Sweetgrass Basket [Hardcover]

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. [R]eaders will be deeply moved by the sisters’ loving connection in a world of cruel authority….[A] gripping drama of displacement and forced assimilation…. -Booklist, starred reviewMarlene Carvell is an author and former teacher from New York State.US