1. Look through the extract. How is it different from other extracts in the book? 2. Which is your favourite illustration? Why? 3. What do you think will happen in the extract?
The Long March Marie-LouiseFitzpatrick
It is 1847, and Choona, a young Choctaw and his two sisters, Talowa and Hoshonti, are gathered together with the rest of the tribe. Tey have been called to a meeting to learn of a terrible famine happening in a faraway country, Ireland, at that time.
Talowa, Hoshonti, and I were proud to have a great- grandmother. Few of our friends even had grandparents. Great-Grandmother was the oldest person in our tribe. She was called Talihoyo, Rockwoman. When she was young an enemy tribe’s warriors had sneaked across the river into the cornfields where she and the other women were working. Instead of screaming and running away, she encouraged the women to stand their ground and throw rocks at the warriors until they turned and fled back across the river. Great-Grandmother was much respected and everyone greeted her as she sat down. Soon the circle was packed and noisy. Moshi stepped forward and asked for quiet. My uncle was the Minkoapilachi, the ceremonial speaker for the tribal leaders. He gave the formal welcome to bring the people together in council. Then he began to tell the tribe the story he and Father had heard the day before.