Rating: 
Summary: Everybody should read this wonderful book!
Review: The Birchbark House was a good book and I think Louise Erdrich
is a wonderful author and illustrator. The part I liked the most was when the main character Omakayas's grandmother Nokomis told her a story in the winter. It was about Nokomis when she was a little girl. When the visitor came and brought smallpox and Omakayas's little brother died it was very sad. All in all, everyone should read this book.
Rating:
Summary: Good book for read-aloud or shared reading
Review: The book starts slow. It builds background knowledge and "flavor", but it may be hard for a pre-teen child to continue to read independently. That's why I think this book would be a good choice for read-aloud or adult-child paired reading. However,the author really grabs the reader by Chapter 10 (The Visitor). It becomes a "can't-put-it-down book" as the reader experiences Omakayas' fear and sorrow because of the White Man's visit. It is an excellent book to show the everyday life of Native Americans before their lives were severely changed by foreigners in their lands. It would be a good book to read with the Little House series to compare lifestyles, but also to illustrate the American Indians' perspective of the pioneer movement.
Rating:
Summary: a little slow at first, but gets you going in the middle!
Review: The cover of this book looked wonderful and I read the inside binding. It looked interesting enough and I began to read. The first few chapters I have to say are perfectly goody goody. Its the middle that got me reading faster. Omakayas lives on the Island of the Golden Breasted Woodpecker. She is a normal girl from her Ojibwa tribe. She has an older sister, Angeline, who is beautiful and sometimes has remarks as cold as ice, a brother named Pinch, who to Omakayas is a nuisance, and her baby brother Neewo, who in Omakaya's eyes is perfect. One day Omakayas stumbles upon 2 baby bears and she seems to be able to communicate with them. Nokomis, Omakaya's grandmother says that these are good signs. Omakayas finds a crow named Andeg who becomes her loyal friend. In the middle of the book one day a stranger comes with a deadly disease. Small pox. And from here on the book keeps you hooked. I suggest you read this book not because it is emotional or anything, but because it's a splendid book in its self.
Rating:
Summary: A Book You Must Read
Review: This book is a great book about a young Native-American girl named Omakayas. She lives on an island in Lake Superior. Omakayas doesn't consider herself a heroine, but in this wonderful book she becomes one without knowing it. As you read this book you will become part of her world, an 8 year old girl who doesn't realize just how important she really is. At least, not until a visitor arrives. That's where Omakayas discovers who she really is. I really enjoyed this book. No one could interrupt me till I was done.
Rating:
Summary: A great multicultural book!
Review: This book is quite a page turner! I love how the Ojibwa language is immersed within the story. I like how the grandmother and father tell stories. I think one of my favorite scenes is of Old Tallow and her old patched-up coat. I highly reccommend this book. I'm studying to be an elementary school teacher, and I would definitely read this book to my class someday!
Rating:
Summary: THE BEST BOOK EVER!
Review: This is an excellent book! I loved it! The Birchbark House is about a girl's life. That girl's name is Omayakas. Omayakas suffers a very hard life. She has a little brother who suffers a terrible disease called smallpox. This book had me thinking a lot about life and death and thankfulness. I mean if you really want something such as Pokemon supplies, stuffed animals, toys, think of the people that are less fortunate and put aside that thing that you want!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent book!
Review: This was a very special book. I read it aloud to my children, ages 9, 7 and 5 and each of them loved it. The Birchbark House was touching, exciting, funny, and interesting. I came to this site hoping that Louise Erdrich had already written another book about this family, but it doesn't appear that she has. Hopefully soon!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent book!
Review: This was a very special book. I read it aloud to my children, ages 9, 7 and 5 and each of them loved it. The Birchbark House was touching, exciting, funny, and interesting. I came to this site hoping that Louise Erdrich had already written another book about this family, but it doesn't appear that she has. Hopefully soon!
Rating:
Summary: We loved it!
Review: We were doing a unit study on American Indians, and we read this book aloud together. We felt as if we were part of the story, living it out through Omakayas. We highly recommend this book!
Rating: 
Summary: Heart piercing and beautiful
Review: What a beautiful book. I didn't engage till half way through -- the story's early pace is slow and meandering. But half way through: look out. Your heart will be struck by lightning. The quiet tone of the book is shattered by the events of one very snowy winter. I'm a teacher reviewing the book for my at-risk 5th graders. They would have too much difficulty with the vocabulary, but if I read it to them, they may be able to appreciate this small, rich slice of culture in the mid-19th century
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