I just finished reading “The Education of Little Tree” for the second time and I highly recommend it to people of all ages. Its charm lies in its point of view: an Indian boy sharing what he’s learned of the world around him through adventures with his Cherokee grandparents in the Tennessee mountains of Depression era America. We get the child’s impression of local characters, of bloviating politicians, of the illegal whiskey trade and of the casual prejudice of white people (which he often poignantly misinterprets). There are laugh-out-loud scenes, as when two bootleggers from the city undergo a hilarious hazing into the ways of the mountains. There are also tear-inducing scenes, as when Little Tree is taken from his grandparents by the heartless social work bureaucracy.
Through all of Little Tree’s adventures, the reader learns along with him. It’s a fun, touching and memorable journey. “The Education of Little Tree” is a wonderful book to share with friends of all ages. I’ve made a point of giving it to friends who are not big readers because it is so easy to read, and Little Tree’s adventures immediately draw them into the story. It makes reading fun and also conveys many important lessons about people, life and the natural world we inhabit. I love this book, and the movie they made from it is also outstanding.
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