I love this book. I loved reading it. I loved sharing it. Everyone I've recommended it to has loved it.
Then I heard things about the author I wished I didn't know. But then I thought, "but, those things don't show through in this book", so the story hasn't changed, only my background knowledge.
I still love the book.
It's not an autobiography, and not everything mentioned in the story is real. Okay. It's still great fun to read.
Then I heard things about the author I wished I didn't know. But then I thought, "but, those things don't show through in this book", so the story hasn't changed, only my background knowledge.
I still love the book.
It's not an autobiography, and not everything mentioned in the story is real. Okay. It's still great fun to read.
Helpful Score: 3
This book was a huge hit when first published and later when re-issued. It was read by adults and children alike, and is well-loved. It is still relevant and a wonderful story of a young Cherokee boy.
Helpful Score: 3
Book of the Year-Abby Award Winner. A Cherokee boyhood of the 1980's remembered in generous, loving detail..an unbelievably rich young life. A felicitous remembrance of a unique education.--Kirkus Reviews.
Helpful Score: 1
I loved this book until I found out that it was a work of fiction that misrepresented Cherokees under the guise of being an legitimate autobiography. If you want to read books by real Native Americans, don't read this. Instead you might read some Sherman Alexie or Leslie Marmon Silko. It is actually the work of a KKK member and segregationist Asa Carter who had previously written some of defiant segregationist Governor George Wallace's most famous speeches only to turn on him for being too accommodating to desegregation and running against him. Had he only written a work of fiction and labelled it as such it could stand or fall on its own merits. But Carter's appropriation of an "Indian" identity for his own purposes as an author is an act of cultural vandalism. See http://www.npr.org/2012/04/20/151037079/the-artful-reinvention-of-klansman-asa-earl-carter or http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/culturebox/2008/03/going_native.html for more information on his history and actions.
Helpful Score: 1
In the telling of the story of young Cherokee boy raised and educated in the backwoods by his grandparents, Forrest Carter talkes about living and dying, the place of people in the universe, the role of family and friends in the shaping of life, tragedy, humor, sorrow, bigotry, unselfishness and deep awareness of nature. Some of it is sad, some of it is hilarious, some of it is unbelievable and it is, all and all, charming.
Helpful Score: 1
"The Education of Little Tree is (often)presented as the autobiography of the author, but it is a fictional story of a 5-year-old orphan boy named Little Tree who is raised by his full Cherokee Grandma and his half Cherokee Grandpa in their small mountain home during the depression." Amazon review
This is a beautiful story, but take the facts of it with a grain of salt.
This is a beautiful story, but take the facts of it with a grain of salt.
WARNING!! This "classic, beloved" book is a work of TOTAL FICTION!
I loved this book until I found out that it was a work of fiction that misrepresented Cherokees under the guise of being an legitimate autobiography. If you want to read books by real Native Americans, don't read this. Instead you might read some Sherman Alexie or Leslie Marmon Silko. It is actually the work of a KKK member and segregationist Asa Carter who had previously written some of defiant segregationist Governor George Wallace's most famous speeches only to turn on him for being too accommodating to desegregation and running against him. Had he only written a work of fiction and labelled it as such it could stand or fall on its own merits. But Carter's appropriation of an "Indian" identity for his own purposes as an author is an act of cultural vandalism. See http://www.npr.org/2012/04/20/151037079/the-artful-reinvention-of-klansman-asa-earl-carter or http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/culturebox/2008/03/going_native.html for more information on his history and actions.
This is a special book that has a loyal following. It would be appropriate for young adults and adults. After you read it you will never forget it.
This book is totally bogus. It should stop being reprinted.
