.C. was well done and the author also adds more information and resources in the author’s note at the end. The violence is a battle described from World War I.

Reviewer, C. Peterson
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2020...

[Caitlyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read for the third quarter of 6th grade. I didn't really like this book, I didn't even finish it. I read what I needed to read for school, but that's it. I stopped on page 204 of 320. We didn't really read it much in school because we were about 1/2 way through it when they canceled school because of Covid.

[Debora · Rating 2 out of 5]

if it wasn’t bc of school i would’ve never read this book and tbh it wasn’t that good anyways

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great #ownvoices read! I enjoyed the perspective on hoboes and Indian boarding schools. It gave me a better, well-rounded take on how situations can be viewed differently.

[Everett Lo · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was recently tasked with reading "Two Roads" by Joseph Bruchac. The author Joseph Bruchac is a Native American author who mainly focuses on Native American literature. This piece of historical fiction is based during the tail end of the great depression. During this time there was still a lot of segregation and bias against black and Native American people in America. Writing about the topic of Indian school, we can assume the author is generally a reliable source being a member of the Abenaki tribe.

The author’s style relies heavily on speech as the main form of information about characters. We see a lot of facts stated plainly throughout the novel, mostly in build up during conversations. We can constantly get an inside on Cal’s mind and thoughts often referencing well known novels, a tactic that seems to work in keeping me engaged. This first person novel seems however to, in my opinion, have very believable characters. Cal the main character at 12 years old seems much more mature for his age, the author seems to focus on other characters emotions instead of Cal’s He constantly describes other emotions “Pop chuckles. “Not that I had any.” “Did mom know?” Pop smiles “I was never able to hide anything from you mother.”(Bruchac 86) Or “Talkative ain’t you?” Charles Aird says with a chuckle. He starts walking, me half a step behind. We don’t go far before he looks back over his right shoulder “Cal?” he says. That what your old man called you?” I nod my head” Throughout this whole conversation we learn nothing of Cal’s internal feelings. This dynamic makes it in my opinion much more difficult to bond with Cal, who seems almost emotionless at times making it more difficult to feel his struggles and the themes of this novel .

The author's main purpose of writing this is most likely to try and show an image of Native American resistance. In many of his other books he showed the horrors that Native Americans underwent, however with this novel he most likely wanted to show them not just as victims but As we see in chapters such as “Stomp dancing” brave, holding onto their culture even in the harshest of conditions. Dancing, and singing songs. By exhibiting a historical perspective that many modern Americans can draw parallels with today, Bruchac is attempting to encourage the study Native American history, something he is very passionate about and has been pushing in other novels, among a different target audience, elementary to middle school children. We know this by the use of middle school vocabulary, the main character being our age, and most importantly the identity crisis the main character faces throughout the book. Many children entering puberty are constantly struggling to find who they really are, Cal is a fantastic example being raised as any other white boy, however discovering his Native American heritage plummets him into struggle for who he is. The idea is that younger generations are generally easier to pass idea’s along to them as they have a lot less experience, and thus less prejudice for or against this book.

Overall, while a well written book, I generally think it should focus more on Cal’s personal emotions throughout the book instead of the events happening. This makes the characters harder to understand. While I am against the way the story is presented with too much speech and conversation used, as shown in the previous quote. The novel does a great job of demonstrating the events of what happened and manifesting a bond between Cal and Pop, less like father and son, more like friends and brothers. Another critique for the novel is the pacing. A massive portion of the book from page 1 to 127 around 40%, which is based on the exposition. This alarming size while meant to foster bonds with the characters before the events at Challagi, it simply just brings focus away from the main journey. This disproportion makes the second part of the journey feel almost rushed. This novel is a great display of smart audience targeting, and likable characters, however the overuse of speech, and lack of internal emotions throughout the book degrade the idea of the book bringing the book down to a three star rating.

[Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twelve-year-old Cal Black and his father have been Knights of the Open Road since his mom died and the bank foreclosed on their Kansas farm two years ago. Cal loves the adventure of railroad hopping, sleeping under the stars, and the freedom of the open road, but when his pop hears news about a bonus army of WWI vets gathering in Washington D.C. to collect their promised bonus money, things are about to change. Pop wants to join the bonus army and hopes that in collecting his money, they can buy a farm and settle into a stable life again, but he thinks D.C. will be too dangerous for Cal. In order to keep Cal safe while he’s in D.C. Pop takes Cal to Challagi Indian School in Oklahoma—just a few days after telling Cal for the first time that he’s half Muskogee Creek for the first time! At the BIA school, Cal Blackbird, as he now knows his name, endures verbal abuse, military discipline, and school officials making him cut his long hair. At the same time, Cal befriends a group of other Creek boys his age, who teach him about his ancestors’ language and culture and become the best friends he’s ever had.

