Review by Linda Green

Anna's Athabaskan Summer
Author - Arnold Griese
Illustrated by Charles Ragins

Arnold Griese has been involved with Athabascan people since 1951 when he began his teaching career in Tanana Alaska. He taught for five years and later joined the faculty at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks, where he now lives.

Charles Ragins was born and raised in Alaska. His first experience as an art teacher in the village of Tanana. In preparation for this book , he spent time with an Athabascan family at their fish camp near Nulato. He now resides in Fairbanks.

The book was published by Caroline House Boyds Mills Press, Inc. in 1995.
It would be recommended for grades P-3.

Summary: A young Athabascan girl and her family make the annual return to their fish camp where they prepare for the long winter ahead.

11. Does Native terms for people of certain areas fit all?
No Native terms were used in this book. Except the word "athabaskan", isn't the correct spelling "athabascan". I think this book was printed before the athabascan dictionary came out.

12. How are the pictures illustrated?
On the first page of the book it says, the illustrations are done in watercolors. I thought all of the pictures of the landscape were well done. The people had slanted eyes in all of the pictures. Some of them looked more like Asians than athabascans.

13. Language Usage?
All of the language used in this book was O.K. For example the author talks about the beautiful summers, the animals, the beliefs of Grandmother, and basically living in camp. It was all positive.

14. Name Usage: Do Native names sound quite different from the normal?
None of the characters in this book had native names.

15. Is all the clothing the same?
All the clothing in the pictures are normal children and adult clothing. No native garments are included.

16. Look for respect toward animals, land, and other people.
Respect is given to all. Whenever Grandmother speaks there is a lesson in what she says. i.e. "Our people say that Raven made the world." And Anna's mother answers Anna's question about killing the fish. She says "Our people believe living things die gladly for us. But we must show respect by killing only what we need and by returning to the river fish bones and other things we cannot eat."

17. Is the continuity of the culture represented with values, morals, and an outgrowth of the past, connected to the future?
Yes the family is all inclusive of mother, father, grandmother and children. Lessons and morals are included in parents and grandparents speaking to the children.

18. Are ceremonies described properly?
There are no ceremonies described in the story.

19. Does the writer show any understanding of the relationship between material and non material aspects of life?
Yes, some people would look at camp life as not standard living, because there is no running water, or electricity. The author does not write or depict any of the camp style living in a bad way. He makes it seem happy, and hard working

20. Dose white authority figures know better than the Native people themselves what is good for them?
No white figures are included in the story. Its told by a non native but has respect for the Native perspectives .

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