barrentree's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
rain_baby's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
jeanettesonya's review against another edition
4.0
A fantastic book for the grades 4-6 crowd. It deals realistically with an incredibly tough issue (60s Scoop and the theft of indigenous children by the government) without sugar coating it, while anchoring the story within the relatable drama of girls growing up.
My only complaint is that the 60s Scoop is described as being something left in the past, something that no longer happens, while Indigenous kids still make up a disproportionate percentage of kids in the foster system. There is little acknowledgement of the way these sorts of things a) still happen and b) reverberate into the present. Even the way Edie is treated by some of the other characters is never explicitly portrayed as anything other than the drama of girls growing up.
But still, an excellent middle grade read.
My only complaint is that the 60s Scoop is described as being something left in the past, something that no longer happens, while Indigenous kids still make up a disproportionate percentage of kids in the foster system. There is little acknowledgement of the way these sorts of things a) still happen and b) reverberate into the present. Even the way Edie is treated by some of the other characters is never explicitly portrayed as anything other than the drama of girls growing up.
But still, an excellent middle grade read.
aotora's review against another edition
5.0
This was a fairly short but beautiful book. Not many children books touch on Native American heritage and injustices done to them in the past but this one does it. And I love it.
It's not full of tired old tropes like losing a mother or a father or a divorce either. It's a book about secrets and uncovering them.
And it's also not one of those books that portray Native people like the stereotypical Indians that live a wild life and have spirit animals and whatnot either.
I learned so much about the past and injustices from this short book. Edie's mom was adopted by white parents at her birth and she doesn't want to speak about her past. She is Native and so is her daughter. Her daughter gets bullied and asked weird questions all the time, but she can't really answer them because she doesn't know anything about her past. Until one day when she is in her attic with her best friends and they find a box full of letters and postcards, and pictures of a woman that looks eerily similar to her.
And from there we learn more about her mother and her past- about how people throw slurs at Natives and how people still treat them like lesser human beings to this day. About protests. About how the woman on the pictures, Edie's grandma went to Hollywood to act in movies but they either portrayed her as a stereotype either refused to give her full roles. About Sacheen Littlefeather and her protest. How when she gave birth to Edie's mom she was in Seattle and when they took her to the hospital they stole her child and gave it up for adoption because they assumed that she wouldn't be a capable mother and how they did that to many more Native parents.
It's a heavy but beautiful story full of injustices and hope - and I loved the ending so much.
I think that this should be read in every school because kids need to learn more about Natives and their history, not just stereotypes. We need more books like this and this book made me want to learn more about the culture and read more books about them, which I hopefully will. I love this book and it's one of the rare books I read in a couple of hours because it really made me want to read more.
This book is beautiful. This book is great. This book is important. Read it when you have a chance, it's worth it I promise.
It's not full of tired old tropes like losing a mother or a father or a divorce either. It's a book about secrets and uncovering them.
And it's also not one of those books that portray Native people like the stereotypical Indians that live a wild life and have spirit animals and whatnot either.
I learned so much about the past and injustices from this short book. Edie's mom was adopted by white parents at her birth and she doesn't want to speak about her past. She is Native and so is her daughter. Her daughter gets bullied and asked weird questions all the time, but she can't really answer them because she doesn't know anything about her past. Until one day when she is in her attic with her best friends and they find a box full of letters and postcards, and pictures of a woman that looks eerily similar to her.
And from there we learn more about her mother and her past- about how people throw slurs at Natives and how people still treat them like lesser human beings to this day. About protests. About how the woman on the pictures, Edie's grandma went to Hollywood to act in movies but they either portrayed her as a stereotype either refused to give her full roles. About Sacheen Littlefeather and her protest. How when she gave birth to Edie's mom she was in Seattle and when they took her to the hospital they stole her child and gave it up for adoption because they assumed that she wouldn't be a capable mother and how they did that to many more Native parents.
It's a heavy but beautiful story full of injustices and hope - and I loved the ending so much.
I think that this should be read in every school because kids need to learn more about Natives and their history, not just stereotypes. We need more books like this and this book made me want to learn more about the culture and read more books about them, which I hopefully will. I love this book and it's one of the rare books I read in a couple of hours because it really made me want to read more.
This book is beautiful. This book is great. This book is important. Read it when you have a chance, it's worth it I promise.
gabieowleyess's review against another edition
4.0
This book took a little bit of time to grow on me, but it totally had me captivated by the end. UGH! I NEED this in my classroom next year. I will be teaching 5th grade and I think this will be SUCH a beautiful book to read to them. It also has great Native representation that I am always searching for. Lovely lovely book <3
lisamdargatz's review against another edition
4.0
"Smiles aren't beautiful because of teeth. Smiles are beautiful because of a person's spirit."
booksta_adventure's review against another edition
5.0
Listened to this audiobook with my kids, as it is on their Battle of the Books list, and was impressed. It brought up important topics in a very kid-friendly way. The audiobook narration was well done, and would make a good road trip listen (which is what we did.)
teacher2library's review against another edition
3.0
This novel tackles so many tough things - friendship, family, secrets, separation, self-discovery - and yet still comes across as a hopeful story.
When Edie rummages around in the attic looking for popsicle molds with her best friends, the last thing she expects to find is a mysterious box filled with photos of a woman who looks just like her... and who shares the same name. What's going on? Wasn't her mom adopted by a white couple? Isn't that why Edie knows next to nothing about her Native heritage? As Edie seeks the untold story behind her name, readers get pulled both into the present day mystery and the painful past.
When Edie rummages around in the attic looking for popsicle molds with her best friends, the last thing she expects to find is a mysterious box filled with photos of a woman who looks just like her... and who shares the same name. What's going on? Wasn't her mom adopted by a white couple? Isn't that why Edie knows next to nothing about her Native heritage? As Edie seeks the untold story behind her name, readers get pulled both into the present day mystery and the painful past.
julieartz's review against another edition
5.0
This touching and heartbreaking book explores changing friendships, family secrets, and the devastating outcome of our government’s cruel and inhuman policy of separating Native children from their families.
readingwithkaitlyn's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Kidnapping
Minor: Bullying, Cultural appropriation, and Violence
MMIWG2S, Wounded Knee, Fort Lawton, ICWA,