The Education of Little Tree

Published in 1976, The Education of Little Tree is a memoir-styled work of fiction written by Forrest Carter, the pseudonym for Asa Earl Carter. The novel received some critical acclaim in the 1980s and was perceived to be the actual memoir of a child growing up in the wilds of Tennessee with his Cherokee grandparents. This premise resonated with the desire of the time to become more attuned to nature. However, the book has since faced controversy: The author’s family confessed that the events of the book are fictitious, and the story features inauthentic representations of Cherokee culture. Members of the Native American community have expressed their concern that the novel portrays caricatures and stereotypes rather than authentic experiences.

This guide refers to the 2001 University of New Mexico Press, 25th Anniversary edition of the book.

Content Warning: The author, Asa Earl Carter, took part in bigoted practices such as supporting segregation and advocating for white supremacy movements that worked against the Civil Rights Movement. While Carter’s personal beliefs do not play a direct role in the fictional events of the book, they do cause bias and prejudice to manifest in his writing, both overtly and covertly.