The Return of the Indian

September 30, 1987
In this sequel to the acclaimed The Indian in the Cupboard, Omri decides to see Little Bear again and turns the key that brings the three-inch toy to life. Ages 8-12.

November 1, 1986
Gr 5-7 -A little over a year has passed since Omri's adventures with a cupboard that could magically bring plastic toys to life. Excited by a prize he won for a story about his adventures with the cupboard, Omri wants to share the news with Little Bear. His joy evaporates when he activates the cupboard and finds a critically wounded Little Bear. Omri and his friend Patrick find and bring to life a small plastic nurse who saves Little Bear, but the tiny Iroquois chief is determined to return to his village, which is under attack from the French. Unsure of what to do, the boys assemble an army of plastic Indians and equip them with modern machine guns. The Indians are devastated, and Little Bear, depressed by his failure, withdraws until he learns of his new son and of Omri's successful story. This is a wonderful sequel, beautifully recreating the magic of the original while adding a darker thread of reality. Banks' rich style brings all of the characters to life. Readers experience the boys' delight in their creation as it is tempered by the realization that their casual actions are having drastic results on real people who have magically become living toys. Of course this is a fantastic situation, but Banks manages to validate it with her realistic details and believable emotions. Highly recommended for fantasy readers and adventure lovers, but be sure that they have read The Indian in the Cupboard (Doubleday, 1981) first. Anne Connor, Los Angeles Public Library