Sweetgrass Basket

by Marlene Carvell

In prose poetry and alternating voices, Marlene Carvell weaves a heartbreakingly beautiful story based on the real-life experiences of Native American children. Mattie and Sarah are two Mohawk sisters who are sent to an off-reservation school after the death of their mother. Subject to intimidation and corporal punishment, with little hope of contact with their father, the girls are taught menial tasks to prepare them for life as domestics. How Mattie and Sarah protect their culture, memories of their family life, and their love for each other makes for a powerful, unforgettable historical novel.

Genres: Poetry, Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Indigenous, Cultural, Middle Grade, Historical

256 pages, Hardcover

First published September 22, 2005

Reviews

[Lady Tea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4.1 / 5

Heartbreaking as this was, there is truth to such a story that cannot be denied. It was quick to get through in terms of how long it took to read, and yet...the content in it is so heavy and loaded with emotion that...quite frankly, it felt longer.

And, because of the ending, unsatisfactory, like....I don't know, like things really deserved to be different, but just...couldn't be.

A good metaphor for reality in general and, ultimately, the way that things really were in terms of residential schools and what happened to the students there.

I suppose that is a story that can never change.

You'll pardon me for my sorrow and regret at it, in other words.

This is a book that I had to read for school so, strictly speaking, it's not my choice to indulge in hard topics like this, but, for book review purposes in the assignment I have to hand in, there's a lot of truth (HARD truth) that I have to acknowledge here.

Read it for the story. Read it for the voices.

Whether you want to or not, you'll carry its message with you.

[Sophie Elsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the first books to make me cry

[Laura Noto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summary-
Sweetgrass Basket is a poetry book for students in 7th to 12th grade. It is about Mattie and Sarah who are older girls that are Mohawk Native Americans. The poems are written by both sisters in first person. Every other poem is written by the other sister. The titles state who is writing them and they are in different fonts. They are sent to a school where they will learn how to be “just as good as the white people.” They are at a jr. high age and Mattie is older and smaller than Sarah. They are forced to dress, talk, and work as the white people do. They march everywhere, eat unfamiliar foods, and attend daily lessons in English. If they forget to march, talk back, or are accused of wrongdoing they are punished in abusive ways. Most of the teachers are mean, but each of the girls befriends a few kind adults. When Mattie is wrongfully accused of stealing the headmaster’s broach she decides to run away and follow the train tracks home. After a few cold and rainy days she is caught and punished. Due to the bad weather and her punishment she gets sick and later dies. The end of the story brings closure to Sarah even though she is left in this sad situation.
Response-
While I was researching this book I read a review that someone else wrote about this book. They said that it was a little confusing to remember what events happened to what girl. I made sure to pay attention to the details and focus on the plot events to prevent confusion. If I were to read this book to students I would do the same because it really helped the story.
I also enjoyed the honesty of the book. They don’t just talk about happy topics. They comment on all of the scary parts of the school; however they also point out the simple pleasures that the girls had. While we can inference what else happened, the author does a nice job of pointing out just enough details.
The poetry flows very smoothly. There are a lot of Mohawk words in the poems. This reinforces the language and culture that the girls left behind.

[Stronglysalty · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25
Wow, that ending got me.

[Addison Lind]

It was really good!!

[MelissaD · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author did an amazing job giving the two sisters a strong voice. The poetry used along with alternating perspectives and descriptive imagery allowed the reader to stand in the shoes of Mattie and Sarah. The reader could feel their hardship and pain as they dealt with loss, acceptance, and balancing culture and life. This would be hard for young readers to fully understand both the poetry and weight of what the sisters go through. I think middle school and early high school would be more appropriate to handle the story and gravity of it.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is for grades 7 through 11. This book of poetry is unlike any poetry book I have ever read. Two girls, Mattie and Sarah tell a story that takes place at the beginning of the twentieth century through free-verse narratives. Without the font changes, the two girls can be easily confused at times. Mattie and Sarah's father who belongs to the Mohawk Indian tribe decides to send them to a boarding school in PA. The boarding school is called Carlisle Indian Boarding School. Their father thinks that he is providing them with a great education/life there; however, things could not be farther from the truth. The suffer at this boarding school. Mattie is beaten and publicly shamed when she is wrongly accused of stealing and the situation goes from bad to worse! Mrs. Dwyer, a teacher at the school tells them if they work hard enough, they will eventually be as good as white people. The whole objective of this school is to turn the Native Americans attending into white people. The girls really miss their home, but they continue to develop a strong bond to withstand the horror of the boarding school. Some people who work there are nice and the girls make friends, but the director encourages the children to bully one another. The whole story reminded me of a trip the my fiance and I took to Phoenix. We visited a Native American museum that had a room set up to look like one of these boarding school classrooms. There was all of this propaganda to be more "white" and to even change the color of their face with makeup, etc. This is an absolutely amazing story that should be read by all - I would definitely read this as a whole class - maybe a reader's theater sort of unit. Since it is based on actual events from history, you could place it in the historical fiction category as well. I also love the section with immigration stories. Terrific Read!!!

