James Bruchac is a knowledgeable writer of the indigenous people who is a person of interest to me since he belongs to the Abenaki tribe of the Northeast. Since I live in close proximity and teach about the indigenous peoples all of the academic year, I find his books an excellent source of relatable information for my students, and this book is no exception. I would highly recommend it.

A young boy is witness to the birth of the Iroquois Confederacy. Okwaho is a young Indian whose friends and family have broken away from their tribe, whose leader they they view as too interested in war. He is reeling from the loss of his best friend, when a stranger comes with a message of peace. Memorable characters and a fascinating period of history. Bruchac has written another compelling story. Highly recommended.

Okwaho struggles to find peace. His family recently started a new village, turning from war to create a peaceful settlement. When his best friend is kidnapped, Okwaho is angry. Then a messenger arrives. He tells them stories of the Peacemaker who will arrive soon and help unite the warring nations.

Interesting story of everyday life, family, and friendship, as well as war and peace.

Joseph Bruchac is incredible at making old stories seem real and present. An absolute legend, and this book did not disappoint. Definitely one to add to every bookshelf!

I want to thank the author for sharing this story that is new to children's historical fiction (or at least very rare). Some time before the land that would become the United States was colonized by Europeans, the Mohawk, Onondaga, Oneida, Cayuga, and Seneca formed the Iroquois Confederacy or Five Nations. This book serves to show a fictionalized version of how this came to be, through the eyes of a young boy named Okwaho.

I think this would be great to read as part of a unit on the indigenous inhabitants of North America, or as a great example of historical fiction. I'm not necessarily convinced that the average middle grade reader would pick this up on their own or stick with it if they did (for a short book, the story is a bit slow), but hopefully I'm underestimating young people.

I reviewed this book for Historical Novels Review Magazine, the magazine of the Historical Novel Society. I cannot post review until the review is published in May 2021. I will update my review then.

This is an intriguing coming-of-age story about a real event in the history of the Iroquois, centuries before Europeans came to North America. Okwaho's character is relatable and sympathetic, and the stories-within-the story are beautifully told.

This story follows 12 year-old Okwaho and his experience when a visitor with the message of peace, Carries, enters the village to tell the story of The Peacemaker whose eminent arrival will finally bring peace to the five warring nations.
The story is a great insight into the oral history of Indigenous Peoples and the formation of the League of the Iroquois. Bruchac underscores the importance of setting aside revenge and making peace with oneself in order to establish peace with others. I enjoyed the various stories of The Peacemaker interwoven throughout the narrative; however, there were times where the story seemed to drag a bit. I almost dnf because some of the descriptive language, especially in the first chapter or so, seemed to be fulfilling a word count rather than adding anything substantive to the narrative. Bruchac's style could be for a slightly older middle-grade audience, but overall, the message of peace and unity for younger generations is incredibly important.

This review is based on an ARC.

Okwaho's family and friends leave home and start their own village in order to seek peace. They leave a war inclined leader that cannot see beyond his own vengeance. This story was refreshing and definitely needed in our literary cannon. I enjoyed the old world feel, the simplicity of life and the tradition of passing a story down orally generation to generation.

A fascinating story based on the many Haudenosaunee (or Iroquois) people's Peacemaker stories. A timely stories about seeking to restore, not destroy, connections with others. Recommended for tweens and teens.

Although it is one of the models of our democracy, the League of the Iroquois (Haudenosaunee) is rarely part of the elementary or middle school American History curriculum. This book tells the story of how the five Longhouse nations ended their wars and became a unified and peaceful nation. Told through the eyes of Okwaho, a 12 year old boy whose family has split off from the larger community in search of a more peaceful life. Creation tales and other powerful stories are woven throughout. Recommended for grades 4 & up.

Joseph Bruchac has written a number of extraordinary books for children and young adults that have brought the stories of Native American people to a wide audience of readers. Peacemaker will be released in January 2021 and, while the story takes place centuries ago, I feel like it is a perfect message for our times. I am so grateful to NetGalley and Dial Books for the opportunity to have read this extraordinary text ahead of its publication. The Peacemaker story belongs to the Iroquois Nation who speak of a time when the five longhouse nations were constantly at war, until a messenger came who united all of the people through peace and equality.

Peacemaker is not simply a retelling of these stories. Instead, it imagines how the coming of the Peacemaker might have impacted a specific individual. Okwaho already believes in peace. His family and a few others left their larger village because they no longer wanted to be at constant war with other communities. However, when his best friend is abducted on a fishing trip by members of a neighboring longhouse, Okwaho doesn’t know what to think anymore. His beliefs have been shaken.

In Peacemaker, the theme of peaceful coexistence with other communities is accompanied by a deep and enduring connection to the natural world. The stories that Bruchac shares in Peacemaker demonstrate a reverence for life in all its forms. The writing beautifully reflects the importance of showing care and respect for the environment that surrounds us.

The word that I feel best encapsulates the experience of reading Peacemaker is thoughtful. The pace of this book is not slow, but it encourages a level of reflection that requires taking one’s time. What is so powerful about Peacemaker is that one would give anything to make the reading experience last just a little bit longer. It is one of the most beautiful stories I have read all year and it communicates a message that I hope we are all ready to truly embrace in the years to come.

