readingthroughtheages's review against another edition
4.0
I'll trade you a Junie B for a JoJo Makoons!
moviedust's review against another edition
5.0
This book is hilarious. It had my kids rolling on the floor with laughter at times and the adults thought it was funny too!
heisereads's review against another edition
5.0
Absolutely love this early chapter book with Native (Ojibwe) representation!! Funny, relatable story about friendship & school struggles of a 1st grader interspersed with helpful education on terms & traditions that would likely be unfamiliar to the majority of students. Having this kind of representation will be so valuable in helping kids start to see a more complete picture of Native identities grounded in the contemporary. Will definitely be adding to my elementary library collection.
teacher2library's review against another edition
4.0
Cute and funny! Give to your fans of spunky heroines like Lola Levine or Junie B. Jones.
One small annoyance is that the pronunciation guidance in the middle of the dialogue gets a little distracting at times.
One small annoyance is that the pronunciation guidance in the middle of the dialogue gets a little distracting at times.
readingwithkaitlyn's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
yapha's review against another edition
4.0
Boozhoo, Jo Jo Makoons! This is such a fantastic start to a new beginning chapter book series! Jo Jo Makoons is a fun and spunky first grader growing up on a fictional Ojibwe reservation. In this first book, she is navigating some friendship issues that come with school. There is a little bit of Ojibwe (and Michif) language mixed in, as well as references to daily life on the reservation. Super cute illustrations serve to up the child appeal. I look forward to reading more in this series. Highly recommended for grades 1 & up!
eARC provided by publisher via Edelweiss
eARC provided by publisher via Edelweiss
abigailbat's review against another edition
This book is SO CUTE AND FUNNY!!! I will never get over the Mimi rhyme. :) This series starter features a first grade Ojibwe girl living on a reservation. I'd hand it to fans of Lola Levine or Junie B. Love it, love it, love it, can't wait for more!
mezzythedragon's review against another edition
4.0
Cute chapter book. I like that this Native story is light, because all too often the stories published about them deal with trauma and pain and the ugly history that led to all that. While sadly that is true, people are more than their collective pain, so this is a great balance. Also shows kids that Natives are still here.
Also appreciate Jo Jo teaching pronunciations about her language. Love the line, "If you can say Tyrannosaurus rex, you can say nindizhinikaaz."
Another good scene was when she talks about her and Fern sitting at the Blue Table, or the "Kids Kicked Out of the Red Table 'Cause We Can't Read So Good." I know Quigley has a soft spot for kids who struggle with school, judging from her story in Ancestor Approved, so it's nice to see her portray them in all their complexities.
Also appreciate Jo Jo teaching pronunciations about her language. Love the line, "If you can say Tyrannosaurus rex, you can say nindizhinikaaz."
Another good scene was when she talks about her and Fern sitting at the Blue Table, or the "Kids Kicked Out of the Red Table 'Cause We Can't Read So Good." I know Quigley has a soft spot for kids who struggle with school, judging from her story in Ancestor Approved, so it's nice to see her portray them in all their complexities.
adotzam's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
klsriley's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0