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Summary

In Salt: A Story of Friendship in a Time of War, the friendship between Anikwa, a member of the Miami tribe, and a James, a trader’s son, is threatened when they begin to understand that a possible war is set to break out between their people.  Set in the early stages of the War of 1812, Salt, a novel in verse by beloved poet Helen Frost, tells a powerful story about friendship, misunderstanding, and the ability to start anew.

I recommend it for middle grade readers 10 to 14 years old.

The Story

Twelve-year- olds James and Aniwka have a unique friendship.  Although unable to speak each other’s language, James, a white boy whose family runs the trading post just inside the federal government’s stockade and Anikwa, son of a Miami chieftain, enjoy a common boyhood bond outdoors in the Indiana Territory fishing, exploring, and trapping. Neither boy is aware that the presence of the fort is the United States government’s way of protecting white settlers from attacks from the native tribes.

Whispers of war start swirling and a boyhood summer is brought to a sudden stop when it’s rumored that British troops will be arriving to help the native tribes take back their land from the white settlers. James and Anikwa disregard the disturbing reports about a potential war until they are forced by their families to abandon their friendship. Tensions run high and confusion abounds as the two friends begin wondering if they should be enemies.

When James hears his father lie about not having salt to sell to Anikwa’s family when it’s clear to everyone present that the salt barrel is full, he sees the disbelief in his friend’s eyes while trying to understand his father’s reasons for being dishonest.

Everyone in Indiana Territory is bracing for the horrors of war when a malicious fire forces Anikwa's family to leave their home behind. Meanwhile, James and his family are trapped inside the fort struggling to survive with little food.  While the war moves forward, both boys experience a spectrum of feelings forcing them to determine whether or not their friendship can ever be reconciled.

The Author

Helen Frost is a poet, teacher, and adventurer. She enjoys raising and releasing monarch butterflies, kayaking, traveling the world, and hiking.   The fifth of ten children, Helen Frost grew up enjoying all the family stories told by her father and dreaming about them. An award-winning author of poetry and books for children, Frost was a 2004 Michael L. Printz Award honoree for her novel in verse Keesha’s House. Frost’s historical fiction also includes the young adult novel Crossing Stones. Currently, Frost lives in Fort Wayne, Indiana where she found inspiration for Salt.

(Source: Helen Frost, Macmillan)

My Recommendation

The War of 1812 is a little known war among most middle schoolers, but Helen Frost brings it subtly to life through the experiences of two young boys who don’t know they are supposed to be enemies.  The stirrings of the war begin in early August in Indiana Territory where white settlers, with the protective presence of soldiers, are living among Native Indians. In a brief introduction, Frost lays out the purpose of the war, but her story is only a small glimpse into the first few weeks.  The background information to the war and notes regarding the native tribes that live in the Indiana Territory are very helpful to readers.

However, I would have liked for more information on the outcome of the war and its ramifications at the end of the book.  As this book only covers a brief period of time (August/September) at the beginning of the war I was curious to know how long the war lasted and how it affected the Miami tribe in the Indian Territory.  Although not a nonfiction book, giving the reader some more information on how the war played out would be satisfying and perhaps help readers imagine how James and Anikwa’s friendship might have been like at the end of the war.

Frost’s poetic style moves the story along smoothly between the two viewpoints of the boys while inserting the story of salt and its role in nature and in the lives of the families who used it. Frost artistically displays her verse in concrete poetry to represent each boy. She organizes Anikwa’s sections in traditional Miami ribbon patterns while James’ sections are long straight lines of couplets representing the stripes of the American Flag.

The poetic voice of each character is diverse not only in format, but tone - a tribute to each boy’s traditions and culture.  For example, Anikwa’s voice captures the Native American appreciation and reverence for nature; James’ voice captures the pioneer spirit of hard work.  It is only through the perspectives of Anikwa and James that the reader learns about the war and the actions and reactions of the other characters.

Helen Frost is a very gifted poet and Salt is a book to be savored. Frost spent several years researching her topic and I appreciate the added attention given to the Introduction, Glossary, and Notes. While I enjoyed this book, I recommend it for readers who are drawn to poetic writing.  Some younger readers might not possess the higher level thinking skills required to understand her use of imagery in the salt verses, but they will enjoy the flow and feel of the words. Recommended for ages 10-14. (Frances Foster Books, Farrar Straus Giroux Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group, 2013. ISBN: 9780374363871)

More Recommended Historical Fiction

If your middle schoolers like historical fiction told through a novel in verse, they may also enjoy The Surrender Tree and/or Inside Out and Back Again. If they enjoy reading historical fiction in general, see the annotated directory of Award-Winning Historical Fiction for Middle Grade Readers, which includes books covering a wide range of time periods and situations.