Adopted by the Eagles

Goble, Paul. Adapter. 1994. ADOPTED BY THE EAGLES. Ill. by Paul Goble. New York: Bradbury Press. ISBN 0027365751

*Plot Summary

In the “old Buffalo Days” young Tall Bear and White Hawk are best friends or “kolas.” In an act of surprising and sudden betrayal, White Hawk, who is driven by his jealousy concerning a beautiful tribe member named Red Leaf, attempts to kill his friend. At the time of the act, Tall Bear's fate seems dark and grim. However, with the aid of a family of eagles, Tall Bear eventually makes a triumphant return to his old life and shows grace in his dealings with his former “kola” and his fellow tribe members.

*Critical Analysis

This Lakota folktale retold and illustrated by Paul Goble is a serious story depicting a dramatic series of events. Goble sets the tone for the story in his author's note in which he describes the history of the tale and expresses his opinion about how teachers should use the book in class. The narrative is simple but provides adequate details to set the stage for drama. Readers learn about the men and their relationship as “kolas” which gives insight into the culture of the Lakota people. Goble also writes some details in the native language of the tribe. True to the tradition of folk literature, the plot moves quickly and tells of a battle between good and evil, in which ultimately the good Tall Bear prevails. Similarly, key to the plot is the family of eagles who rescue Tall Bear from his otherwise sad future. All of these elements work well together to create an interesting story.

Goble's beautiful, naive style illustrations surely assist in telling the folktale. Although the tone is serious throughout, the mood of the story varies as the plot develops. Goble's use of light and dark colors convey these changes. For example, in a series of three double-page spreads depicting the scenes before, during, and after the betrayal; the pictures become increasingly dark. The blue sky turns bleaker, and the dark rocks take up more space on the pages. This use of color not only enhances the mood but also increases the tension. Additionally, Goble’s colorful illustrations portray the beauty of nature.

Although the narrative itself is obviously of great importance to Goble, his India ink and watercolor paintings occupy the majority of the space on each double-page spread and show cultural details visually. The layout is consistent throughout the book, but at one important moment during the story, Tall Bear's delivery back to his tribe, only a single sentence accompanies the illustration. “His Eagle brothers carried him to earth.” With this one sentence and a magnificent, brightly colored painting occupying the two pages, Goble accentuates the drama and the significance of this part of the story. Finally, photographs of Chief Edgar Red Cloud (a well-known storyteller) and Paul Goble can be found at the beginning and end of the book. These photos serve as a reminder of the culture and tradition this story represents.

*Personal Response

Although folktales are not my favorite genre of literature, I enjoyed reading and learning about the story ADOPTED BY THE EAGLES. I found Tall Bear's capacity to forgive, despite White Hawk's treachery, inspiring. Reading the author's note added to my experience and made me consider the excitement of hearing a good story regardless of culture. After reading the book initially, I liked taking a closer look at the wonderful illustrations. I hope to share this story in the library, and I look forward to seeing the reaction of my students.

*Review Excerpts

“…this version remains an absorbing tale. The watercolor illustrations, as usual, are excellent.”
School Library Journal

“The illustrations are vintage Goble—stylized figures in historically accurate clothing, outlined in white and set against landscapes of vast sky or dark, slanting rock.”
BookList

*Connections

-Discuss the idea of forgiveness and do journal writing about a personal experience with forgiveness.
-Research folktales (Native American or others) looking for the origins and inspirations.
-Make connections to modern stories which involve betrayal. How is this story similar or different from those? Is forgiveness present in those stories?
-Research the Lakota tribe to find out more about the culture and customs of the people.
-Discuss alternate endings to the story. How would a different resolution affect the quality of the story?
-Invite a storyteller to visit the class.
-Research the art of storytelling.