YA – Warrior Girl Unearthed

Boulley, Angeline. Warrior Girl Unearthed. Henry Holt and Co., 2023. 978-1-250-76658-8. $19.99. 400 p. Grades 9-12.

Perry Firekeeper Birch is looking forward to her summer vacation without any responsibilities. When she damages her auntie’s Jeep, she joins a summer program, along with her twin sister Pauline, in order to pay her back. In addition to her internship placement, she joins team “misfit toys” with some of the other reluctant interns. Together, they compete in team challenges and assist in a police investigation into the disappearance of women from her tribe. When Perry learns about the bones of one of her Anishinaabe ancestors, “Warrior Girl,” being kept at a local university, they come up with a plot to return the sacred remains to where they belong. 

THOUGHTS: Warrior Girl Unearthed is a follow up to Firekeeper’s Daughter. However, enough time has passed between the stories that readers can pick up this novel without having read the other. Readers unfamiliar with Native American ancestral burial rites will gain some insight into NAGPRA and empathy for tribes who are unable to bring their ancestors home. I enjoyed Perry’s journey as she matured and grew and learned more about her tribe’s history. As a protagonist, her actions and emotions will be very relatable to readers as she deals with the injustices of her tribe. The novel’s mystery and powerful messages will keep readers hooked until the very end.

Fantasy

MG – The Star That Always Stays

Johnson, Anna Rose. The Star That Always Stays. Holiday House, 2022. 978-0-823-45040-4. 274 p. $17.99. Grades 5-9.

The year is 1914 in Boyne City, Michigan, and 14 year old Norvia has her life turned upside down after her parents divorce and her mother remarries. A divorce is considered scandalous during this time, and Norvia and her siblings are about to discover the stigma that is attached to them when they move into their new home. In addition to the divorce, Norvia is discovering that not everyone is accepting of her Ojibwe heritage. Despite all the challenges facing the five Nelson siblings, they are determined to make the most of their new lives. And along the way they discover the benefits of a strong family unit whether they are connected by  blood or through marriage. 

THOUGHTS: This was a lovely historical fiction book. I enjoyed the setting, the story, and most of all the delightful and vivid characters.

Historical Fiction          Victoria Dziewulski, Plum Borough SD

Elem. – Finding My Dance

Thundercloud, Ria. Finding My Dance. Illustrated by Kalila J. Fuller. Penguin Workshop, 2022. 978-0-593-09389-4. Unpaged. $18.99. Grades K-5.

At four years old,  Thundercloud is given a beautiful, hand sewn jingle dress with “silver cones that clinked together and made the most beautiful sound…like rainfall.” Thundercloud is from the Ho-Chunk Nation (Wisconsin and Sandia Pueblo, New Mexico) who values dance, and she is told that her dances will “send blessings to everyone watching.” So begins Thundercloud’s journey into the powwow circle where Indigenous people gather to “honor [their] culture through song and dance.” Every summer while her love for dancing continues to grow, Thundercloud and her brothers travel the powwow trail. Progressing through different traditional Native dances, she also is on an internationally recognized dance team and studies styles of dance that students may recognize: modern, jazz, tap, contemporary, and ballet. The confining structure of styles like ballet, though, sometimes make Thundercloud feel “like an outsider.” While she was the only Indigenous girl in a class and had her name constantly said incorrectly, dance always made her feel better. Later a professional dancer, Thundercloud never loses sight of her roots. Colorful illustrations beautifully capture Thundercloud’s emotions and passion for dance. A moving tribute to traditional Indigenous dancers, Finding My Dance will be enjoyed by anyone who appreciates the art and beauty of dance.

THOUGHTS: Highly recommended for elementary collections, especially those looking to add Indigenous representation.

Picture Book          Maryalice Bond, South Middleton SD
Biography

YA – Hunting by Stars

Dimaline, Cherie. Hunting by Stars. Harry N. Abrams, 2021. 978-1-419-75347-3. 400 p. $18.99. Grades 11-12. 

In a post-apocalyptic world where few can still dream, the brutal story of French begins. The ability to dream leaves people zombie-like, unable to remain physical or mentally well. The bone marrow of those who can still breathe becomes a commodity that is priceless. French is Indigenous to North America and is still able to dream, as many of his tribe. He has lived on the land for a while, but gets taken into one of the government schools where bone marrow is extracted and harvested. His tribe continues to seek survival in the wild while they work to be united. The story is dark and hopeful, heartbreaking and guttural, gripping, and terrifying. 

THOUGHTS: Technically, this title is a sequel to The Marrow Thieves, so it is an absolute must for libraries with Dimaline’s other novel. It’s a heavy story that has a lot of representation in a genre that has little Indigenous, LGBTQ+, and other representation. There are also many parallels to current events in Canada and the United States regarding mass graves at residential schools that would be an opportunity for discussion and curricular tie-ins.  

Science Fiction          Samantha Hull, Ephrata SD

MG/YA – Everything You Wanted to Know About Indians But Were Afraid to Ask: Young Readers Edition

Treuer, Anton. Everything You Wanted to Know About Indians But Were Afraid to Ask: Young Readers Edition. Levine Querido. 2021. 978-1-646-14045-9. $18.99. 383 p. Grades: 7-up.

A Native Ojibwe professor of Ojibwe language and culture at the University of Bemidji in northern Minnesota, Anton Treuer has compiled a thorough exploration of Native American history, past and present. Formatted as questions and answers, Dr. Treuer separates the material in essays on the following topics: terminology; history; religion, culture, identity; powwow; tribal languages; politics; economics; education; social activism; perspectives. Among the subjects discussed are how to refer to Native Americans (which term to use), explanation of different customs and ceremonies, justification for reservations, criticism of imposed governmental removals and Indian schools, gender identity, women’s roles, and marriage in Native American community, identification of Native inventions and discoveries, and discussion of incidents connected to Native Americans. The information, albeit short, is noteworthy because of the wide variety covered. Students can use the detailed index to research Native American life; all ages can benefit from educating themselves on the Indigenous people whose home colonizers disrupted. Dr. Treuer writes in a relatable style, often posing his own carefully crafted opinions on some sensitive subjects and providing a personal touch to otherwise expository writing. This guidebook adapted for young readers is an essential purchase for school libraries. In addition to the index, the book includes photographs, recommended readings, and notes.

THOUGHTS: Each section of this book begins with quote(s), and I was surprised to see under the History heading one by Adolph Hitler. Rest assured, Treuer is reinforcing the devastation of Native American history, compared with Hitler’s annihilation of people. Treuer’s father, Robert Treuer, was an Austrian-Jew who escaped the Holocaust because of his mother’s efforts in securing transport to England and then, America. Dr. Treuer is steeped in his own mother’s Ojibwe heritage, and his non-Native father was also an advocate for Native American rights. Easy to use as a reference tool or for cover-to-cover reading, Everything You Wanted to Know About Indians But Were Afraid to Ask, fulfills a need in everyone’s school collection and supports the continuing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion work.

970 History of North America          Bernadette Cooke   School District of Philadelphia
908.9 History of Ethnic and National Groups