Song of the Young Tree

Author: Forrest Carter
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-01-01
Features: The thing contemporary people should do when they discover something beautiful is to share it with anyone they meet. A wonderful book worth reading for your whole family, one of the 100 outstanding books recommended by the General Administration of Press and Publication for teenagers. There are two kinds of minds in the human body, one of which is related to the survival of the flesh. We use this physical mind to find shelter from the wind and rain and food to fill our bellies. We also have another mind that has nothing to do with these physical needs—it is the spiritual mind. If a person thinks only with the physical mind, his actions will become greedy and base. If he only thinks about how to exploit his fellow humans and profit from them, his spiritual mind will shrink to the size of a walnut. Nature is clearing away the afterbirth left over from last year's production, so that this year's new life can have a clean living space and grow stronger. Summer is the time when the life force is most vibrant, like a person in their prime. When the withering autumn wind blows, we feel ourselves beginning to age, and a longing for home fills our hearts. Some call this feeling nostalgia. The winter when all things fall silent is like the death of our bodies, but when spring comes, they are reborn. The Song of the Young Tree is a book compiled by Forrest Carter, an American writer of Native American descent. It primarily depicts the growth process and life adventures of a young boy with Native American heritage named Little Tree. When Little Tree was very young, his parents died, and later, he lived in the mountains with his grandfather and grandmother, relying on each other for survival. Since his grandfather and grandmother were both traditional Native Americans, Little Tree was fortunate to gain some unique lifestyles and experiences. From a young age, his grandfather taught Little Tree to become a brave and responsible Native American, and they took pride in being Native Americans. Little Tree's grandfather had a simple, wild personality, which naturally formed a life philosophy of living in harmony with nature. He taught Little Tree to observe the ecology of plants and animals and the laws of nature. His grandfather taught him how to listen to the morning breeze whispering softly through the forest and the various sounds, telling Little Tree, "The mountains are gradually coming alive!" He also told Little Tree about the natural rules of the eagle's attack and used the analogy of hunting deer to catch the weak and thin ones, so that the strong ones could produce strong offspring. "The end of life is a natural thing, and there is rebirth only with death," he said. "As long as you live in harmony with the forest, it will provide you with everything you need to live." By carefully chewing on the wisdom of the Native American, you will understand nature. If you don't know the past, you won't have a future, nor will you know where to go. Little Tree's grandmother said, "When you discover something beautiful, the thing you should do is share it with anyone you meet, so that the beauty can spread freely in the world." "It is better to teach a person how to fish than to give them a fish." If you just give them immediate help, you may have to support them for their entire lives, which could ruin them. Little Tree has deeply imprinted in everyone's thoughts, changing our perception of the world. It is a very warm story, neither nor, but after reading it, no one will forget it. The innocent heart of the Native American boy in the book stands in stark contrast to the overly materialistic society today, undoubtedly like a gentle stream of clear water. It makes us reopen our eyes, full of childlike wonder, to discover the beauty around us, learn to be grateful, and learn to share. Perhaps a simple life can make our hearts soften again, filling in a necessary lesson in life. Never forget what Little Tree's grandmother said: "When you discover something beautiful, the thing you should do is share it with anyone you meet." The Song of the Young Tree was written by Forrest Carter, whose real name was Isaac. It is said that he had one-eighth Native American heritage and was once a radical segregationist. The Song of the Young Tree is one of his many outstanding works. Since its publication in 1977, it has received unanimous praise from American literary critics. The Song of the Young Tree is a book that brings people close to nature and an educational novel for children and parents. The author uses fluent language and a lively, mountain-stream-like writing style to depict the unique scenery and atmosphere of the wilderness. Phrases like "stars riding on ripples and splashes, jumping in the stream" filled with fantasy and childlike wonder paint vivid pictures of childhood life, with every word brimming with poetic romance.