I loved this book until I found out that it was a work of fiction that misrepresented Cherokees under the guise of being an legitimate autobiography. If you want to read books by real Native Americans, don't read this. Instead you might read some Sherman Alexie or Leslie Marmon Silko. It is actually the work of a KKK member and segregationist Asa Carter who had previously written some of defiant segregationist Governor George Wallace's most famous speeches only to turn on him for being too accommodating to desegregation and running against him. Had he only written a work of fiction and labelled it as such it could stand or fall on its own merits. But Carter's appropriation of an "Indian" identity for his own purposes as an author is an act of cultural vandalism. See http://www.npr.org/2012/04/20/151037079/the-artful-reinvention-of-klansman-asa-earl-carter or http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/culturebox/2008/03/going_native.html for more information on his history and actions.
A touching story ,beautifully told about learning and living life on life's terms. The Mother Earth similes and sounds and smells of the mountains, made me feel as if I was walking the trails with Little Tree. I'm not sure the word â loveâ was written in the pages but it was palpably there in every description, step, and scene. Love for the gifts of nature and the gifts of family. Wise , loving Granma and Granpa took Little Tree into their hearts and their home ,teaching him compassion and understanding for all living things. His education was far beyond literature , reading and math. He was taught , by example, to listen to nature and his spirit to live in gratitude and beauty each day. The chapters were charming, inspirational stories filled with life lessons of survival and ingenuity! The characters were gritty and real and likable. I was moved to laughter and rolling off my cheeks tears. I was thoroughly engaged and entertained as if rocking on the cabin porch listening to a charming story teller. What a joy to read!
"Some of it is sad, some of it is hilarious, some of it is unbelievable, and all of it is charming."
The Atlantic
The Atlantic
The front cover claims "A true story by Forrest Carter" but scholars have shown Carter was not Indian. Still a cute enough tale, but not a true one.
"A Cherokee boyhood of the 1930's remembered in generous, loving detail...an unbelievably rich young life. A felicitous remembrance of a unique education." ~ Kirkus Reviews
I read this book in college. Although the details are sketchy, I know I cried and thought it was a fabulous read.
A Cherokee boyhoodon the 1930's remembered in generous detail. A great story. Author also wrote The Outlaw Josey Wales.
I really enjoyed this book! The Education of Little Tree is the story of a young orphaned 5-year old boy called Little Tree, who is taken in by his half-Cherokee Granpa and Cherokee Granma. The story takes place during the Great Depression in the mountains of Tennessee. Little Tree learns how to survive in the mountains and how to respect nature. He also learns the ways of the whites, especially the politicians and tax collectors who are trying to put Granpa out of his whiskey business. The book is full of wisdom and sometimes hilarious anecdotes relating how Granpa keeps his business afloat and scares off would be investors in his business. While Granpa teaches Little Tree the ways of nature and his trade (whiskey making), Granma teaches him how to read and the benefits of an education. Towards the end of the story, Little Tree is taken away from his grandparents and placed in an orphanage to get a better education, but ends up being beaten and abused by the system.
This was a very inspiring story and many consider this a classic along with Huckleberry Finn and To Kill a Mockingbird. When it was originally published, it was touted as a true memoir of the author. However, it was later shown to be mostly fiction and it was found out that the author was a former member of the KKK and a speechwriter for Alabama Governor George Wallace. See this Wikipedia article on the author.
Not sure how an ex-KKK member could write such a moving and inspiring story but overall, I would still highly recommend this!
This was a very inspiring story and many consider this a classic along with Huckleberry Finn and To Kill a Mockingbird. When it was originally published, it was touted as a true memoir of the author. However, it was later shown to be mostly fiction and it was found out that the author was a former member of the KKK and a speechwriter for Alabama Governor George Wallace. See this Wikipedia article on the author.
Not sure how an ex-KKK member could write such a moving and inspiring story but overall, I would still highly recommend this!
Another well written book by Forrest Carter
No wonder this one is considered a classic - it is wonderful! Full of laughter and tears, a look into a way of life that is sadly long gone.
There is humor, tragedy, tenderness and, most of all, love...
Very good reading!
Very good reading!
