num_pages: 256
description: In prose poetry and alternating voices, Marlene Carvell weaves a heartbreakingly beautiful story based on the real-life experiences of Native American children. Mattie and Sarah are two Mohawk sisters who are sent to an off-reservation school after the death of their mother. Subject to intimidation and corporal punishment, with little hope of contact with their father, the girls are taught menial tasks to prepare them for life as domestics. How Mattie and Sarah protect their culture, memories of their family life, and their love for each other makes for a powerful, unforgettable historical novel.
language: English
title: Sweetgrass Basket
titlecomplete: Sweetgrass Basket
genres: Cultural, Historical, Fiction, Poetry, School, Young Adult, Middle Grade, Childrens, Realistic Fiction, Historical Fiction
ratings_count: 509
awards: awardedAt: 1136102400000
name: Jane Addams Children's Book Award
category: Older Children
publisher: Dutton Books for Young Readers