Crossing Bok Chitto

Tingle, T. (2006). Crossing Bok Chitto (J.R. Bridges, illus.). El Paso, TX: Cinco Puntos.

Genre: Legend
Format: Picture Storybook
Recommended Age: 8 & Up
Awards: 2008 American Indian Youth Literature Award

Weaving together a tale of beauty and history, Tingle and Bridges work together to create an inspiring tale rooted deep within Native American history. Through the Mississippi bayou cuts a river called Bok Chitto. Before even the civil war, the Choctaws took up residence on one side of the river while plantation owners and their slaves lived on the other. It was law that if slaves were able to cross Bok Chitto, they were then considered free. The story begins when Martha Tom, a young Choctaw girl, is sent by her mother to pick blackberries for a wedding to take place later that night. However, Martha Tom did what she was never supposed to do---she crossed Bok Chitto. It is here that the author gives the importance of that crossing: "The only way to cross Bok Chitto in those days was a stone path just beneath the surface of the river. Only the Choctaw's knew it was there, for the Choctaw's had built it." Upon her crossing of the river, Martha meets many of the slaves, and begins a new friendship with Mo, who in turn visits her side of the river. From then on, Martha Tom crossed the river every Sunday to go to church with the slaves, yet trouble came when Mo's mother was sold to a new slave owner. When they had only one night left with their mother, then, the family decided to flee across Bok Chitto. The plantation heavily guarded, the family took to their fathers words, moving "not too fast, not too slow, eyes to the ground, away you go!" They made it to the river, but did not remain unseen. Thankfully, though, Mo made it across the river to ask Martha Tom and her family for help. The Choctaw women then gathered together, dressed in white ceremonial wedding gowns, carrying candles and singing as they walked to the river. When they crossed the river, it appeared as though they were walking on water, and the guards were so taken aback that they simply let Mo's family cross the river too. To this day, people still "talk about the night their forefathers witnessed seven black spirits, walking on the water---to their freedom!"

Not only is this a beautiful tale, but the book also provides a history lesson in the back which tells about the Choctaws today as well as their tradition of storytelling. I recommend this book for children ages eight and up as they're beginning to build interest in stories of the past. In addition, children this age are more open to discussion of books, and this book would make a great introduction to the topics of slavery as well as African American and Native American traditions. Overall, this was a wonderful story. The illustrations captured the mood and emotion perfectly, and readers are left with a sense of pride, hope, and fulfillment. Well worthy of its award, I recommend this book to all. Parents, teachers, and librarians shouldn't hesitate to add it to their collection.

Riedel, C. (2006, July 1). Preschool to grade 4 cont.: Crossing Bok Chitto [A review of the book Crossing Bok Chitto]. School Library Journal. Retrieved April 30, 2010 from http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6350108.html?q=crossing+bok+chitto.

Riedel gives Crossing Bok Chitto and overall positive review, saying "This is a lovely story, beautifully illustrated, though the ending requires a somewhat large leap of the imagination"---a point I have to agree with. Riedel also points out that "Tingle is a performing storyteller, and his text has the rhythm and grace of that oral tradition. It will be easily and effectively read aloud." This was an aspect I hadn't really thought of, yet Riedel does well to point it out, as it is most certainly true. Overall, this was a good review. Short and sweet, it provides the basic plot outline as well as a few tidbits of information that most readers wouldn't know, yet that would also enrich their reading experience were they to go out and read the book.