Part 2, Neebin (Summer), Chapters 1 and 2 Summary

"The Birchbark House" As eight-year-old Omakayas (a name that translates as "Little Frog", given to her because she always seems to be jumping about) explores a quiet swamp, she is called by her grandmother (Nokomis), who wants her help peeling the birchbark that will be used in constructing a summer house for their family. Happy to help, Omakayas runs to join her. She listens as Nokomis prays for forgiveness from the spirit of the tree, and watches as she finds exactly the right spot to start, makes a couple of initial cuts, and peels the bark in long sheets. As Omakayas and Nokomis sew the sheets of birchbark together into a house, narration describes the rest of Omakayas' family - loving Mama, beautiful older sister Angeline, selfish younger brother Pinch, and happy baby Neewo. The...