Historical Fiction: Hiawatha and the Peacemaker

Title: Hiawatha and the Peacemaker  

Author: Robbie Robertson
Illustrator: David Shannon  

Genre: Historical Fiction   

Major Awards: 2016-2017 Texas Bluebonnet Award Master List 

Age Group: 8-11 years old

Hiawatha and the Peacemaker by Robbie Robertson, tells the story of how two men brought peace to the native american tribes. In the story, the protagonist Hiawatha is riddled with grief after tragedy hit and his wife and three daughters were killed in battle. Hiawatha is set on seeking revenge against the Chief Tadodaho who caused the attack that killed his family, until the Peacemaker came to Hiawatha and told him of his plans too bring peace to the tribes, and asked Hiawatha to help him spread his message. Hiawatha agreed, both he and the Peacemaker began their journey to spread the Peacemakers message. They first began with the land of Hiawatha's people the Mohawk's but although the Clan Mothers liked the message, the Chief said the Mohawk could not join them, because they had to be prepared to fight Tadodaho. The Peacemaker said that "the Great Law was more powerful than any one man" and promised the Chief that he would bring him proof. Once again Hiawatha and the Peacemaker began their journey to the other tribes and although it wasn't easy they were able to get the Seneca, Cayuga, and the Oneida tribes. When they returned to the Mohawk Chief with the Seneca, Cayuga, and Oneida Chiefs the Mohawk chief although he was impressed, still wasn't sure if true peace among all the tribes was possible with Tadodaho. The Peacemaker then made a large sacrifice to prove that his words of Peace among the tribes was true, and after the Mohawk Chief saw what the Peacemaker had done he joined Hiawatha and the others, and they began their journey to Tadodaho and the Onondaga. When they got to Tadodaho there was a big uproar and the fighting among the tribes continued until once again the Peacemaker stepped in to show everyone that fighting was not the answer. Tadodaho was sick and the Peacemaker asked Hiawatha to heal him, and all the anger and resentment Hiawatha had towards Tadodaho faded, and after 3 days Tadodaho was healed. In the end the Peacemaker had all the tribes bury their weapons under what they now refereed to as the tree of peace, and atop of the tree would be an eagle perched on the tree to watch over all of the people.

Hiawatha and the Peacemaker is such a powerful story that would make an excellent addition to any 3rd-6th grade classroom library. Although the story starts with a tragedy, from that tragedy comes healing, unity, compromise, understanding, and Peace among the tribes. I believe that students would greatly enjoy this story, and the history behind it. Along with the book is a historical note of the actual history of Hiawatha and the Peacemaker. I think this would make an excellent read aloud of a history class and after reading the story I believe that students would be fascinated to learn the  history of Hiawatha and the Peacemaker and how they united the five nations, that would later become six.