Twelve-year-old Okwaho’s life has never been peaceful. The village he lives in was built because the families wanted to separate themselves from the raid-hungry chief of their old tribe. When Okwaho’s best friend is kidnapped by a neighboring tribe, Okwaho’s mind is clouded by revenge. With all this fear and hate among the five Iroquis tribes, it is hard to imagine that there can come a time of peace. When The Peacemaker arrives, it is his mission to visit all five tribes and try to convince even the most warlike leaders that peace can be achieved.

This short novel tells the tale of how the Iroquois Confederacy was created. Bruchac creates a compelling tale that carries the reader through without involving action and bloodshed. Peacemaker is written with middle grade students in mind, however, I don’t see many students stopping to pick up this book as an independent read. A class read would be a better option for this novel as more meaningful discussions can then be had about the story and history behind it.

Bruchac retells the story of the Peacemaker in this middle grades book. He does so through the eyes of a boy named Okwaho, who himself learns about the value of peace over war and revenge throughout the course of the book.

There were many points in this book where Okwaho reminisces about the past or where he listens to others tell stories. Sometimes, this made me lose the thread of the story. The storytelling was definitely an important part of the book, but there were times I thought it could have been tied in better to keep the reader more engaged.

I'd be curious to see a review of this book by AICL. I can speak to how much I enjoyed this book but not how accurately or respectfully it tells the story of the Peacemaker or portrays the Haudenosaunee. For now, 3.5 stars, rounded up.

In "Peacemaker" Bruchac tells the history of the treaty creating the Iroquois Confederacy. Young Okwaho, fears for his best friend Tawnis after he is captured by a rival tribe. This was a very quiet and simple novel. I honestly can't see many middle schoolers voluntarily reading it; however, because it is a pretty short book at 160 pages I think it would make a wonderful read-aloud. There are many points to encourage discussion and teaching passages along the way.

A powerful story of the courage of peace in a time of war, filled with natural description, cultural details, and historical value.

A lyrical and timely book that weaves together a story of personal sadness and community hope. Even though the text is not one of non-stop action, the storytelling drives you forward. I read the whole thing in one sitting! Although there is a main character, he is the lens through which we see things but the focus is not on him. I appreciated that. A story of redemption and kinship that will resonate with many.

This review also appears on my blog, PopCrunchBoom Books.
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In Joseph Bruchac’s new novel, Peacemaker, we are introduced to 12-year-old Okwaho. Early into the novel readers watch as Okwaho’s best friend is kidnapped by a neighboring tribe. This experience really affects Okwaho. Most of the novel explores Okwaho’s feelings surrounding his friend’s kidnapping (anger, grief & revenge) and his family’s decision to leave their original village in order to live a less violent life while also being set within the historical context of the creation of the Iroquois Confederacy.

I enjoyed reading Okwaho’s story. It was very much a coming of age story but coming from an Iroquois point of view. Okwaho really struggled with his feelings and withdrew from his usual activities and interactions within his village after his friend was kidnapped. When tales of The Peacemaker made their way to his village, Okwaho began to rethink his revenge and anger. Not only did he begin to work through his emotions, but he also began to find his voice.

This was a beautifully told historical fiction novel. I loved how Bruchac told the story of the treaty creating the Iroquois Confederacy through the eyes of Okwaho. Not only do we get to hear the oral stories of the Peacemaker & get a glimpse into Iroquois history, but we are also treated to Okwaho’s character development. I think this story will be relatable to young readers struggling through emotions and finding their identity and I think the message of finding & using your voice in the name of peace and unification will resonate with many—especially in today’s current climate. I really resonated with this message. The ending and overall story left me hopeful and reminded me of the power of peace and unification. This is definitely a timely novel for readers – both young and old. It’s one I’d definitely recommend you pick up. It’s a quick read and you won’t be disappointed.

Okwaho, a twelve-year-old boy, fears what will happen to his best friend Tawnis after he is captured by a neighboring tribe. The two boys were out fishing and while Okwaho was trying to catch a trout, he hears voices upon the rock where Tawnis is. The three men were not pleasant neighbors either. Tawnis helps Okwaho escape by fending off the men for a short while and allowing Okwaho to run home.

When Okwaho arrives in his village, the people are unsettled. The five tribes of the Iroquois have been at war for a very long time, yet Okwaho's tribe is known to want nothing but peace. As two members of his tribe leave to go inform the highest chief Atatarho what happened with Tawnis, Okwaho follows and learns that this will not end well for anyone.

But the unexpected happens when a visitor with a message from the Creator comes to share that they need to bring peace to all. The visitor describes the Peacemaker as a mystical messenger that speaks in calm tones and is dressed in pure white. He will help bring peace amongst the five nations, but this will be difficult because in order for this to happen... They will have to change the mind of the aggressive Atatarho.

This was a very simplistic novel in a sense that it focuses on the separation of the two young boys and the emotions that Okwaho has, and the presence of the messenger during a time of potential war to bring peace to the tribes that they have needed for so long. I thoroughly enjoyed the length of this book, as it was only 160 pages too. My favorite parts of the book was when Okwaho meets and connects with Carries and the Peacemaker. The lessons learned and the change of the character was riveting. This book is needed in today's classrooms and I am eager to share it with my students.