Buchac’s novel is well researched. Cal distinguishes himself as a hobo, rather than a tramp or a bum, by following the ethical code of Knights of the Open Road, and the 1930s slang in the novel is spot on. An author’s note at the end of the novel also discusses the bonus army, the Great Depression, and the history of Boarding Schools for Native American children. As such, the novel offers a nuanced exploration of the boarding school experience. The 1932 setting spares Cal from the worst treatment, but brings up enough to help middle grade children learn about the ways such schools often abused Native American children. At the same time, Cal makes true friends with fellow students and members of the same tribe, and has good experiences learning agricultural trades and other skills. Through his experiences, Cal comes to identify with the “powerful undercurrent of Native identity found in those institutions” as described in Bruchac’s note (320). The novel also expertly handles issues of race and colorism, as Cal grows up passing for white until just before attending Challagi. Once there, the registrar marks him as full blooded just by looking at his long, black hair, and within the student body those who are mixed tend to be excluded. Among those, students with darker skin are excluded more often than those with lighter skin. Cal explores these lines passing for white outside the school and as full blooded within the school. My only complaint is that the story at times tends to info-dump. Bruchac has done his research, and having another character explain long tracts of history as it is happening to Cal is a frequent occurrence. This tends to interrupt the story a bit, but it isn’t unbearable.

Also of note, however, is that Jean Mendoza, in a review for American Indians in Children's Literature (https://americanindiansinchildrenslit...), objects to Bruchac’s treatment of Creek culture and language. While Bruchac is Native American himself, he is a member of the Abenaki tribe in the Northeastern US. Mendoza notes in her review that several of the Creek words Cal learns are inaccurate and don’t align with any variant of the language she or her family members are aware of. The book also leaves out significant aspects of the stomp dances depicted in the culture. Mendoza does not recommend this book due to the cultural and linguistic inaccuracies. I am not familiar with Creek culture myself, so before reading this review I really liked the novel. Giving 4 stars due to the misrepresentation of culture and language.

[Riley Caples · Rating 4 out of 5]

For the last few weeks, my class and I were reading the book Two Roads. The author of the book is Joseph Bruchac and we actually met him when he and his son came to our school to talk to us. This book carries on from the topic we went over right before which was Manifest Destiny. At the start of this book I wasn’t sure if I was going to like the book because I wasn’t very interested in Manifest Destiny but as the book went on I got to like it more and understand it. I had to read this book because It was for my Humanities class and we had to write updates and annotate as we read. Joseph Bruchac is a Native American that lives in New York that was part of the Cherokee tribe. Two Roads takes place in 1932 and is about a father and son that lost their farm in the Great Depression and had no home. They rode the rails and eventually Cal (the son) was sent to an Indian school called challagi and his Pop went to Washington D.C. to get money to get their farm back.

I honestly did enjoy this book because it taught me some lessons and made me think about how lucky I am to have all the things that I have. I learned that no matter what you have you should work hard because working hard can get you anywhere. Also, I learned that some of the hardest working people are the people that have the least and have to work hard to get all of their things. Some of the things I liked about the book was that the Author really focused on the whole Idea of the book and really sent a message. For example, during the book Cal and Pop were granted a meal from a friend. Cal and Pop didn’t just take the meal that they felt that they must work for by doing some kind of need for the lady that gave them the meal. Like I said, I really liked that he taught some lessons and showed what it’s like to be like Cal and his Pop. Something Negative about the book was that the Author kind of kept talking about the same thing and didn't really move on from some of the things he was talking about but that also helped me understand the information more. I learned a lot about the great depression and some of the hate that the country and all of the people had on the Indian community and how they were treated so much differently to the point where Pop had to hide from Cal that they were Indian. Knowing that Joseph Bruchac is a Native American I think that he is a very Credible author and I trust everything that he said because he is literally one of those people.

