Introduces a delightful Métis family that many Indigenous people will relate to, especially through their joking, and that all readers will love getting to know.
Twelve-year-old Maggie Lou’s brilliant ideas get her (and sometimes her siblings) into mischief and inspire her nickname, Firefox. After seeing Maggie Lou play fighting outside, Moshôm, her grandfather, offers to teach her how to box. However, boxing is not as exhilarating at first as she imagined it to be. She needs to “know how to listen and follow directions” and is put to work mopping the ring. She also gets picked on by some sexist boys and finds the drills boring. But she follows Moshôm’s teachings—and has the upper hand when it finally comes time to step in the ring. Over summer vacation, Maggie Lou keeps busy building things from her notebook labeled “Plans to Dominate the World,” and she gets Dad to allow her to help out with his construction crew. Surrounded by the women in her family, Maggie Lou learns how to shoot her mom’s Winchester rifle in preparation for hunting season. After an unsuccessful hunt with her uncle and older brother, all three become the center of their family’s teasing. Métis author Bowes weaves cultural elements, including Northern Michif words, into this charming story that skillfully captures sweetly hilarious and loving everyday moments. Black-and-white illustrations enhance the text.
An amusing story showcasing Métis humor at its finest.
(author’s note, glossary) (Fiction. 9-13)