THE BRAID by Helen Frost

1. Bibliography

Frost, Helen. 2006. The Braid. New York: Frances Foster Books. ISBN 9780374309626

2. Plot Summary

Set during the 1850s in Scotland and Canada, The Braid follows the experiences of two Scottish sisters who become separated.  One sister emigrates to Canada with their family, and the other chooses to remain in the homeland she loves, Scotland. The story follows their trials, losses, loves, and joys as they navigate through childhood and move toward adulthood.  Through their experiences the sisters learn that despite their physical distance their bond of love and sisterhood bind them forever together.  As they find their way through life apart they are still always together. 

    3. Critical Analysis

Frost seamlessly and intricately weaves her compelling tale of two sisters as she braids their experiences together, alternating narrative poems and smaller praise poems. The language and the sound of her prose rolls from the tongue, evoking feelings of longing, loss, courage, determination, and the harsh beautiful landscape of the sea which gives the characters their roots. Frost uses beautiful natural metaphors to enrich her text like the line, “Each stalk hold all the sun.”  Just as the sun and time feed each stock of wheat as it grows toward harvest, so to does time and experience provide growth and hope for Sarah and Jeannie through their experiences. This beautiful book of hope, loss, courage, and determination will find its way into the hearts of readers as they loose themselves in Frost's masterful prose.

4. Awards and Review Excerpt(s)

YALSA “Best Books for Young Adults, 2007”

2007 Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award Honor Book

2007 Honor Book: “Lion and the Unicorn” Award for Excellence in North American Poetry

School Library Journal “Best Books of the Year, 2006”

NCSS-CBC Notable Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies

Notable Book in Historical Fiction, 2007, for the Children's Literature Assembly (CLA)

Texas TAYSHAS High School Reading List

*Starred review in School Library Journal: "This gem of a book ultimately tackles age-old issues of teen pregnancy, death, poverty, and first love in a timeless manner.  Accomplished and impressive." 

*Starred review in Booklist: "The Braid is both powerful fact and stirring metaphor . . . the book will inspire students and teachers to go back and study how the taut poetic lines manage to contain the powerful feelings."

*Starred review in Publishers Weekly: “Frost's ingeniously structured novel in verse . . . may be set in 1850, but its themes will resonate with today's teens.  Memorable."

5. Connections

*Helen Frost gives a brief introduction into the history of the Highland Clearances during the 1850s. Find out more about this time in history in Scotland. What affect did this have on the people of this time? Where did the evicted people go? Did everyone journey to Canada? How did they decide where to relocate? What effects did this have on the countries they immigrated to? Make a timeline of important events and facts to share what you find out.

*Helen Frost's family heritage is linked to the Highland Clearances, as they too immigrated from Scotland to Canada. The Braid is a story of one family's emigration experience to a new country. Research your family history and find out your family's story of how they came to America. What historical events were taking place that might have caused them to make such a journey? Share your findings with your family.

*More books by Helen Frost:

Diamond Willow. 2011. ISBN 978-0312603830

Keesha's House. 2007. ISBN 978-0374400125

Crossing Stones. 2009. ISBN 978-0374316532

Spinning Through the Universe: A Novel in Poems from Room 214. 2004. ISBN 978- 0374371593