The Middle Five

The Middle Five is a memoir chronicling Francis La Flesche's experiences at a Presbyterian mission school for Native American children in Nebraska during the 1860s. La Flesche, a member of the Omaha tribe, recounts his time as one of five close friends who navigate life at the boarding school together. The narrative follows the daily routines, challenges, and adventures of these young Native American boys as they encounter Western education and Christianity. Through detailed accounts of classroom incidents, playground games, and interactions with teachers, La Flesche captures the complex reality of straddling two cultural worlds. The book documents the methods and goals of the mission school system while maintaining focus on the genuine friendships and childhood experiences that shaped the author's early years. La Flesche's straightforward telling provides historical insights into a pivotal era of Native American education in the United States. This autobiographical work explores themes of cultural identity, friendship, and the impact of assimilation policies on Indigenous youth. The author's measured observations create a valuable historical record while highlighting universal experiences of childhood bonds and growth.

Readers appreciate La Flesche's firsthand account of Native American boarding school life in the 1860s, noting its balance between describing harsh realities and capturing childhood friendships and adventures. Multiple reviews mention the authentic voice and personal details that bring the story to life. Readers highlight the book's historical value in documenting daily routines, customs, and relationships between students and teachers at the Presbyterian Mission school. Several reviews note the engaging writing style makes complex cultural dynamics accessible. Some readers found the pacing slow in sections focused on school lessons and religious instruction. A few reviews mention wanting more details about the broader historical context and what happened to the students after leaving the school. Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (42 ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (12 ratings) "A rare glimpse into nineteenth-century Native American education from someone who lived it" - Goodreads reviewer "Important historical perspective but drags in places" - Amazon reviewer

The Education of Little Tree by Forrest Carter A Cherokee boy's experiences at an Indigenous boarding school in the 1930s present parallels to La Flesche's account through its depiction of cultural transition and education.

My Life as an Indian by James Willard Schultz This first-hand account chronicles life among the Blackfeet people and the intersection of Native and European-American cultures during the late 1800s.

Pipestone: My Life in an Indian Boarding School by Adam Fortunate Eagle The author's memoir details his time at a federal Indian boarding school in the 1930s from a Native perspective.

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie A Native American student navigates between his reservation school and a predominantly white high school, exploring themes of identity and education.

A Son of the Middle Border by Hamlin Garland This autobiography captures life on the American frontier during the same historical period as La Flesche's narrative, presenting another perspective on educational and cultural transformation in the Midwest.

🏫 Francis La Flesche was the first Native American ethnographer, dedicating his life to preserving Omaha and Osage cultures through detailed documentation and writings. 📚 The Middle Five is considered one of the first autobiographical works by a Native American author, published in 1900 during a time when few Indigenous voices were represented in literature. 🪶 The book's title refers to the author and his four close friends at the Presbyterian Mission school, where they straddled two worlds: their traditional Omaha upbringing and European-American education. 🗣️ La Flesche came from a prominent Omaha family; his father was Chief Iron Eye (Joseph La Flesche), who believed that education would help the Omaha people adapt and survive in a changing world. 🎵 Beyond his literary work, La Flesche made significant contributions to ethnomusicology by recording traditional Osage songs and ceremonies using wax cylinders in the early 1900s, many of which are preserved at the Library of Congress.