The Indian in the Cupboard

The Indian in the Cupboard is a 1980 children's book written by British author Lynne Reid Banks. In the story, a young boy discovers that when he locks a toy plastic Indian, named Little Bear and later known as Little Bull, in an old bathroom cupboard, the figure comes to life.

The Indian in the Cupboard (1980)

The boy, Omri, discovers that the cupboard (which we later find out (in The Mystery of the Cupboard) is a creation of his great-uncle Frederick), if used in conjunction with a lead key (later revealed to be a creation of his great-great-aunt Jessica Charlotte Driscoll, who was a clairvoyant, magician, and dance-hall star during the early 20th century), brings the spirit of historical people forward in time, where they are imposed within the plastic toys. This leads to more trouble, when his passionate friend Patrick brings a cowboy (named Billy Boone) and horse into the present. Despite the fights and rivalries between the two tiny men, Patrick refuses to send them back until it is too late. At that point, the key goes missing, and Omri's brother Gillon's pet rat escapes into the annals of the house. Little Bear, Patrick, and Omri manage to recover the key before the little men are lost to the rat's hunger.

Little Bear is a demanding character, and ultimately Omri must provide him with a bride, Bright Stars, with whom the tribal prince goes home to his own time.

The Return of the Indian (1985)

In this, Omri discovers that any container can be made magic if locked with the leaden key. He and Patrick not only bring back Little Bear, the cowboy Billy Boone, Bright Stars, and the child which Bright Stars will give birth to, but also themselves travel back in time contemporaneous with Boone and Little Bear. When they discover that Little Bear's village is in danger, they mistakenly send a number of "now-guns" (twentieth-century firearms) back to the village, which end up in the hands of several warriors.

This turns out to be a terrible mistake. In spite of gun-use training by the capable Sergeant Fickits (another plastic figure brought to life), the warriors destroy one another by the dozen. The battle turns out to require intensive care from yet another figure, a hospital matron (called only "Matron"), to heal even a few of the wounded Indian warriors.

To make matters worse, a band of skinhead thieves infiltrate the house. Omri summons a company of minuscule soldiers from Fickits' regiment to drive away the marauders, but tiny bullet holes in the walls of Omri's house and some very shocked skinheads provide all-too-obvious evidence of the events that transpired.

The Secret of the Indian (1989)

The third book begins where the second left off. At the start, a police investigation takes place of the complicated situation, which reveals nothing save that a battle took place between Omri and the robbers. The tiny time-travelers are mostly hurt or dead, and the "big" people must send their bodies home. Among the living who go home are Fickits and Boone. Little Bear, Bright Stars, their newborn son Tall Bear, and Matron remain in the twentieth century. Matron is most annoyed and despairing that her patients are dying due to weapons that should never have entered their time. She urges Omri to "bring" some of her hospital staff to the room. The only obstacle is that the only corresponding toys are possessions of Patrick's cousin Tamsin, who is an ornery, teasing brat.

Yet there is a way. Tamsin has a sister, Emma, who is quite an open-minded person. She is let into the secret, in the hope of acquiring Tamsin's models (and, secretly, of bringing Boone's fiance forward in time.)

Patrick, meanwhile, has gone to visit Boone in his own time and place. Mistakenly, they pass in mid-"flight." Boone is nearly stifled, but Omri and Matron resurrect him with a few simple techniques. Later, Omri and Emma strike a bargain with Tamsin to obtain the doctor-figures. They are brought to the present, and Boone's horse is sent back. Patrick hitches a ride on this horse, and finds his way to the residence of Ruby Lou, Boone's fiance. These, with Boone's horse and the Reverend "Tickle" Tickson, find Boone but cannot revive him.

Boone is revived in Omri's house, with much help. He is somewhat shocked at the idea of being suffocated. The tribal warriors are sent home, with the momentary exception of Little Bear.

Mr. Johnson, the headmaster of Omri's school, briefly saw Little Bear and later decided that a composition Omri wrote based on the events that transpired around the cupboard was indeed based on fact. He interrogates Omri, but has little success.

Under duress, but thankfully out of sight, Omri brings Patrick back to the present -- and, unwittingly, a tornado occurring in Boone's time as well.

In the aftermath, Mr. Johnson drops the seemingly nonsensical charges against Omri, disheartened by losing his prized Porsche in the cyclone. Ruby Lou and Billy Boone are married in the twentieth century, then subsequently sent back home. Little Bear, now a victorious chieftain, Fickits, now an officer in earnest, Matron in mufti, and Tickle the minister and officiant all join in the wedding party.

Omri is now deeply concerned. He feels that playing around with time has done more harm than good, so he has the cupboard and key entombed in a safe-deposit box at the bank, having sent all his friends back home.

The Mystery of the Cupboard (1992)

This is the most occult-oriented of the books. Omri and family move to the rural country, where they have inherited a house from the family of Jessica Charlotte, Omri's "wicked" great-great aunt. There, Omri and Patrick learn the origin of the magic key and its history of time travel. They learn about Jenny, Elsie, Bert, and numerous other historical plastic figures who have been moved in time, including Jessica Charlotte herself. Omri's interference with his own family history sets the stage for his first adventures. In the end, Omri's father finds out about the "little people" and is let in on their adventures.

The Key to the Indian (1998)

Omri and his father have to help Little Bear in a dire time of need, so they go back to his time. Can they really find a solution which will allow Little Bear's tribe to live in peace? (Omri and his brother also accidentally go to old India and visit their great grandfather Matthew.)

Critique

Given the history of conquest and colonization, American Indians have not responded favorably to INDIAN IN THE CUPBOARD, where a white boy brings an Indian man to life and has power over the Indian man. An in-depth critique can be read here: http://www.oyate.org/books-to-avoid/indianCupboard.html

Film adaptation

• The Indian in the Cupboard was made into a movie in 1995.