The Education of Little Tree

Rating:
Summary: Should be required reading.
Review: This book is being sold as an autobiography of the Forrest Carter. It isn't!The Cherokee is one of the First American People that I have studied. The Cherokee names for things does not match what I have learned.

However; this book IS a delightful peice of prose that will give you a look into the life of a poor mountain family in the Great Depression trying to make ends meet (including making illegal whiskey).

This story begins with the death of "Little Tree"'s mother when he was 5 years old, then going to live with his grandparents in the mountains.

The story of the way "Little Tree" and "granpa" tricked two "city slickers" that was wanting to talk to "granpa" about making illegal whiskey for them is worth the price of the book alone! then there are other wonderful stories here too.

I hope you enjoy the book; Two Bears.

Wah doh Ogedoda (We give thanks Great Spirit)

Rating:
Summary: The Education of Little Tree
Review: The Education of Little Tree was the best book that I have read in a long time. This book was a wonderful, interesting, and entertaining story that will make you laugh and cry. I felt like I was there with Little Tree experiencing the same things he was going through. This book teaches about the government, values of friends and family, and the education system. It shows the reader the different cultures between the white man and the Native Americans. While showing these cultures, the book also shows the racism that the white man had for the Native Americans.
My favorite chapter in the book was about Willow John. I believe this chapter shows a very important lesson about not judging a person until you get to know them. Willow John comes across being a hateful, bitter old man. Through his interaction with Little Tree, he shows that he is a caring, loving man. Although, he is cautious towards people he does not know.
Before I wrote this review, I wanted to see what some of the other reviews said. I was very surprised to learn about the author and his history. However, I feel that people do change their values over time. Please do not judge this book on the author's history. This is an exceptional book that I would recommend to everybody.

Rating:
Summary: THIS IS AWFUL
Review: The Education of Little Tree was an awful book! It was so boring that it was almost impossible for me to read it. I do not recommend this book to anyone.

Rating:
Summary: A manipulative novel
Review: If you're an adult reader, "The Education of Little Tree" may initially make you angry at the white man's world of cruelty and racism. The story, though, relies on standard elements of sentimentality: an orphaned little boy, half Native American, raised by his grandparents who are honorable without fault, surrounded by cynical whites who take pleasure in ridiculing and hating redskins. Little Tree himself is so innocent and good-hearted that he mistakes ridicule and laughter for affection, and of course he and his grandparents are at the mercy of white power and authority. Even young readers need to know that good and evil aren't so precisely delineated, that love of the land isn't only limited to the dispossessed, and that an awareness and a certain toughness of character are more likely to ultimately triumph than passive innocence. The intent of the story is good and admirable, but its simplistic and sentimental elements do a disservice to its issues.

Rating:
Summary: Read the Book and Ponder the Author
Review: When I read this book, I was touched. I laughed out loud at the description of slimy politicians. The chapter called "The Way" gave such a convincing portrayal of Cherokee religion, I used it for a comparative paper in my Zen class at university. The love shown between grandparents and grandson and the uncluttered life in the Blue Ridge mountains made me truly love this book.
Then my professor told me the book was a hoax. Forrest Carter didn't grow up with his grandparents in the mountains. Forrest Carter was a racist bigot. His given name was actually Asa Earl Carter and he did start a Klu Klux Klan branch and possibly wrote speeches for George Wallace. In doing a bit of research, these facts seem to be true--for the beginning of his life. Nothing can tell us what he was thinking now that he is dead, but it appears that he had a change of heart in his later years. His racist views seemed to disappear.
But whatever the truth, separate the author from the work. Take the book as fiction. Enjoy this entertaining and thoughtful work for the art that it is.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent book
Review: I read this book years ago and brought it up on amazon to see if anyone had made a list with this book in it - I want to read other books this good!

It's a wonderful story, beautifully written and compelling. I read some books because they are so well written (Shipping News, My Antonia). I read other books because I can't put them down (Patricia Cornwell, Grisham). This book was both (not the same subject, but along the lines of Cold Sassy Tree, Refiner's Fire, and Bean Trees).

I don't know what 'history' the other reviewers refer to, but buy the book. It's wonderful.

Rating:
Summary: What I Learned From Little Tree
Review: Unlike the reader from LA, I fail to see why the University of Mexico Press should feel obligated to "alert" the reader of Forrest Carter's ugly past. I think that removing the "True Story" subtitle was all that had to be done. After finding out about Carter's hideous background, I read the book backwards and was relieved to find no hidden racist manifestos or prayers to Satan. When reading the book frontwards what I discovered was a potentially life-changing, hilarious, sad and ultimately uplifting tale that left me convinced of the universal beauty of the human spirit. As far as racial and cultural issues go, this book - if anything - made me even more understanding of different cultures and more sensitive to the background of Native Americans. In fact, I was so inspired after I turned over the last page, that I hastily filled up all of the blank pages at the end with my own reflections. I remember exclaiming to a friend who walked by that I had just finished one of the best books I had ever read. Of course I felt somewhat betrayed when I first learned the truth behind the book's author (this morning). I was also very disappointed - and still am - that such a wonderfully inspiring plot and cast of characters never actually graced the often-uninspiring "real world" in which we live. But then I looked back at the notes I had written upon completing the book. My first thought had been "As a society we need to understand and tolerate our differences." The irony here - that a former KKK leader had inspired these notes - did not escape me. Rather, I discovered that I was still learning from "Little Tree." If even the most ugly and evil people can harbor inside them a potential to inspire strangers to understand and even "kin" each other despite our differences, then isn't there hope for the human race? Society today is sick with racism and disrespect for each other and for nature. We need to change that, and reading "Little Tree" is as good a first step as any. Many famous writers - while troubled or despicable as individuals - have still managed to pass down priceless bits of beauty or wisdom that have touched and will continue to touch the lives of millions of readers in generations to come. The University of Mexico Press could always change the publisher's note on the back cover to: "Former KKK leader lies about his past." Heck, they could even insert an author's picture of old Forest in a white hood burning a cross. They could. But all that would happen is less people would read "Little Tree" and, unfortunately, miss out on a great lesson in tolerance, love and understanding. "The Education of Little Tree" is masterpiece; you will laugh a lot, cry some, and leave it feeling like you have gained more wisdom than many people will gain in a lifetime.

Rating:
Summary: one of my two favorite books
Review: The "sorded history" of this book aside, it is an exceptional book. Don't simply judge the book by it's author, read the thing yourself. If you liked Where The Red Fern Grows, I think you would like this book, too.

Rating:
Summary: Masterpiece
Review: As a Native American of Cherokee descent, I shout "Bravo" from the highest peak of the Smokie Mountains! Thank you Forrest (Asa) Carter for such beautiful prose and heartwrenching insight to the deepest warmth in the human heart. Sadly, "A Reader" from LA should stick to cookbooks and biographies of politicians as he has not a clue what the art of fiction is all about. Perhaps he thinks that the words of Hemingway and Fitzgerald are true statements of personal experience? Perhaps he.... ah, shoot, he probably has never heard of those two guys. Read the book and hold a masterpiece in your hands!

Rating:
Summary: This book is not what you think it is
Review: After reading this book, be sure to do some research into who the author is before you believe a word of his writings. He conveniently twists your ideas temporarily into being shallow, judgemental, and accepting stereotypes for truth. I am apalled to see this book reccomended for children studying American Indians.