Hearts Unbroken
Bibliography
Smith, C.L. 2018. HEARTS UNBROKEN. Crawfordsville, IN: Candlewick Press. ISBN 9780763681142
Plot Summary
Louise is a young girl that tries to navigate her personal love relationships as well as her Native American heritage. Her school and home life were normal until she joined the school journalism class and her younger brother (Hughie) is selected to play the tin man in the Wizard of Oz in school. Because the musical director chose diverse characters for the play, including Hughie, the Parents Against Revisionist Theater protested the cast and even went as far as to harass some of these families. Keeping true to her journalism talent, Louise used that platform to bring awareness to this issue with the help of her brother. Ending the harassment was her ultimate goal as well as to apologize to her boyfriend for being insensitive.
Critical Analysis (Including Cultural Markers)
HEARTS UNBROKEN is a fantastic coming of age and overcoming obstacles modern story. It contains the regular literary elements, which include character development, setting, conflict and resolution. The text structure that the author utilized for this novel is the problem and solution structure. The author can conclude that the main conflict in the novel is the racial harassment that the main characters endured. Although there are minor problems as well, like the romance break-ups. The author is able to develop the character’s actions, feelings and dialogue to create a sense of mystery too. The mystery of who was harassing the families in the story.
HEARTS UNBROKEN has many in text Native American cultural markers. The first cultural marker is the interlanguage. Louise describes herself and her family as “ One Muscogee (Creek) Nation citizen”. Therefore, the interlanguage the author uses in the novel is Mvskoke. There are many references in the novel to this language and it is also helpful that the author provided a Mvskoke-English glossary at the end of the book. This really aids the reader in translating the Mvskoke to English, therefore understanding the novel.
Another important Native American cultural marker is the reference to some of the characters' skin tone. For example, in the text Louise mentions that Hughie’s skin tone was darker like her mothers.
Another Native American cultural marker that connects to the Muscogee are the traditional celebrations that were mentioned in the text. For example, Louise mentions that in June the family attends the Mvskoke Fest in Okmulgee. She even describes some of the activities performed. Also Louise and Hughie planned to attend the Mvskoke Language Camp. It is also important to mention that Louise also mentioned applying to Native American scholarships for college.
It is important to also mention the connection the author made to the historical events that occurred with L. Frank Baum and his racist editorials. The author also mentions other historical events like the killing of Sitting Bull and the Massacre at Wounded Knee. It is because of L. Frank Baum that the character of Hughie changes his mind about participating in the play The Wizard of Oz.
Overall the novel is filled with many Native American cultural markers that not only connect to the Muscogee group, but also other Native American groups. The author is able to develop a story around some important historical events that contribute to the character development of Louise and Hughie.
Reviews Excerpts
American Indian Youth Literature Award 2020
ALA Amelia Bloomer List (Young Adult Fiction) 2019
Kirkus Review: “Suburban,” Muscogee (Creek) girl Louise “Lou” Wolfe confronts the politics of being Native in an overwhelmingly white high school while finding first love.
Connections
Rain is not my Indian Name by Cynthia Leitich Smith
Teachers and librarians are able to use this novel to teach character development and theme by using a graphic organizer to organize and guide students.
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