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This work of fiction told through poetry gives us a window into two sisters thoughts as they are sent to live at a boarding school. Everything that relates to their Native American heritage is taken away and forbidden. They are determined to protect each other and make their father proud. One is emotional, while the other tries to stay strong. They make some friends and try to avoid conflict with some of the women running the school. Their story talks about racism, difficult economic times, a parent’s desire for them to have a better life, growing up, and friendship.

I liked this story and felt a strong connection to the girls because of the format. I liked how the story switched from one girl’s thoughts to the others. It could be a confusing thing to do, but Carvell labeled the top of each page with their name and differentiated the type. It helped me remember whose inner thoughts I was hearing.

I would use this book in for a whole class junior high to high school assignment, but I think boys would have a difficult time with it. It would make a great book club book and a text to keep in a classroom library.

[Christine Jensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Approximate Interest Level/Reading Level: Junior High/High School

Format: Chapter Book

Awards: ALA Notable Books for Children (2005), Jane Addams Book Honor (2006), Notable Social Studies Trade Books (2006)


Through alternating chapters in free verse, two Native American sisters tell the story of their experience at an off-reservation school during the late 1800s/early 1900s. Along with the other children at the boarding school, the girls are forced to abandon their culture and adopt an ethic of hard work and labor in order to initiate their assimilation into mainstream white culture. Mistreated by an abusive and suppressive head mistress, acculturation becomes the only way to survive.

This book would be very useful when exploring and discussing themes such as multiculturalism, cultural assimilation, and social justice.

[Gina Pecoraro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Format: Chapter Book
Interest Level: Middle School and up
Awards: ALA Notable Book 2006, Jane Addams Book Honor 2006, Notable Social Studies Trade Books 2006

The story of two sisters is told from alternating points of view. Through free verse poetry we learn about their lives at the Carlisle Indian School. The girls are sent to this school because there father thinks it is best for them. The girls try to hold on to their memories from home as their school director tries to get them to "be as good as white people". They try to be strong for each other but things only go from bad to worse.

I found this story to be very moving. I did not know schools like this had existed. I really liked how you were able to hear the story from each sister's point of view. It made it easier to understand what they were going through.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok sooo I'm leaning this closer to a 4, really it's a 3 and a half. Sweetgrass Basket is a sad narration told by two sisters who go off to live a "better" life. In the beginning it reads very much as a Young Adult book so much so that I thought I wouldn't enjoy it. But the story takes a turn and the writing does as well and in the end it is a very sad story told very simply. I enjoyed it very much.

[Isabel Bryan [the Bookmark Hoarder] · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had read other fiction books about Native Americans being forced to adjust to white culture, but this... this was one of the most moving historical fiction books I've ever read. It does not hesitate to tell the truth about what these children went through. Here is the good, the bad, and the everyday of what it was like for so many Native children to go to "Indian" schools run by white people. Inspired by the experience of author's great aunt (in-law) in a similar school.

[Michelle Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This well written book had my full attention from the start. It is historically accurate and touches on issues that my tribe, my family and my culture have had to live with for the last 3 generations. Thank you so much Marlene for writing this book!

Our school district has decided to utilize this book as a anchor text for the 7th grade...progress, it feels right.

