Wow, it's been a while since I've read anything by Joseph Bruchac. At my old Environmental Education Center job, I used to reference his Native American Myths & Legends books in various classes I taught, but I've been away from that field for almost 5 years now. I recognized the author's name when my nephew Jared, over dinner the other night, handed me The Dark Pond and told me I'd like it. He was right.The Dark Pond is a simple enough story, told with just enough attention to detail to keep a good 10 year old reader interested but also with little enough detail that the same child wouldn't lose interest thanks to side-stories and b-plots. And it kept me interested, too. Bruchac gives us a strong protagonist in Armie -- a boy who misses his parents and justifies their continued absence, who is a loner mostly because he wants to be, who assumes people are nice to him because they're scared of him. His feeling that he is different because of his ability to sense what animals are thinking is accurate so far as it goes; he doesn't really accept that there are some people who actually would think his ability is cool.Bruchac works a variety of Native myths into the mix of the story, and even touches on the issue of what I can only call "accidental prejudice:" the idea that if two Native Americans are in the same place, they of course must be introduced and immediately hit it off as best friends because of their "shared" background. The author also does a nice job of building the secondary characters, showing us what Armie's world is like. He does all of this and keeps the plot moving along at a fast pace, building tension in several scenes that is almost palpable. Make no mistake, this is definitely a horror novel, but age-appropriate in its thrills and scares without ever "talking down" to the intended audience.
Armie is half Armenian and half Shawnee. He goes to a board school where he doesn't have many friends. He thinks it is because he's different. He's got a connection to animals and can feel things others can't.And he misses his parents. While Armie knows they are off doing important things, he can't help, but wish they spent more time with him.At his school, Armie senses a presences lurking in the pond in the woods, and at times he feels its pull. Armie turns to the tales of the Shawnee for answers on what might be lurking in the dark pond.I've read many books by Joseph Bruchac, one of my favorites being Skeleton Man, which is also based on a Native American legend. I like how Joseph Bruchac takes monsters from Native tales to create modern horror stories. This book follows Armie who is mixed with Armenian and Shawnee. He's got a connection with animals, which I can relate to, and he's a loner although he wants friends. He thinks that no one likes him, that he's too weird and too different. So he often just spends time in the woods or library by himself. He's a good character and one that I think some people could relate to.The story itself is interesting, but I feel it moves slow at times. And there really isn't much seen of the monster unlike Skeleton Man and Whisper in the Dark for example.This isn't one of my favorites by Joseph Bruchac, but it's worth a read. It was enjoyable.
What do You think about The Dark Pond (2004)?
The book The Dark Pond by Joseph Bruchac was about a boy named Armie that thinks he was born specail. Armie thinks he can hear and feel things no one else can. Armie is a native american that does go to school and always gets bullied and is a target for bullying. The book is more of a mystery then a multi-cultural because there is something in the pond near hid house and is scaring his family, throughout the book he if hearing things from the pond and feeling things. When Armie finds out what is haunting his family and his pond he is surprised. I liked this book because it was fun and a page tuner.
—Chris Cinque
This mystery book is about a boy named Armie who is part Indian and goes to a private school that elaborates on being one with nature. He feels things other people do not and he has a very special way with animals. He goes to the pond on the schools property and is almost drawn right into the pond by something unseen. After that he keeps feeling something pulling him to the pond. He goes there one night and meets a man that has been doing some research and believes that there is a monster that lives in the pond. The man tells him to stay away from the pond that he has a plan to get rid of it, but the night the man plans to get rid of the monster Armie has a bad feeling and goes to help the man. He gets there just in time to save the man and help him destroy the monster.
—7709Reehan
So.very.bad. This was a horribly written, choppy mess of randomness. The story didn't flow smoothly at all due to the author changing topic every few sentences. It's hard to follow a book when there;s zero focus. So it goes without saying that this was an unpleasant read. As for the main character...The boy is this book is a Native American with a magical bond to animals, because you know, all Native Americans frolic through the woods and chat it up with animals. Yeah, no, that's a bit too much like Disney and a bit insulting to Native Americans. Also, the kid hates everyone, and every time someone is nice to him he acts like an ass. His behavior made zero sense. I had to do a formal review of this for my children's lit class (which is why I am keeping this review short) and in no way do I think this is a quality book for children.
—Amanda
