Initially celebrated as an authentic autobiographical story, "The Education of Little Tree" by Forrest Carter encountered significant controversy regarding its authenticity. This tale, which purported to be a genuine account of Carter's life, faced scrutiny in October, 1991, when investigative reports from The New York Times, Newsweek, and Time unveiled that Forrest Carter was actually a pseudonym for Asa Earl Carter. Asa, a staunch segregationist in the 1960s, once contributed speeches to George Wallace and was allegedly linked to the Ku Klux Klan. Although Carter had previously denied this identity in 1976, his widow, India Carter, eventually confirmed it in 1991, albeit repudiating any association with the Ku Klux Klan.

Amidst the ensuing debate, various perspectives emerged. Critics lambasted the work as a hoax, while supporters like India Carter and Eleanor Freide, Carter’s editor, upheld its authenticity. They contended that Carter's grandparents were Cherokee and that he employed the creative liberties typical of autobiographical narratives. Contrastingly, Professor Dan T. Carter of Emory University challenged these claims, maintaining that The Education of Little Tree is indeed a work of fiction rather than an autobiography.

Irrespective of the controversy, the book achieved remarkable commercial success, selling over 600,000 copies and being named the American Booksellers Book of the Year in 1991. Its reissue in paperback by the University of New Mexico Press in 1986 dramatically boosted its popularity, particularly among Native Americans who appreciated its portrayal of Native American culture. Rennard Strickland, a Cherokee and director of the Center for the Study of American Indian Law and Policy at the University of Oklahoma, contributed an introduction to the 1986 edition. He noted that "students of Native American life discovered the book to be as accurate as it was mystical and romantic." Even in 1991, Strickland defended the book's depiction of "the experiences of isolated pockets of Indians in the South," and highlighted the "outsider" theme as a compelling feature that resonated with young adult literature.

Regardless of whether it is classified as fiction or autobiography, The Education of Little Tree continues to captivate readers with the charming innocence of its protagonist. This narrative, steeped in themes of cultural identity and belonging, offers an insightful exploration of an enduringly appealing character whose naïve wisdom enchants audiences across generations.