Reading some of these reviews makes me realize how shallow people can be. They love it...then they trash it when they discover the truth about the writer. It shouldn't matter. Asa or Forrest was a jerk, not only in his politics but in his personal life. He was not a good person by today's standards...but since when do we judge books by researching the author's history. I agree it was misrepresented as an autobiography, but that doesn't change anything else about the book. And, for the individual who had the nerve to say he saw through the book before knowing about the controversy....well, I don't buy it. If you have any real understanding of the Cherokee culture and how it blended into what we see today you would be hesitant to judge how that culture looked in 1929 in the mountains of Appalachia. Some traditions were lost, some lingered and some morphed into something different. Remember, these folks were isolated in very small family groups with frequent brushes with the outside culture of the time. I know this because when I was a kid I heard many stories about my great great grandmother and the stories she told about how her parents had evaded the trail of tears when they were children. The term was never mentioned back then...I added it later when I read about it in high school. This book is wonderful. It is tough to believe Asa Carter could have written it. It could have be written by someone promoting the ugliness of racism. Maybe the guy was repenting, who knows.
After finishing this book and then delving into several book reviews by Christopher Hitchins where Hitchins thoroughly examines the authors in addition to the authors' works, I decided to do a bit of research myself on some of the authors I had recently read. I started with Forrest Carter (aka Asa Earl Carter) from Anniston, Alabama - just up the road from my home in Birmingham. What happened next was eye-opening. This book, which I found full of stereotypes and quite average despite its great reviews, is actually steeped in controversy! I started with the 1991 New York Times' article "The Transformation of a Klansman" by Dan T. Carter. I was fascinated to hear that the New York Times moved The Education of Little Tree, originally published in 1976 and then reprinted in 1986, from its Nonfiction Bestseller List to its Fiction Bestseller List after this story broke. Although some of my fellow GoodReads members still have this book categorized as a memoir - be warned - this one is a hoax, a mocu-memoir written by a former segregationist who successfully re-invented himself late in life. I don't really feel all that duped since I was pretty unconvinced of the book's genuineness even before I researched its author, but I may have read the book differently if I'd known all this before I started. Lesson learned.
Sad, hilarious, and charming all in one. I found this book to be exceptionally perception of human emotion and choice.
This is an absolutely wonderful story of an orphaned American-Indian boy who goes to live with his poor, mountain-dwelling Indian grandparents during depression-era America. I have shared this book with many and bought an extra copy for myself. It should be required reading for young people. I highly recommend it. It's unlike any story you'll read.
One of the most beautifully written stories ever: the remembrances of Little Tree as he learned the important things in life at the feet of his Cherokee Grandparents. Read it. This is a book you will never forget.
moving/powerful
I did not like this book. It was hard to get into and just did not keep my interest. I love to read true memoirs and this one sounded interesting, but I was bored by it.
A classic "must read." The story of a Cherokee boy's growing up in the 1930s.
An important bit of American history we don' hear much about. Well written and interesting.
"I cannot recall a book that has moved me from laughter to tears and back again, with the frequency that this one has . . . If I could have but one book this year this would be my choice, for it is a deeply felt work which satisfies and fills." CHATTANOOGA TIMES
This another of my all time favorite books from childhood. Forrest Carter writes of his early years being raised by his Cherokee grandparents (his grandfather was Josey Wales). Heartwarming and tender but also sad and disturbing, as the setting is early 20th century Southern USA, revealing the prejudice and oppression from that era. Get it for your collection.
Fantastic book!
Great for cross-cultural perspective.
Originally described as a memoir. Later, it was revealed to be fiction. Even so, I laughed while crying, as I read it.
A literary hoax. Carter was a white supremicist, not a Native American.
Not recommended
Not recommended
A True Story. A Cherokee boyhood of the 1930's.
A classic - A Cherokee remembers his boyhood.
This is a great storyof a mans cherokee boyhood. The book is not in perfect condition. The corners are tattered but all pages are intact and it is a wonderful book. Everyone in our family read and enjoyed it.
This book is still sealed. It' was a Book of the Year Abby Award Winner. Native American theme. Smoke-free home.
