MAGGIE LOU MEETS HER MATCH

A welcome return to the adventurous world of Maggie Lou and her big Métis family.

Uncle Bobby is marrying a Métis woman named Bonnie, and while Maggie Lou loves Auntie Bonnie, she finds her daughter, Rosie—who’s going to be her cousin—annoying. Soon the girls’ fighting hits a boiling point, and Kohkom, their grandmother, intervenes. She tells them about identical sister stars Piyak and Nîso, who constantly argued but finally realized that “if they stopped fighting, they could be bigger and brighter together.” Maggie Lou and Rosie agree to try to follow suit. In the second section, Maggie Lou dreams of being a cowgirl and competing at a rodeo like Rosie, and she endures embarrassing lessons on a “stubborn mini horse.” Kohkom shares more of the twin star story, and Maggie Lou realizes that while her skills are different from Rosie’s, they still have value. In the third and final section of the book, Maggie learns that her family used to be the champions of the Otipîm’sowak Race, the annual Métis Day six-person 10-kilometer relay. Maggie Lou decides to enter the junior division and form a team that includes Rosie. Training is difficult, and teamwork initially eludes them, but family prevails. Readers will find themselves cheering for Maggie Lou in this sequel that’s overflowing with humor and rich dialogue. Harvey’s occasional lively illustrations add to the charm.

A high-energy love letter to rambunctious girls, big families, and Métis culture.