FIND HER

A story of persistence and family love emphasizing respect for animals, elders, and cultural customs.

Twelve-year-old Wren, who’s Cherokee and white, has exceptional tracking skills. Her family seems to have a knack for detective work; her dad’s the town’s police chief, after all. Even though her mom vanished over five years ago, Wren remains determined to find her. But her mom is just one of the many Indigenous women in Oklahoma who have gone missing, and Wren feels pain and frustration that no one is doing more about this tragedy. Wren follows her maternal grandmother Elisi’s advice to use her “finder feelings” to reunite missing pets with their owners. During a school project, she and class partner Brantley uncover an animal mystery and work together to find the criminal. Relying on her Wolf Clan knowledge, Wren recognizes her responsibility to protect animals, herself, and others. Debut author Reno (Cherokee) offers readers a powerful story that explores heart-wrenching themes, including Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls, animal torture, child abuse, and bullying. Informative backmatter expands on the epidemic of MMIWG and the meaning of the red handprint symbol, as well as Cherokee history in the book’s setting of Fort Gibson. Elisi is a source of guidance, humor, and comfort to Wren. After a slower start, the mystery unfolds, and once Wren is in pursuit of the culprit (with help from Brantley), the story takes off and will grip readers.

A dramatic and captivating call for attention.