A review by sarful
The Indian in the Cupboard by Lynne Reid Banks
4.0
My mom read this to my brother and me when I was a kid. It was magical, and I always remember how much I loved it. But, I’d forgotten some as the years went by. A few weeks ago, I found a free copy in a little library at someone’s house and immediately grabbed it. Guess now was the time I revisit a childhood gem.
And I gotta say, it actually retains that magic.
Omri is wide eyed and excited to have this little Iroquois man. Ok he’s referred to Indian the whole time, but the author does make a concerted effort to inform the reader this man is Iroquois and that Omri’s limited knowledge of Native Americans from movies westerns aren’t real depictions. And that this man is a warrior makes for some really funny moments as he stabs Omri in a heroic effort to defend himself from a giant. Or when he bosses Omri around for food and home to sleep.
Things get complicated when Omri’s friend Patrick gets involved and makes his cowboy figurine into a real man. But, even that was fun as the two spar. That they’re real men from a real time and place gives the story and these men a kind of depth that was, well, magic.
I really appreciated the thoughtfulness of Omri and his Iroquois. I appreciated the friendship the two created as well as peace was made between the Indian and the cowboy. And that while they all go back to their times, it sets up that future may hold more time between the men, giant and little men.
Glad I revisited it.
And I gotta say, it actually retains that magic.
Omri is wide eyed and excited to have this little Iroquois man. Ok he’s referred to Indian the whole time, but the author does make a concerted effort to inform the reader this man is Iroquois and that Omri’s limited knowledge of Native Americans from movies westerns aren’t real depictions. And that this man is a warrior makes for some really funny moments as he stabs Omri in a heroic effort to defend himself from a giant. Or when he bosses Omri around for food and home to sleep.
Things get complicated when Omri’s friend Patrick gets involved and makes his cowboy figurine into a real man. But, even that was fun as the two spar. That they’re real men from a real time and place gives the story and these men a kind of depth that was, well, magic.
I really appreciated the thoughtfulness of Omri and his Iroquois. I appreciated the friendship the two created as well as peace was made between the Indian and the cowboy. And that while they all go back to their times, it sets up that future may hold more time between the men, giant and little men.
Glad I revisited it.