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Talking Leaves

Joseph Bruchac

Ages 10–15

290 pages · Released Aug 1, 2017

Content report card

Talking Leaves parent’s guide: what’s inside

High confidence

Language

Sexual content

LGBTQ+ themes

Substance use

What it offers

A note for parents

This historical fiction introduces young readers to Sequoyah and the creation of the Cherokee syllabary through the perspective of his son, combining family drama with cultural significance. The story celebrates ingenuity, perseverance, and reconciliation while addressing real historical tensions within the Cherokee Nation. Content is age-appropriate for upper middle grade readers, with minimal violence and no crude language, though some readers may find the social conflict and accusation of witchcraft unsettling.

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From the publisher

A work of historical fiction about Sequoyah and the creation of the Cherokee alphabet, from the acclaimed author of Code Talker Thirteen-year-old Uwohali has not seen his father, Sequoyah, for many years. So when Sequoyah returns to the village, Uwohali is eager to reconnect. But Sequoyah’s new obsession with making st... A work of historical fiction about Sequoyah and the creation of the Cherokee alphabet, from the acclaimed author of Code Talker Thirteen-year-old Uwohali has not seen his father, Sequoyah, for many years. So when Sequoyah returns to the village, Uwohali is eager to reconnect. But Sequoyah’s new obsession with making strange markings causes friends and neighbors in their tribe to wonder whether he is crazy, or worse—practicing witchcraft. What they don’t know, and what Uwohali discovers, is that Sequoyah is a genius and his strange markings are actually an alphabet representing the sounds of the Cherokee language. The story of one of the most important figures in Native American history is brought to life for middle grade readers. This text includes a note about the historical Sequoyah, the Cherokee syllabary, a glossary of Cherokee words, and suggestions for further reading in the back matter. * “Bruchac has crafted a tale of depth and universal humanity in this fictionalized account of Sequoyah, the creator of the Cherokee syllabary, and his son, Jesse." —School Library Journal, starred review “Although the particulars of the novel occur two hundred years ago, the universality of fitting into a blended family and looking for love and acceptance from a once-absent father feel strikingly contemporary." —Horn Book "A vivid retelling of a pivotal time for the Cherokee nation.” —Kirkus Reviews

Shelved under

  • Juvenile Fiction
  • Children's fiction
  • Sequoyah, 1770?-1843, fiction
  • Indians of north america, fiction

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ISBN 9780142422984 · Penguin

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