Talking Leaves

Title: Talking Leaves

Author: Joseph Bruchac

Grade Level: 5&6th

We presume that our children will attend school where they will be taught to read and write. We know that no one would get far in today's world without that knowledge. Our homes fill up with books and we spend hours reading. To the Cherokee people, those books were simply "talking leaves" that communicated to the white man. Eventually, books were seen as something that was useful in the English language. Sequoyah changed those perceptions forever by creating the Cherokee alphabet. Despite doubt and open hostility from his people, he proved that their language could also benefit from "talking leaves." This book tells Sequoyah's story through the eyes of his son. Although written as historical fiction, it is soundly rooted in Sequoyah's actual life story. This book is a must read for grades 5 and up.