I really recommend this book to middle school boys that are learning about this time period and just anyone in general that is interested in the history and time. Two Roads is a Historical fiction book and a child literature, this book is totally kid friendly not having any profanity in it. It might be hard for younger kids to understand but I think it's just right for kids in middle school and above.

[Steven Xue · Rating 4 out of 5]

In "Two Roads" by American writer and storyteller Joseph Bruchac, we follow the journey of the two main characters, Cal and Pop, as they try to reconnect with their Native American heritage. Cal, a teenage boy, struggles with his identity and place in the world, while Pop, a troubled man with a painful past, tries to escape from it. Together, they started on a road trip, encountering memorable characters and learning important lessons about family, forgiveness, and the power of tradition. Bruchac's unique perspective shines through in his writing, making this book a great representative of its timeline during the Great Depression. "Two Roads" is a heartwarming story about a father and son's adventure exploring self-discovery and healing themes. Overall, this is a pretty cool book that will leave a lasting impression on whoever is reading the book matter young or old people.
Joseph Bruchac's writing style and unique perspective enable readers to connect with the characters and follow their journey with empathy and understanding. The book's exploration of Native American heritage and culture adds a layer of richness to the story, making it both entertaining and educational. The plot of this story is another part that I liked about “Two Roads” because it revolves around the story of two characters who are both struggling with their past and their place in the world. Cal and Pop's journey to reconnect with their Native American heritage is emotional, as they encounter memorable characters and learn important lessons about family, forgiveness, and tradition. The book's exploration of Native American culture adds a layer of richness to the story, and the author’s writing style gives a unique perspective that allows readers to connect with the characters and their journey on a deeper level.
Overall, I will recommend this book to anyone who enjoys heartwarming stories that explore themes of self-discovery, family, and tradition. This book is especially suitable for those interested in Native American heritage and culture, as it provides a unique perspective on these topics. The story is well-written and engaging, and the characters are relatable, making it a great read for both young and old readers alike. Overall, "Two Roads" is a fantastic book that will leave a lasting impression on anyone who reads it. I will give this book 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Bruchac wrote this because it seems likely that Bruchac wanted to shed light on the struggles faced by Native Americans in reconnecting with their heritage and culture. The book also explores themes of family, forgiveness, and tradition, which are universal and relatable to readers of all backgrounds. Additionally, Bruchac's unique perspective as a Native American writer and storyteller likely played a role in inspiring him to write this book.

[Bob Liu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Humanity Mr. Shapiro Bob Liu 4/27/2023


The book two roads are by a widely-known storyteller, Joseph Bruchac. Joseph Bruchac has won the Notable Achievement in Children's Literature, the 1998 Writer of the Year Award, the 1998 Storyteller of the Year Award from the Wordcraft Circle of Native Writers, and many more other awards. The book talks about a father and a son being hoboes in the big depression, walking alone.
Truly says the first time I saw this I didn’t expect much of this book. From the cover of the book it seems boring, but there is always a saying that never judges a book by its cover, this time is more direct. As I stepped into the word of this book, I saw a soldier in the middle of the war brave and quick. Then the world changed into a peaceful picture of that soldier sitting next to a boy and a woman, the boy next to him looking exactly the same. After it came to the great depression women passed away due to sickness. A father and a son walking on the road going north, rule one: “You care about me I care about you.

This book is about a real story from the great depression, many hoboes moving to the North to find a job. Same as Cal and Pop, Cal is Pop’s kid, and Pop is the soldier that fought in the war, and his real name is Will Balck, now he is a war veteran. A kid born right before the great depression, lost a mother, afterward hoboes with his father, then gets sent to an Indian boarding school called Chaligi， while goes to find work.

This book mainly talks about how society is during the great depression. Where everyone wants work and money in order to get food but there are no jobs in the East so they have to move to the North, as the book mentioned many people are hoboes, traveling on trains, Cal and Pop were one of them. During this depression schools were shut down and 35 cents was already a lot of money for a day. The depression was resolved by world war 2 starting and everyone all so focussed on the war then it dissolved by its shelf.
There is always a certain part of a moment or paragraph that people like about a book, this is the same with me. The part of the book that I found to be most interesting is around pages 180- 200. The reason why I like this part is that seeing how strong Cal makes me relieved that he is safe and he is adapting to the environment, even though the author didn’t really talk about pop, the details of the toilet, and the school shop makes it feel very real.

After reading this book I am still soaked in the details and the book on its shelf. Personally speaking, I think the book is underrated. Overall I will say that this is one of the best books that I have ever read.

