The Education of Little Tree

Little Tree as his grandparents call him is shown how to hunt and survive in the mountains, to respect nature in the Cherokee Way, taking only what is needed, leaving the rest for nature to run its course.

Little Tree also learns the often callous ways of white businessmen and tax collectors, and how Granpa, in hilarious vignettes, scares them away from his illegal attempts to enter the cash economy. Granma teaches Little Tree the joys of reading and education. But when Little Tree is taken away by whites for schooling, we learn of the cruelty meted out to Indian children in an attempt to assimilate them and of Little Tree s perception of the Anglo world and how it differs from the Cherokee Way.

A classic of its era, and an enduring book for all ages, The Education of Little Tree has now been redesigned for this twenty-fifth anniversary edition.

So I mentioned all of this to my Mom, who along with my brother urged this book upon me, and she said that she'd seen a People Magazine article about Carter a dozen years ago and it, naturally, turned out that the book is fiction. A little quick research on the Web turns up the fact that it's not just fiction, it's virtually a hoax. Carter was actually named Asa Carter. He was a rabid segregationist who adopted the pseudonym Bedford Forrest, in honor of the Confederate general who founded the Klan. He may or may not have been a speech writer for George Wallace, but he did claim to have written the infamous "Segregation Forever!" speech.

Now having said all that, there's one more thing that needs to be said about the book; it's terrific. In many ways it reminded me of The Power of One, both are books of such surpassing beauty and heartwarming humanity, who cares if they are completely unrealistic? Isn't one of the chief values of fiction the capacity to transcend reality? The Education of Little Tree teaches timeless lessons about the value of family, education and place and it preaches an abiding mistrust of government. If it also managed to snooker most of the touchy feely, do-gooder, Left, which desperately wishes that these were all Native American values, and not essentially Western ones, this merely allows us to enjoy it on a second level. After all, it's not hard to make Oprah & company look stupid, but it is fun.

GRADE: A


Should not be shelved as Non-Fiction   March 24, 2006
Bahesmama (Portland, OR United States)
45 out of 61 found this review helpful

It is sad that this book is still such a bestseller. I ask appreciators to consider where their money has been going for the past 30 years. Not to a real Native American author and her/his family, but to rabid segregationists and their cause. I know that this is a skilled work of fantasy fashioned to give the reader what they want, but perhaps, truly finding out about real Native Americans from real Native American authors and really finding out what the world is really like from their perspective is a way of growing in unexpected ways. It would also be taking the higher road.

I along with many other Native Americans respectfully request the publisher to issue this book as fiction, not non-fiction (as we have for 30 years). And publish many more books by actual Native American people. I also request publishers do a bit of fact-checking to make sure that would-be Native writers at least get our language right. Would any publisher publish a book about a supposed French man's childhood with fake French words sprinkled throughout? Would they call that man French if he was not? No, we all know they would not. What does it mean that Native nations do not get that sort of respect? Is it just another sign of the continued elimination of Native people from the world of ideas-- in favor of the fantasy world of the conqueror?

Please, look carefully and honestly at the context of what buying this book really means. This sort of true introspection is something Native people have been asking for 500 years and have rarely received from Americans. Please try harder to see us, to really see us.


Should be required reading.   July 18, 2002
W. Lambdin (Ellensburg, WA)
40 out of 55 found this review helpful

This book is being sold as an autobiography of the Forrest Carter. It isn't!The Cherokee is one of the First American People that I have studied. The Cherokee names for things does not match what I have learned.

However; this book IS a delightful peice of prose that will give you a look into the life of a poor mountain family in the Great Depression trying to make ends meet (including making illegal whiskey).

This story begins with the death of "Little Tree"'s mother when he was 5 years old, then going to live with his grandparents in the mountains.

The story of the way "Little Tree" and "granpa" tricked two "city slickers" that was wanting to talk to "granpa" about making illegal whiskey for them is worth the price of the book alone! then there are other wonderful stories here too.

I hope you enjoy the book; Two Bears.

Wah doh Ogedoda (We give thanks Great Spirit)


What I Learned From Little Tree   January 8, 2002
Matt Tietjen (Killingworth, CT USA)
38 out of 41 found this review helpful

Unlike the reader from LA, I fail to see why the University of Mexico Press should feel obligated to "alert" the reader of Forrest Carter's ugly past. I think that removing the "True Story" subtitle was all that had to be done. After finding out about Carter's hideous background, I read the book backwards and was relieved to find no hidden racist manifestos or prayers to Satan. When reading the book frontwards what I discovered was a potentially life-changing, hilarious, sad and ultimately uplifting tale that left me convinced of the universal beauty of the human spirit. As far as racial and cultural issues go, this book - if anything - made me even more understanding of different cultures and more sensitive to the background of Native Americans. In fact, I was so inspired after I turned over the last page, that I hastily filled up all of the blank pages at the end with my own reflections. I remember exclaiming to a friend who walked by that I had just finished one of the best books I had ever read. Of course I felt somewhat betrayed when I first learned the truth behind the book's author (this morning). I was also very disappointed - and still am - that such a wonderfully inspiring plot and cast of characters never actually graced the often-uninspiring "real world" in which we live. But then I looked back at the notes I had written upon completing the book. My first thought had been "As a society we need to understand and tolerate our differences." The irony here - that a former KKK leader had inspired these notes - did not escape me. Rather, I discovered that I was still learning from "Little Tree." If even the most ugly and evil people can harbor inside them a potential to inspire strangers to understand and even "kin" each other despite our differences, then isn't there hope for the human race? Society today is sick with racism and disrespect for each other and for nature. We need to change that, and reading "Little Tree" is as good a first step as any. Many famous writers - while troubled or despicable as individuals - have still managed to pass down priceless bits of beauty or wisdom that have touched and will continue to touch the lives of millions of readers in generations to come. The University of Mexico Press could always change the publisher's note on the back cover to: "Former KKK leader lies about his past." Heck, they could even insert an author's picture of old Forest in a white hood burning a cross. They could. But all that would happen is less people would read "Little Tree" and, unfortunately, miss out on a great lesson in tolerance, love and understanding. "The Education of Little Tree" is masterpiece; you will laugh a lot, cry some, and leave it feeling like you have gained more wisdom than many people will gain in a lifetime.


Yearning For Clarity   April 29, 2000
rwf3 (Nashville, Tn)
31 out of 38 found this review helpful

I have read this book 5 times. It calls to me every year or so, and, wondering why, since it always leaves me in tears, I have decided that the simple, clear integrity of the lives of the characters in this book appeals to something deep inside of me. Raised a cultural christian, with all of the bible "training" and Sunday school attendance pins that go along with that background, I was always mildly troubled by the guilt and shame for just being human that orthodox Christianity attempted to cast over me. I realized, as an adult and after much study and soul searching, that we are a simple part of a complex universe, and, deserve to live in it fully, with all of the joys and sorrows encountered along the way, and, be able to question every single fascinating bauble that comes our way. I am also comfortable in the knowledge that my soul is part of something finite and larger than this life. I do not have to pay dues to a church or judgemental diety. Little tree was not raised to feel guilt or shame unless he did something to deserve it. Little Tree's simple life, religion and expectations, with a heritage of love, allowed him to live his life with crystal clear vision and peace. This book is written in a style that lets one's soul soar with expectation, if only for the short time that it takes to read it. God, please grant me the grace to raise my children like Little Tree.