hidden roots Summary
Hidden Roots is about a young, Native American boy named Sonny . Sonny's life is rough. His Native American roots make the otehr kids at school bully him, his mother is abused and "not like the other mom's at school", and his father is an alcoholic who works around the clock at a paper mill. Uncle Louis comes into the story who we find out later is really Sonny's grandfather. Sonny had a tough time dealing with his native roots, but Uncle Louis changed that. Uncle Louis takes Sonny into the forests of Vermont where the two watch deer and other aspects of nature. Uncle Louis guides Sonny toward a deeper understanding of the life cycle. As Sonny grows both physically and emotionally during the summer before sixth grade, his mother and uncle finally reveal the family secret about Uncle/Grandpa Louis. Sonny learns the story behind his Native American heritage and claims his culture. He discovers his ancestry, his father makes peace with his Native American identity, as well. Ultimately, the family gains strength from their shared secret.
how this will be used in the curriculum
This story ties into the curriculum in social studies. The Native American culture is frequently discussed in throughout the story. This is an opportunity to teach different aspects of the Native American culture. Students can do research on different Native American tribes and their history as well as the ones that still exist.