Featuring: Tim Tingle

Recommended for ages 9-12 and their adults

Free with Museum admission

What was it like to travel the Trail of Tears? Tim Tingle will join us for this event to explore this difficult history through the eyes of his fictional ghost protagonist, Issac. After discussion and Q & A, the group will visit to the Klingenstein Library to view and discuss a curated selection of rarely-seen original documents related to the Choctaw Nation and the greater history of forced relocation of American Indians.

About How I Became A Ghost

Readers know from the beginning that their protagonist, 10-year-old Isaac, does not survive the Trail of Tears, the forced western relocation of Cherokee and Choctaw during the 1830s. After Isaac’s death, he must work with panther boy, Joseph, his Choctaw-speaking dog, Jumper, and ghost little sister Nita to protect others. Through Isaac’s trials, readers will gain an understanding of Choctaw experiences and community during this turbulent era. Tim Tingle’s mastery of Choctaw stories and storytelling is evident in this winner of the 2014 AIYLA American Indian Youth Literature, Middle School Division Award.

About the Reading into History Family Book Club
Each month families read a historical fiction or nonfiction book together at home, then attend a Book Wrap event where they will share reactions to the book, see cool museum artifacts and documents related to the book, and meet other history detectives and special guests! Past special guests have included authors Walter Dean Myers, Avi, and Rita Williams-Garcia, plus museum curators, historians, and other experts.

This program is supported by:

The New York Council for the Humanities

Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.