Braiding Sweetgrass for Young Adults

 

My Thoughts:

Like How to be a (Young) Antiracist, this non fiction, indigenous perspective adaptation  of the adult book is meant to be more palatable to young adults. The difference is that I have read and wrote about the original Braiding Sweetgrass. The connections between storytelling and indigenous truth telling through botanic metaphor in the original book is so powerful that for me, the adaptation was too watered down. The teachings were filtered through someone else rather than through my own indigenous transaction with Kimmerer's text. 

I believe this is a well meaning way to open the door for our middle grade students, but I would also encourage high school teachers in science and language arts to use the stories from the adult book in their classroom. Kimmerer is a born storyteller. The power of the transaction between reader and author is difficult to adapt down. Long after I read the original I continued to find random notes around the house with page numbers and thoughts. That is the power of transactional reading.

p. 159

A theory, to scientists, means something rather different from its popular use, which suggests something speculative or untested. Grounded theory – in [is?] the traditional ecological knowledge of indigenous peoples. If we use a plant respectfully, it will flourish. If we ignore it, it will go away. When you pick the flower for a lei, for example, the tree will produce more flowers. A tree where the flowers are not picked and valued seems to eventually disappear.

p. 134

The most important thing each of us can know is our unique gift and how to use it in the world. Individuality is cherished and nurtured, because, in order for the whole to flourish, each of us has to be strong in the who we are and carry our gifts with conviction, so they can be shared with others. In reciprocity, we fill our spirits as well as our bellies.

p. 104

We are showered every day with gifts, but they are not meant for us to keep. Their life is in their movement, the inhale and exhale of our shared breath. Our work and our joy is to pass along the gift and to trust that what we put out into the universe always comes back.

p. 174

Political action , civic engagement – these are powerful acts of reciprocity with the land. The Maple Nation Bill of Responsibilities asks us to stand up for The Standing People, to lead with the wisdom of Maples.

p. 179

Not everything should be convenient. [The difficulty of digging is an important constraint]

From the Publisher:

Drawing from her experiences as an Indigenous scientist, botanist Robin Wall Kimmerer demonstrated how all living things―from strawberries and witch hazel to water lilies and lichen―provide us with gifts and lessons every day in her best-selling book Braiding Sweetgrass. Adapted for young adults by Monique Gray Smith, this new edition reinforces how wider ecological understanding stems from listening to the earth’s oldest teachers: the plants around us. With informative sidebars, reflection questions, and art from illustrator Nicole Neidhardt, Braiding Sweetgrass for Young Adults brings Indigenous wisdom, scientific knowledge, and the lessons of plant life to a new generation.

Publication information:

Author: Robin Kimmerer; adapted by Monique Gray Smith

Illustrator: Nicole Neidhardt

Publisher: Zest Books

Publication date: November 1, 2022