Culture 4: Native American Literature - Joseph Bruchac

BIBLIOGRAPHIC DATA:

Bruchac, Joseph. 2001. SKELETON MAN. New York: HarperCollins. ISBN 0060290765

PLOT SUMMARY:

When sixth grader Molly realizes that her parents have mysteriously disappeared, she is desperate to find out what happened to them. Molly’s desperation intensifies when Social Services turn her over to the care of a frightening stranger who claims to be Molly’s long lost uncle. Locked alone in a room in her supposed uncle’s house each night, Molly finds herself trapped in a nightmare that she is not sure she can escape. However, Molly finds the answers she is looking for as well as a way out of her frightening situation by trusting her dreams and remembering lessons from old Mohawk stories her parents used to tell her.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS:

The characters of the story are intriguing and give the reader insight into the Mohawk culture. Molly and her parents belong to the Mohawk culture, and their characters portray contemporary American Indians living in modern times but still honoring their heritage and traditional culture. Molly is a sixth grade girl who is known as melodramatic to some, but she is also smart and courageous, making her a good heroine and role model for girls everywhere. Molly seems very real to the reader, and Bruchac does a good job of enabling the reader to visualize her by clearly describing her physical attributes. For example, Molly considers her “thick eyebrows” and “ink-black hair” in the story. Bruchac ties these physical descriptions into the cultural accuracy of the story, such as when Molly thinks about the “brown tone” of her dad’s skin. Furthermore, in her dreams, Molly is often dressed more traditionally in deerskin dress, moccasins, and a braided rawhide bracelet believed to help children wake safely from their dreams. In contrast to Molly’s realness, Molly’s uncle seems unreal, like a ghost or a monster to Molly, and he portrays many similarities to the “Skeleton Man” in the story Molly remembers her father telling her.

At the beginning of the story, Bruchac acknowledges the “tradition bearers” and “traditional American Indian stories,” informing the reader of the cultural foundation of the story. Traditional Mohawk tales and customs play a significant role in the story, especially the tale of the “Skeleton Man.” In this story, a greedy and lazy uncle does not want to go out to find his own food, so he ends up eating his own flesh and the flesh of his relatives as well. When a young girl discovers this, she relies on a rabbit to save her from the “Skeleton Man” and return her family back to their normal selves. This tale directly parallels Molly’s plight in her uncle’s house, and Molly’s dreams and memories of this tale end up saving her. Molly learns to trust her dreams and realizes that her instincts are correct about her imposter uncle. Just as in the tale of the “Skeleton Man,” a rabbit serves as Molly’s guide, and she ultimately escapes from her uncle’s house and finds out that her imposter uncle is holding her parents captive as well. Molly’s connection with the rabbit is significant to the story and highlights the importance of the Mohawk tale to the story. Bruchac also mentions a “Lonesome Song” that Molly’s mother taught her to sing when she feels alone and needs a friend, further solidifying Molly’s relationship with her parents and culture.

SKELETON MAN takes place during modern times in a country setting. The majority of the action of the story takes place in Molly’s uncle’s scary house and the woods surrounding the house. The frightening setting closely matches the startling plot, and readers will find themselves on the edge of their seats as they read through Molly’s scary ordeal. All in all, SKELETON MAN is an eerie, creepy tale that provides insight into some details of the Mohawk culture and will certainly engage middle school aged students and up.

REVIEW EXCERPTS:

From BOOKLIST (September 2001):
“Although it's steeped in Mohawk lore and tradition, Bruchac's story is contemporary both in its setting and its celebration of the enduring strength and courage of Native American women.”

From PUBLISHERS WEEKLY (September 2003):
“Drawing on traditions of Native American stories, Bruchac writes of a girl whose parents mysteriously disappear and a "great-uncle" who shows up to claim her, with "spine-tingling effects. The mix of traditional and contemporary cultural references adds to the haunting appeal, and the quick pace and suspense will likely hold the interest of young readers."

From SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL (August 2001):
“Bruchac weaves an incredibly scary story of a girl whose warm, contented family is suddenly torn apart. Molly's knowledge of and immersion in her Mohawk heritage is something she takes for granted, as are the wisdom and strength that come from understanding the traditional tales and listening to one's dreams…The suspense draws readers in and keeps them engaged. In the classic horror tradition, Bruchac offers a timely tale that will make hearts beat and brows sweat, and it has the bonus of a resourceful heroine to put the world right again.”

CONNECTIONS:

If students enjoy THE SKELETON MAN, encourage them to check out the sequel novel, THE RETURN OF SKELETON MAN by Joseph Bruchac.

Invite students to visit Joseph Bruchac’s website at http://www.josephbruchac.com/. Students might enjoy the biographical information as well as listening to the poems and songs available on his website.

Discuss with students what they would have done in Molly's situation. Ask students to contemplate how Molly's cultural heritage helped her in the story.