Module 4--SEES BEHIND TREES

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Dorris, Michael. 1996. SEES BEHIND TREES. Hyperion Books for Children: New York. ISBN: 0-7868-2215-5.


PLOT SUMMARY

Walnut knows that his naming ceremony is coming, but he can’t master any of the skills he should. His vision is poor and causes him difficulty. His mother sees this and begins to train him in a different manner. At the ceremony, he is given the name SEES BEHIND TREES because he reveals he can “see” people coming from great distances. In a later test, Sees Behind Trees shows he can find lost items. Gray Fire, one of the tribe’s elder members, wants to find a mysterious place from his childhood and enlists Sees Behind Tree’s assistance. The two embark on a journey of discovery. Sees Behind Trees learns a great deal about being a man and about life as he and Gray Fire search. Finally, Gray Fire finds the Land of Water he has been searching for, and Sees Behind Trees unexpectedly finds his way home from this journey without his sight or Gray Fire. Sees Behind Trees finds determination and skills he did not know he had.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Michael Dorris creates a masterful tale of discovery and growth. SEES BEHIND TREES follows the unexpected path of a boy, Sees Behind Trees, as he realizes that physical sight is not the only manner in which one can see. He turns his disability into a coveted ability.

The plot of the story is easy to follow but full of unexpected twists and turns. When the readers first meet Walnut (Sees Behind Trees), he feels that he is a failure because of his inability to hit the moss with his arrow like his friend. His mother’s unconventional training turns Walnut into an unexpected celebrity. This ability leads to his and Gray Fire’s expedition. Readers are not sure what to expect from this journey. The action is fast moving and enthralling. The reason that the pair meets Karna, Pitew, and Checha may not be understood immediately, but this purpose is realized after Gray Fire disappears into the Land of Water. This building action culminates when Sees Behind Trees safely arrives home with Checha and learns the real circumstances surrounding Gray Fire’s injury. The story comes to a satisfying end.

The story is set in a forest with an unnamed tribe of Native Americans. This group hunts, fishes, and grows the food that they need. They live off the land in isolation. This isolation becomes evident when Sees Behind Trees is unnerved when he meets “strangers”. He has never met anyone outside of the tribe. In fact, he does not know the meaning of the word “stranger” without explanation from Gray Fire. Gray Fire attempts to communicate with the strangers who speak a different language. This language gap is bridged by using a combination of verbal and nonverbal methods.

Mr. Dorris does not specify the time period this story takes place in the text. Reading the front flap, readers will discover it is set in fifteenth century America. This information tells the reader that this story does not involve contemporary Native Americans. It is a glimpse into the past. These Native Americans are peaceful and solitary. They are simply living their lives. This information helps shatter the idea that all Native Americans were bloodthirsty aggressors.

The characters are well defined and fascinating. Walnut begins the story as an insecure boy and within a few chapters receives his new name and is a man. This custom is seen in many tribes and groups. Based on talents and skills, individuals are renamed. These names are not silly or demeaning. They are a descriptive source of pride for individuals. Though this custom is common, Walnut greets it curiously. He is emotionally torn. He knows that he has gone through his ceremony and has been renamed, but he doesn’t feel like a man yet. Several of his conversations with the men of the tribe show his desire to be mature but his remaining lack of confidence in this arena. Does a ceremony grant maturity or does the ceremony open doors that lead to this maturing? The reader is left to decide.

The other adult tribe members in the story are wise but not perfect. Sees Behind Trees mother realizes that he cannot see and trains him in an unusual manner. She is creative and finds success. But later she disagrees with the weroance, the wise huntress, about the journey that Gray Fire wants to take her son on. Although she is wise, she is shows her dissent and her protective motherly nature. Gray Fire is obsessed with finding the Land of Water. He lived with the tribe and was content, but he always searched for this area of the forest. Once Sees Behind Trees finds it, Gray Fire is consumed by this fixation and leaves Sees Behind Trees to be in this land. This passion leads to Gray Fire’s disappearance and leaves Sees Behind Trees to find his way home alone. Both adults are wise and respected, but neither is perfect. They each react in a realistic way.

One should also note the gender roles that exist in this Native American tribe. Each individual has talent and is judged based on that talent, not based on preconceived gender roles. Men are not the only hunters. There are no “quiet squaws”. Otter, the weroance, is a phenomenal hunter. She is wise and respected. Sees Behind Trees’ uncle, Brings the Deer, is also a hunter. Each excels at his/her own skill. Also, the women train the male and female children before the naming ceremony. They are not relegated to menial household chores. They help the children reach their potential when serving the tribe.

SEES BEHIND TREES shows readers that the power of choice can change a life. Walnut’s mother’s choice helps Walnut become Sees Behind Trees. She does not try to force him into a mold or role in which he would not be successful. She sees what he has and uses this. Sees Behind Trees could use his handicap as an excuse to hide from society living as a recluse. However, he submits to his mother’s training and realizes he has a unique skill. Gray Fire’s choice to abandon Sees Behind Trees and to run to the Land of Water lead to his demise. His obsession finally consumed him. At the end of the story, the readers learn that Gray Fire’s obsession was created by a trap set by Otter. Her selfish choice led to Gray Fire’s lifelong fascination and ultimately his downfall. Life is about choice, and free will can drastically alter one’s future success or failure.

This novel is a fast paced coming of age story. Readers are intertwined with Sees Behind Trees and eagerly anticipate every move and thought. This story would be an excellent addition to a library collection. It promotes a positive, non-stereotypical view of Native Americans and their lifestyle.


REVIEW EXCERPTS

From PUBLISHER’S WEEKLY: “The authenticity of the characterizations and setting will ease readers toward acceptance of the quasi-mystical adventure that crowns the story. It's a thrilling read, with the pleasures compounding at every turn of the page.”

From SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “There's a timeless quality to this 15th-century adventure that will be meaningful and immediate for young people today. Dorris takes on some meaty existential issues here; he does so with grace, bighearted empathy, and always with crystal-clear vision.”

From KIRKUS REVIEWS: “The exquisitely crafted language remains so simple it can be enjoyed by middle-graders, while the brevity and adventure promise wide readership among less-skilled teenage readers.”

CONNECTIONS

Complete this activity after reading the first 4 chapters only. In this story, a young boy discovers he has a special gift. However, he calls it a “trick” when talking about this ability. Have students discuss this idea. Could this ability really be a trick? Does Sees Behind Trees have some special power? Continue reading. Revisit this discussion at the end of the book. Have opinions changed?

Sees Behind Trees has vision problems. He overcomes this obstacle by using his other senses to develop his sight. Students will complete a study on the five senses. They will complete experiments and activities.
Neuroscience For Kids - the senses