Insider or Outsider?

When it comes to multicultural literature I would consider myself both an outsider and insider but mostly an outsider.  The only reason why I could consider myself an insider is because I am female and in some of the definitions, the authors in our course pack have given,  gender could be considered apart of multicultural literature.  I am an outsider because I am apart of the mainstream culture.  As an outsider, I wish my elementary and middle school teachers had exposed me to multicultural literature a lot more than what they did.  I think if my teachers included more books about Asian Americans, African Americans, Mexican Americans, and Native Americans in my Language Arts classes and designed lesson plans around these cultures then I would probably not feel so naive to the issues of multiculturalism.  

The Heat of a Chief

I just finished reading The Heart of a Chief by Joseph Bruchac.  I thought this book was very informational and insightful on the traditions and culture of Penacook Native Americans.  One major theme that I saw throughout the book was nature.  There were many times when Chris, the main character, explained/describes certain things by relating them to animals or nature in general.  An example of this comes from page 83, "Suddenly, like fish at the approach of a shark, the guys around me scatter to the sides.  A broad-shoulder figure is coming across the gym toward our group of sixth graders."  Also, many of the nature references in the book show how the Penacook tribe look to nature for guidance, inspiration, and strength.  An example of this comes from page 76, "Doda places his hands on a birch tree for a minute.  He always does this, and i think maybe it is so he can absorb some of the tree's strength."  The more i read the book, the more I liked it because of how the main character grows and moves away from thinking he is an outcast.  I think not only a Native American student but any student can take away something from this book.  This book demonstrates the influence that students have in their schools and how their voices can be heard.  However, the one area that i found to be a problem and unrealistic is how the author, to me, made Chris seem way older than an eleven year old.  I thought in some situations the way Chris handled it or acted seemed unrealistic.