Illustrated by David Shannon
4 stars
From death, destruction, and war to unity and peace, this book tells the story of Hiawatha and the Peacemaker, whose work to unite the Six Nations of the Iroquois people with the Great Law of Peace set a blueprint for democracy in America.
Hiawatha is angry and devastated after the death of his family at the hands of Tadodaho. When he first meets a strange man with a dream to unite the nations, he agrees to carry his message, but doesn’t fully believe everything the Peacemaker says. As they journey to visit the different nations, Hiawatha learns the value of kindness, peace, and forgiveness, finally letting go of the anger that holds him back, allowing him to fully live the Peacemaker’s message.
A powerful story of peace and unity. Nicely written.
The book itself is quite long and wordy, making it best suited for older children. There are themes of war, violence, and death that coincide with the messages of peace between the nations.
Nice artwork with great colors and details. I especially enjoyed the small depictions at the bottom of the page as different nations join Hiawatha and the Peacemaker on their journey.
The backmatter contains a historical note about the Six Nations Iroquois Confederacy and an author’s note on oral history and Robertson’s connection to the story.
A nice story that blends history with wonderful messages of forgiveness, unity, and peace.