sign in| help
Search advanced search
 
Books
Search:
x dismiss this message

Did you know you can edit this page?

Sweetgrass Basket
  • Rated 0 stars

Sweetgrass Basket (edit title/settings)

by Marlene Carvell (Author) (edit contributors)

Share this book on:
see page history

Description edit see section history

In prose poetry and alternating voices, Marlene Carvell weaves a heartbreakingly beautiful story based on the real-life experiences of Native American children. Mattie and Sarah are two Mohawk sisters who are sent to an off-reservation school after the death of their mother. Subject to ... read more

Characters/People edit see section history

  • Mattie - Matilda Tarbell: Petite, older sister. Mohawk from upstate NY. Strong and determined of character. Cherishes the small swwetgrass basket her mother wove her when she became a woman. Gifted writer.
  • Sarah Tarbell: Younger, but bigger sister. Mohawk from upstate NY. Shy and desperately homesick girl, who has trouble with her school work.
  • Davis: Kind black man at the Carlisle Indian Industrial School in Pennsylvania
  • Mrs. Dwyer: white woman in charge at the Carlisle Indian School - a strict, hard, cold woman- who rules by fear and is quick to use her hand and ruler to enforce discipline. No compassion.
  • Miss Weston: Kind teacher who admires Mattie's writing and encourages Sarah. The nicest teacher in the school.
  • Gracie Powless: Mattie's new Onondaga friend. Has trouble with English and schoolwork.
  • Ruthie: Sarah's shy, little friend who knows little English and has trouble understanding or reading
  • Miss Prentiss: Teacher in charge of the sewing machines who recognizes Mattie's skills by hand and machine
  • Miss Velma: Add a description of this character.
  • Mrs. Hunter
  • Mr. Remsen
  • Hiram
Show all 12 characters
Popular Covers

Loading covers…

Choose your book’s cover

Setting & Locations edit see section history

Organizations edit see section history

  • The Carlisle Indian Industrial School: 1879-1918 - 1st off - reservation school for Native Americas. Located in southern Pennsylvania. Children from over 150 tribes attended the boarding school.
  • Mohawks: Eastern tribe spanning the U.S.-Canadian border in upstate New York. Part of the Haudenosaunee nation.
  • Onondaga: Part of the Haudenosaunee nation.

First Sentence edit see section history

Mother were it not for Mattie, I would turn around and climb up the iron steps and hide in the seats and hope the train would take me home.

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

  1. Marlene Carvell (Author)

We’re hiding the errata, movie connections, books that influenced this book, books influenced by this book, books that cite this book and books cited by this book sections. If you would like to add content to them, you must first make them visible.

© 2006-2012 Shelfari | Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy | Copyright Policy

Close