[Will Gardner · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was not one that I would normally read by myself. And I was not surprised by that conclusion, as I found this book dry. I read it for a class, reading a few chapters in a few days. I do not like the way I had to go about reading this book, reading short amounts, and then having to react to what I read. One plus of this book was that I would believe that the author has some expertise in one of the book's ideas, living in America as a part of an indigenous tribe. I am not sure about the other parts because they are not modern ideas. The parts about the great depression could be about events that happened to his family, but it is hard to tell the level of expertise anyone currently could have about this topic. The plot is mainly about a young boy's dad, Pop, going to D.C. to get bonus money because he was a vet, and the boy, Cal, needs to go to an Indian boarding school. While this may not be the entire plot, I believe that until page 150, the book doesn't "start". The author's name is Joseph Bruchac and is part of the Abenaki tribe, which does lead to an unflattering, but true perspective of post-WW1 America.

I think this book is ok, but saved by the storytelling. The plot is full of holes and has almost no record of time, which leads to not knowing when the characters are doing things. I feel past page 200 is the best part of the book is very rushed, as the author maybe didn't know when to stop describing the life Cal and Pop had before the split. This leads to another flaw I find in the book, the lack of emphasis on plot and character development while spending most of the book describing circumstances and setting. While this can be good, the measure that the author goes to makes the book boring and made my eyes almost glaze over the page as I was trying to find something I found interesting. I do think there is a purpose to reading this book as there are very few great depression books that show what it was like for a prejudiced race at that time. For example, while they are by Fairville, the sheriff came out looking for a black person that jumped the train, and Pop had to say it was him, even though it was a different person. Otherwise, the sheriff might've killed the other person, Corporal Black. Now I say corporal because in France he was a corporal, but the sheriff might've just seen his skin color and killed him.

I think I would not recommend this to an average reader, but if your thing is historical fiction then you might like this book, but I doubt you would find much relatability in it, which is another thing I think this book could've done better, but that is a minor thing. I give it a 2/5 because while I found it boring, the detail and the perspective it gives is a thing most books lack nowadays, especially the perspective. I think to be able to step back after reading a book and be able to say "Huh, that was what it was like for ___ " is very important with the increasing pressure to agree with one central idea. Now this should not be taken as glowing praise, because the plot structure was not good as I have already mentioned, and the lack of good character development. 2/5, would not recommend it to anyone who doesn't have a fascination with historical fiction.

[Adam Heffer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a historical fiction book. I got to see how hard it really was in the 1920s and the life of a hobo as a Native American. Pop and Cal are hobos who follow the Ethical code and they are “gentlemen of the road”. The banks closed because of the Depression and they lost their farm and house. The main message in this book was how hard it was in the 1920s as well as how darker skinned people were treated. It shows how difficult it was compared to present society. The author, Joseph Bruchac writes about Indigenous people in the Americas. He particularly focuses on northeastern Native American and Anglo-American lives and their traditional beliefs and customs.



Two Roads is about a young twelve year old who figures out that he is a Creek Indian and now that he knows he is worried and scared of how people are going to treat him. Later when his Pop goes to Washington to protest for his veteran bonus; Cal goes to Challagi Indian school and he realizes that he’s not alone and finds friends that are like family to him. There were many strengths that I thought were important. The most important is how he based the timeline on the characters and his writing style is very deep in the character’s thoughts. His writing is very descriptive. Some weaknesses are not having enough events that keep the reader interested. The author is credible because he has Northeastern American heritage and is an Abenaki Indian author. I also prefer his writing style because it makes me feel like I'm there and I get what the main character feels.

In my opinion the main character feels real because the history and events that the characters go through in the book is accurate. There were also a lot of hobos because of the Depression. One example of the book is when he’s at Challagi School and he is anxious because it’s his first time being separated from his dad. Especially when Cal usually has dreams and visions about people who are already dead. The thing that was alarming about one vision is that it was about his dad in Washington. Another example is when they were traveling to Challagi School in the box cars and on the road. I can connect to the homeless population of the cities all across the United States with all the hobos and people who lost their homes during the Depression. There are all sorts of protests currently including abortion, environment, equality, human rights, taxes and many others. Joseph Bruchac wrote this book because he wanted to write a story of the amount of native kids who manage to stay native in these harsh environments and become brothers to each other.