Two Roads

Description

Two Roads
By Joseph Bruchac

A fascinating adventure that takes place during 1932. Cal Black, a 12-year-old, has been riding the rails with his father since his mother’s death and the repossession of the family farm. With a lack of address, Cal could no longer attend school.

A surprise to Cal, he discovers that his parents never told him about his Creek Indian heritage until his father, a World War 1 Veteran, decides to go to Washington DC to march for veteran’s rights. Cal is placed in a government boarding school for Native American’s of Creek heritage. The other Creek boys take Cal under their wings. He is blessed that he looks Indian because the students with a non-Creek parent are shunned by their own peers. Cal finds strength in friendship and comradery. He learns about his people’s history, their heritage, language and customs.

From a historical perspective this book teaches readers about the depression, the morality among hobos, the freedom of rail riding, the treatment and neglect of veterans after the first World War, the prejudicial treatment of Native Americans, and of government wrongdoing during Hoover’s presidency.

The historic themes within Two Roads could spark family or classroom discussions about heritage, family, friends, skin color and identity. Two Roads is rich with the history of the depression era.