Book Review: Crossing Bok Chitto

Tingle, Tim. Crossing Bok Chitto. Texas: Cinco Puntos Press, 2006.

Crossing Bok Chitto written by Tim Tingle is a great book for children to learn about the Choctaws, a nation of Indian people and the plantation owners and their slaves. When Martha Tom goes off in search of blackberries upon her mothers’ request, she is unable to find them. Martha Tom crosses the Bok Chitto comes across a black church in the woods. While doing so she meets an African American slave boy and his family on the other side of the river. Little Mo is told by his father to bring Martha Tom back across the river. While doing so she shows him how to cross; by an unseen stone path that was made by the Choctaws. The two form a friendship and soon help each other to freedom. When Martha Tom finds out the mother is going to be sold she helps the family cross the river to the other side where they will be free. After doing so Martha Tom’s family comes out and welcomes the slave family and praises them for crossing and freeing themselves.

This book did not seem to portray stereotypes; it simply told the story how it was. It showed that even though the Choclaws and slaves were on different sides of the river, they were able to get along and help each other to freedom. The illustrations were very accurate showing the Indians and African Americans and how the two cultures got along and helped each other. The pictures are very vivid and colorful and really help the reader to feel as if they are actually part of the story. The pictures as well as the story show a great deal of emotion, especially when the family is told the mother has been sold. During this part of the story the reader feels as if they are actually there experiencing what the family is going through. The way they all come together as a family is wonderful. After they find this news out Little Mo speaks up and suggests going with his mother. This shows young readers that even though they are little they are able to make a difference. This book tells the story of the Bok Chitto River that cuts through the Mississippi and the significance of it. It gives us a look at real events and depictions of what life was like for each group back before the war. It shows and tells us different traditions of the Choctaw Indians, which the author took from his ancestors. This book would be great for teachers when covering the Underground Railroad. This was a great book focusing on unity, acceptance and family.

This author is an insider taking his ideas from his ancestors. Tim Tingle is a member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. He has many other books which have won awards for their excellence. All of his ideas come from stories told and passed down by his ancestors. At the end of the book Tingle gives the reader information on Choctaws Today and also Choctaw Storytelling. This is very interesting and gives more background information.