Little Tree Summary - Monica Arreola

                           THE EDUCATION OF LITTLE TREE

          This story is about a boy named Little Tree who was raised by his Cherokee grandparents in the mountains of Eastern Tennessee during the 1930s, after his parents died. Little Tree’s usually daily life was helping his grandparents, learning how to stand up for their rights, and learns a great deal about standing up for his own. Little Tree describes the simple life lessons he learns by living in touch with Nature. 

          Little Tree’s parents died when he was very young. His Cherokee grandparents took him to live with them in the mountains of Eastern Tennessee in 1930s. Every day, his grandfather took him out in the woods, and taught new things, for example, how he makes money; by making whiskey. During that day, he met a special person, Willow John. Willow John, is also an Indian, was a very good friend of Little Tree’s grandfather. Willow told a story to Little Tree that he had to know from the past. He told him about how the white people treated the Indians.

          After days, the government had bad news for Little Tree’s grandparents; they are going to take Little Tree to an orphanage. Little Tree first day at the orphanage was hard, he got punished for correcting the teacher and thought that wasn’t fair. In the night, his grandfather couldn’t let Little Tree in that orphanage anymore, so he snick in the orphanage and took Little Tree home with him.

          After a few days, Little Tree’s grandfather died, in the same day, her grandmother also died. His grandmother left him a letter, before she died, that said that they will always be together. Willow John took care of Little Tree, after his grandparents died, but not for long.

          This story was mainly about Little Tree, who was raised by his Cherokee grandparents and Willow John, in Tennessee. Little Tree was an Indian boy who learned how to read, and stand for his rights from his grandparents. Little Tree was taken to an orphanage by the government. But luckily, his grandfather took him out of there. After days passed, Little Tree’s grandfathers died, and also Willow John, Little Tree was now all by himself, and after all the things Little Tree’s grandparents taught him, I think he will know how to take care of himself and become a responsible person.