The Long March: The Choctaw's Gift to Irish Famine Relief

by Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick

Book Overview

In 1847, an impoverished group of Choctaw Indians collected $170 from their meager resources for the relief of Ireland's Potato Famine. The Long March is the story of Choona, a young Choctaw who must... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1582460655
• ISBN13: 9781582460659
• Release Date: October 2001
• Publisher: Tricycle Press
• Length: 32 Pages
• Weight: 0.39 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.1" x 8.6" x 11.0"
• Age Range: 3 to 7 years
• Grade Range: Preschool to Grade 2

Customer Reviews

Great purchase

An excellent book. Arrived on schedule from seller in great condition. Price was very good.

Choctaw treasure

This is a must read for kids, it gives exposure to the real Choctaw spirit of generosity and depth. This book made me glad to be a human on this planet.

not stereotypic

This book seems to be a wonderful portrayal of a Native American family and community and their culture and history. One point that I appreciate is that the author tried to stay true to the Choctaw cultural activities, arts and lifestyle in the beautiful drawings and text. The author did not meld several different tribal cultures together as a homogenous "Native American culture." The message of the book also helps young readers to respect the sacrifices and values of the tribe, as well as to question the way Euro-Americans treated them in the past. A treasured book.

A profound look at history & community

In 1847 an impoverished displaced group of Choctaw Indians collected from their meager resources the sum of $170 to send toward food relief for the Irish Potato Famine. Through the memories of Choona, now known as Tom, who is very, very old, we learn of how he, as a young man, at last learned of that part of his family's history about which no one would speak & yet everyone looked so wounded. The Long March, when his people were forced to walk from Florida to Mississippi all through one fearsome, killing winter.The Long March is rich in American history & memory. The marvelous drawings create a magically real place. This is a must for anyone who loves looking at other ways to live in community; other ways of teaching the spirit to grow & learning about courage, wisdom & respecting the memories.An amazing book - to be read & read again & again & the pictures to be studied & dreamed over. Beautifully evocative.

This is a moving and beautiful book with awesome drawings.

(I got this book in Dublin, Ireland, recently.)This is a truly delightful book. The drawings are lovingly created and the story is both touching and well written. What makes it even more compelling is that it is based on a wonderful true act of human generosity over 150 years ago, from one impoverished people to another, who, although worlds apart in both distance and cultures, had a common enemy, in hunger and oppression. The author travelled to Oklahoma to research the book and has gone to great lengths to ensure the drawings are authentic as well as inspiring. I particularly like the drawings of the great-grandmother and indeed,the clever shadow of the American eagle when Choona raises his arms in the final drawing as well as the subtle, celtic symbols to be found in this same drawing. "The Long March" is a must for the millions of us with Irish-American heritage - every Irish American child should read this book!