Status
Available
Call number
Call number
FIC LER
Collection
Local notes
Shelved in Aboriginal Collection - Youth
Description
In 1897, famed explorer Robert Peary took six Eskimos from their homes in Greenland to be "presented" to the American Museum of Natural History. Among the six were a father and a son. Soon, four were dead, including the father (whose bones, unbeknownst to the son, were put on display). One returned to Greenland. And the other -- the young boy -- remained, the only Eskimo in New York for twelve years. His name was Minik. This is his story. A story of lies and deceptions. A story about the price of exploration. A story about discovering the truth of a culture.
Genres
Publication
New York : Scholastic, 2007.
Original publication date
2005-02-01
User reviews
LibraryThing member DavidDunkerton
This is a novel based on the true story of an Eskimo from Greenland named Minik. It begins in Quebec in 1909 with Minik trying to kill himself, and then takes us back to the beginning of the story in 1893. Robert Peary was a famous explorer in the Arctic who was recognized by the Eskimos who lived
Minik was young when he was taken to New York so his body was able to adjust, but he did not find out until much later that the American Museum of Natural History never buried his father or the others, but preserved and kept their bones. The few people on Minik’s side were able to expose the deception, but the damage was done. After living in New York for 12 years, Minik had a hard time going back to the culture in Greenland, and he never really fit in the United States, either.
This is a sad but meaningful story, and it is important for us to understand the darker parts of our history.
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there. In the name of science he took some Eskimos back to New York City with him, but four of them soon died, including Minik’s father, because they could not adjust to the new climate and environment.Minik was young when he was taken to New York so his body was able to adjust, but he did not find out until much later that the American Museum of Natural History never buried his father or the others, but preserved and kept their bones. The few people on Minik’s side were able to expose the deception, but the damage was done. After living in New York for 12 years, Minik had a hard time going back to the culture in Greenland, and he never really fit in the United States, either.
This is a sad but meaningful story, and it is important for us to understand the darker parts of our history.
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LibraryThing member Catnelson
Explorer Robert Peary brings six Eskimos to a New York City museum to be a living exhibit. Qisuk, known as "Smiler," and his son Minik are part of the exhibit. Four of the Eskimos die, including Smiler, and one Eskimo returns to Greenland. Minik spends twelve years at the museum amid lies and
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deception, in search of the truth and a way to survive. Show Less
LibraryThing member edspicer
Suppose you visit a museum. You gaze into exhibits depicting the life of your town, your neighborhood, your family. Suppose, instead, you are the exhibit that people come to see? Imagine that as you walk through the exhibit preparation area you discover the bones of your father, cleaned, labeled,
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and ready for exhibition. Smiler’s Bones relates the story of Minik, the only remaining survivor of the six Eskimos Robert Peary took back to display in the American Museum of Natural History in New York. Show Less
LibraryThing member MSLMC
This book follows Minik, an Eskimo boy brought to New York City from Greenland when he was only 8-years-old. His father and the other's brought quickly die and leave him alone. Based on a true story, this is worth reading!
LibraryThing member Sean191
Although this is a scholastic book, I'm not sure if it will impact children as much as it would impact adults. It could just as easily been marketed to adults as it's a look at just how horrible "modern" society can be. The story of Mene is distressing at best. On the other side, it makes me want
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to pick up the book "Give Me My Father's Body," which is the actual true story of Minik. Still, Smiler's Bones actually contained a lot of facts in it and for the more thoughtful youth, would be worth a read. For the adult, I'd recommend and I'll get to the other book at some point as well. Show Less
ISBN
0439344883 / 9780439344883