Two Roads

Dear Teacher, 

Our curriculum this year uses only 3 novels to teach everything my 6th grade students need to know about ELA. It has been an interesting experience and I have been exposed to some new texts and authors. 

We have just completed reading Two Roads by Joseph Bruchac and my students enjoyed the book a lot! 

Who is Joseph Bruchac? 

Joseph Bruchac is an award-wining author, poet and musician from the Native American Nulhegan Abenaki Tribe. He has written over 120 poems, picture books, short stories, and novels about the lives of Indigenous People in the United States. 
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Book Review

Two Roads is the story of a Native American Father, Will, and his son, Cal, set in the time of the Great Depression. Having lost everything, they travel the country together as Hoboes in search of a home and a future. Along the way, several discoveries are made. 

This book gives a glimpse into how veterans were treated after the war. It talks about one president's failure to help those who sacrificed all for our freedom. We took a deep dive into the Great Depression. How was it? How did it affect the people during that time? What was the dust bowl? What was the bonus army? 

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It also matched up well with what is happening in our country now. It touches on race and how one is treated based upon this. This topic really hit home with my students who are primarily immigrants to this country.  It asks you to think "do we treat others who do not look like us differently? Why?" It tied in nicely to discussions on Black Life Matters, Blue Life Matters, the role of the President, how we treat our military, whose land is this, and so much more. 

This is a great book to read with your students if you are looking to have deep discussions on a wide range of subjects.

Award One

1984 American Book Award
1996 Knickerbocker Award for Juvenile Literature
1998 Writer of the Year Award
1998 Storyteller of the Year Award 
1999 NWCA Lifetime Achievement Award
2005 Carter G. Woodson Book Award (for Jim Thorpe's Bright Path)
Rocker Humanities Fellowship
National Endowment for the Arts Writing Fellowship (for poetry)
Cherokee Nation Prose Award
Hope S. Dean Award for Notable Achievement in Children's Literature

Mr. Bruchac travels around the country sharing stories, music, poetry, and folklore about the native people. I can't wait to read his next book. 

Until Next Time, 
​Misty
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