The Arrow Over the Door

The Arrow Over the Door

By: Joseph Bruchac

Genre: Historical Fiction. Set in 1777 in colonial America, it accurately portrays how people lived, spoke, and felt about current events of that time.

Age Range: 4th-6th grade. Children are beginning to develop empathy for others, have a better understanding of time and a highly developed sense of justice. This book offers language development and offers situations where the children are challenging their parents.

Plot: The book goes back and forth between the stories of Samuel, a Quaker who's family and fellow Quakers are ridiculed for choosing not to fight in the Revolutionary War and Stands Straight, a 14 year old Abenaki boy whose family is chosen to by King George to help the British. Neither one of them are comfortable with the actions their families have chosen to take. Samuel does not understand how peace can do any good against muskets and arrows. Stands Straight did not want to die for those whom caused him so much pain. As the stories progress, they collide. Stands Straight's scouting party comes across the settlement of Samuel's people. There is growing tension between the two but seeing the Quakers open door and without weapons, the scouting party puts down their weapons and they quickly become friends.

Setting: 1777 in what is now New York

Theme: Peace can do greater good than a gun or any weapon.

Illustrations: James Walting. Sketch and shading. The illustrations, though few, greatly help picture how the people lived and dressed adding the the historical value of the book.

Equity Issues: All characters are portrayed in a positive manner without any stereotypes. The cultures and lifestyles are portrayed accurately and showed from different viewpoints of various characters.