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Novel in verse about two Native American sisters who are sent to Carlisle Indian School to be educated in the white man's ways. Based on the author's relative's own experiences.

[The Book Girl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Previously posted to A Young Girl Who Loved Books

This is a powerful book, that I actually picked up on a whim when browsing my local library. Even though this is a work of fiction, it tells a horrific and true story so many women and men of Native American heritage suffered through. This is the story of two young sisters forced to live at a boarding school. Which doesn't sound too bad until you read some of what happened in these places! It isn't pretty, it isn't okay, and it's time for stories like this to be told. Below is taken from a few websites to give you a little history on boarding schools, A little history on this whole boarding school thing, please stay with me.

" The first boarding school was established by the Bureau of Indian affairs. The first school was on the Yakima Indian Reservation in the state of Washington. These schools were part of a plan devised by well-intentioned, eastern reformers Herbert Welsh and Henry Pancoast, who also helped establish organizations such as the Board of Indian Commissioners, the Boston Indian Citizenship Association, and the Women’s National Indian Association.

Ultimately the goal of these so called reformers was to use education as a tool to "assimilate" tribes into the main stream way of life, or at least the so called "American way of life". This followed a religious ideology that was very popular in the mid 19th century. Which stated essentially stated that Indian people would be taught the importance of private property, material wealth, and monogamous nuclear families. They believed it was necessary to "civilize" native people. Force them to accept white culture, beliefs and value systems. "

Credit to: Native Partnershipand University of Washington

I loved that this is a work of fiction which is told through poetry. To me poetry is such a powerful way to share your thoughts, and express your emotions in ways that might be hard other wise. The poetic text just leaks onto the pages, and you can feel the emotions down to your soul. One of my favorite lines from one of the poems is,

'Poor Father.


He knows deep in his heart
that Sarah and I did not want
to leave our home.


Father said it would be best,
best for us, best for our family,
and that we had to be good.'

This is the heart breaking story of Sarah and Mattie. Two sweet girls from the Mohawk tribe in the early 1900s. At the start of the book their mother has passed away, and their father he is sending them away to Pennsylvania to a boarding school called Carlisle Indian Boarding School. I never could figure out if he was doing this, or he was being forced to do this. He seems to promise them that everything will be okay, that they will be taken care of, have a good education, get fed. He seems to genuinely expect good things to happen to his girls, which makes me think, he has decent intentions. He sends them by train, with the hopes to be reunited again, although this will never happen.

What they get at the boarding school is anything but care and compassion. They get beatings, almost total loss of identity, and a gut wrenching loss of culture. This abuse is used to punish and publicly shame these children for how they were born and who they are.

Told in alternating perspectives of both sisters you see just how damaging the abuse is. They attempt to make friends and avoid conflict, but somehow they always seem to be in trouble. Their story talks about racism, difficult economic times, a parent’s desire for them to have a better life. The deal with growing up, and friendship. These issues are dealt with in a very interesting way, through their inner most thoughts.

I believe this book needs to be in every school and library. It would make a great book for a class assignment. I believe everyone should read this one.

[Chloe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweetgrass Basket by Marlene Carvell is a heartbreakingly tragic, yet uniquely and beautifully done novel told entirely through prose poetry.
The novel follows the experience of two Mohawk sisters as they are sent to the off-reservation Carlisle Indian Industrial School in southern Pennsylvania. The story details the abuse, mistreatment, and outcasting they faced at this institution, and explores the concept of losing your identity. It’s almost painful to read at times, and the way that it’s presented through poetry gives you as the reader a very raw insight to the girls’ (Mattie and Sarah) inner thoughts, observations, and turmoil. The ending of the book is not a happy one, but is worth the read all the same.
Sweetgrass Basket was not quite like any other book I have read. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a unique read, is interested in the experiences of indiginous people and off-reservation schools, or anyone interested in an introduction to novel-length poetry.

