The Talking Earth - A Book Review

The Talking Earth
Written by Jean Craighead George
First published in 1983
Recommended age 8+
A book review by Anna Kay Thomas

In Jean Craighead George’s classic but always fresh style, she wrote this book in such a vibrant way to reveal the complexity of nature, the importance of conservation, and the people who came before us who had already figured these things out. Choosing the Everglades as her setting for this novel, she accurately paints a glorious picture of what treasures await us in the outdoors.

Living with her Seminole tribe in Florida, Billie Wind is convinced the earth is beyond saving and is a skeptic of her people’s traditions, outlook, and legends. When the Seminole Council members send her out into the Everglades to discover the voices of nature, Billie is determined to prove or disprove their beliefs by herself. Trying to keep an open mind through her survival in the wilderness, she finds that there may be wisdom in the ways of her people.

The reader learns about many things, including making natural bug repellent in the wild, the architectural style of the Calusa tribe, the traditions of the Seminole Tribe of Florida, how to contribute to the circle of life,  how to tell the weather, how to find food, how to know if a place is safe to live, and how to listen when the animals speak to us. The story follows creatures such as panthers, bats, woodpeckers, frogs, otters, marsh rabbits, turtles, and many others.

This book is for those who want historical fiction on Native American cultures, who want a guide to interpret all that nature tells us, who want to experience the Everglades from within its boundaries, and who are looking for a beautifully written approach to conservation that is encouraging. Wishing you the best on your literary trek!

“The animals know the Earth as we do not.” - Jean Craighead George

Reflective Question:

What was a time when you witnessed an animal being intuitive?

Photography by Anna Kay Thomas