A journey for identity and belonging that borders on culturally harmful.
A father recounts true events surrounding the difficult birth of his son, Lakota, an experience that challenges him to be triple brave.
Moments after being born, doctors rush Lakota away, requiring the narrator to leave his wife, who suffers complications from prolonged labor, and follow. When Lakota stabilizes, the father returns to her side. Just as the new parents feel “the worst [has] passed,” Hurricane Harvey forces their evacuation. The remaining story revolves around the legacy a father hopes to impart. What starts as a simple story centered on themes of bravery, resilience, and family and community bonds becomes mired in several ways. With its menulike selection of Native Nations, gatherings, artifacts, events, ceremonies, heroes, and metaphors, the tale reads more Pan-Indian than urban-Native. Additionally, generic phrases such as “Native American ancestry,” “gift of my culture,” and “folktales and legends” call attention to themselves with their outsider perspective and lack of specificity. However, the biggest issue results from a misguided attempt to equate deliberately systematic, historical, “forced” removals of Native Nations with a natural disaster evacuation, an event itself oddly described as “a trip.” A watercolor illustration depicting the Trail of Tears reinforces this inappropriate comparison. Other images include hackneyed motifs—horses, eagles, wind, and feathers. Rather than celebrating genuine heritage, this tale uses self-identification/family stories to claim Native American descent, presents Pan-Indian tropes as a singular Native identity, and attacks sovereignty by suggesting a DNA test legitimizes connection.
A journey for identity and belonging that borders on culturally harmful. (author’s note) (Picture book. 6-8)Pub Date: May 7, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-57687-914-6
Page Count: 32
Publisher: POW!
Review Posted Online: March 16, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2019
Cuándo quieras un perro feliz, look no further.
A young Latine boy finally gets to rescue the dog of his dreams, but training can be a challenge in two languages.
Like many children, José has been dreaming of having a pet of his own, specifically un perro, a dog. Like any good owner, José promptly begins training his new canine companion but soon realizes his rescue mutt, Feliz, knows only words in English. This is a problem because in José’s home everyone speaks both Spanish and English. José and Feliz must rise to the challenge; fortunately, treats and snuggles are great motivators. The narrative uses Spanish words and phrases throughout (“perros blancos,” “¡Yo quiero este!” “¡Sientate!”), usually with English context clues for understanding. This is complex vocabulary for an early reader, and the shifting in phonics from English to Spanish will be challenging for true beginners; the book is best suited for intermediate to advanced readers in dual-language classrooms or homes. Much like Feliz, however, it is sure to find a loving (and bilingual) home. Cheerful illustrations complement the text, helping readers make sense of the narrative. While José and his mother are darker-skinned, his father and sister are lighter-skinned. (This review has been updated for accuracy.)
Cuándo quieras un perro feliz, look no further. (glossary of Spanish-English words) (Early reader. 6-8)Pub Date: April 25, 2023
ISBN: 978-0-593-52116-8
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Penguin Workshop
Review Posted Online: Jan. 11, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
An effective early chapter book conveyed in a slightly overdone gag.
Epistolary dispatches from the eternal canine/feline feud.
Simon the cat is angry. He had done a good job taking care of his boy, Andy, but now that Andy’s parents are divorced, a dog named Baxter has moved into Andy’s dad’s house. Simon believes that there isn’t enough room in Andy’s life for two furry friends, so he uses the power of the pen to get Baxter to move out. Inventively for the early-chapter-book format, the story is told in letters written back and forth; Simon’s are impeccably spelled on personalized stationery while Baxter’s spelling slowly improves through the letters he scrawls on scraps of paper. A few other animals make appearances—a puffy-lipped goldfish who for some reason punctuates her letter with “Blub…blub…” seems to be the only female character (cued through stereotypical use of eyelashes and red lipstick), and a mustachioed snail ferries the mail to and fro. White-appearing Andy is seen playing with both animals as a visual background to the text, as is his friend Noah (a dark-skinned child who perhaps should not be nicknamed “N Man”). Cat lovers will appreciate Simon’s prickliness while dog aficionados will likely enjoy Baxter’s obtuse enthusiasm, and all readers will learn about the time and patience it takes to overcome conflict and jealousy with someone you dislike.
An effective early chapter book conveyed in a slightly overdone gag. (Fiction. 6-8)Pub Date: May 12, 2020
ISBN: 978-0-8234-4492-2
Page Count: 80
Publisher: Holiday House
Review Posted Online: Jan. 20, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2020
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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