"So now my basket
will also be Sarah's,
for Sarah has no mother now
to make her one,
and together we will share
this special place
to keep our womanly thoughts."
(Carvell 112)

4/5 stars

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story begins within the 20th century, focusing on two young girls: Mattie and Sarah. This book is formatting to allow space for poetry to really express the meaning. Their father is a part of a Mohawk Indian tribe decides to send both girls to a boarding school called Carlisle Indian Boarding School. This is done through the belief that they will be provided a much better life and education. Unfortunately, the girls do not find this experience, they find something much worse and upsetting. Through the terrible circumstances these sisters face, they find themselves creating a strong identification and love for their culture, family, and each other. This is a must read in my opinion. Such a strong message and content presented.

[Beth Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel in verse is devastating - it follows two Mohawk sisters who are sent to Carlisle Indian School where they are educated, work, and live. The whites who run the school are varying levels of kind to horrible, but the goal of the school is to indoctrinate the children into white society and to leave behind all parts of their Native Heritage. The free verse style is not the most beautiful I’ve read in this genre, but switching back and forth between the sisters’ voices is so well done. Beautiful and heartbreaking story.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars.

A short, but heavy and sad, narration of two indigenous girls sent to a boarding school. It is just so, so, so sad what this country did to indigenous people. Also, this novel is perfect for my students, who are a part of the Haudenosaunee, so it would really hit home for them. I took off a half star because I found the girls to be very similar and had to keep going back in the story to clarify who was who and what happened to whom and who was older, etc. The change in font style helped, for sure, until I finally caught on.

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book the best out of what I've read so far this summer. The novel alternates perspectives between two sisters forced to attend Indian school. For a novel in verse, though, it's often lacking poetic characteristics.

Note: One minor mention of periods may make this an awkward read for 6th grade boys (since our school is using this for the poetry unit and boys may end up choosing this one).

[Valerie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mattie and Sarah are taken away from their dad and forced to attend the Carlisle Indian School. Boarding school life is not for them, and they struggle with homesickness, mean teachers, and forced assimilation. They must practice marching, sewing, ironing, and laundry. What a difficult life these girls led, not being allowed to speak their language or honor their culture and traditions. Read with my 8th grade class. Sad :(

[Kat Moulton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book for language arts expecting to simply forget about the book once finished but that was not the case. This book had incredible writing and the switch between Mattie and Sarah gave me more to think about, wrapping me into this incredible blanket of rage for the children harmed and the sorrow of all those lost.All in all this book is a must read for those who enjoy poetry or history.

[Thea Mastous · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a descriptive and well written book! I enjoyed this book a lot and I found it very appealing. THroughout the story, there were many plot twists and conflicts that kept the story going. I had to read this for LA in school, I thought it would be a dud but personally I liked it. The thing I think should've been added to a the book is more background on the Mohawk culture and Mattie And Sarahs lives at home.

[AudriAnna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book originally in the 7th grade, and I remembered liking it. I haven’t reread it until today when I forgot everything about it (as it’s been 6 years). But it’s a good fictional retelling of the Native boarding schools. Not as dark as the real life schools were but a good enough retelling nonetheless.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book, and to anyone who is reading it, I hope you enjoy it too. The ending of this book really shocked me, even if I could see it coming. It breaks my heart knowing that this isn’t a totally fiction book.
This book would be good for readers who enjoy shorter books and for people who enjoy learning through stories and not directly via a textbook.

[Louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ni maamaa gave this book to me for my birthday last year. Simply for that, I hold this book tenderly. After finishing the book, my heart hurts but in a healing way. Young Indigenous children were forcibly taken from their homes, from their families and brought to Catholic schools. It is a horrific truth that Indigenous generations are healing from. This book is a must read.

[Tenley Jacobs · Rating 1 out of 5]

Besides the plot twist at the end of this book, the book is super slow paced and boring, mostly stating the same thing over and over. It dosent touch on much of the real history and is honestly not well written. Wouldn’t recommend.

[Marlee B · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars. I really wanted to like this book- I appreciated the history it shared, but the way it was done just wasn’t captivating to me. Parts were interesting or touching, but overall it felt lacking to me.

[Ava LaMarche · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book even though I had to read it for school it was pretty good. I do usually like poem kind of books or history books so that's probably part of the reason I liked this book so much. Overall pretty good.

[Rylie Pint · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had to read this book for my La class I didn't think I would like it that much but after reading it I really liked it and I want to read more books like this and I was actually interested in this book unlike any other book I've read .