Stories rated by enjoyment. While this anthology wasn’t for me, I’m always glad for more diverse stories.

What Is a Pow Wow (3 stars)
A cute, healthy portrayal of a mom’s boyfriend and a kid bonding.
Fancy Dancer (2 stars)
Grandad finds his love for dance again.
Warriors of Forgiveness (2 stars)
Feels way too good to be true. Not the part about some older people’s too-trusting nature. That was accurate.
Brothers (3 stars)
Rez Dogs (2 stars)
Strong ending
Secrets and Surprises (2 stars)

Wendigos Don’t Dance (3 stars)

Indian Price (3.5 stars or 4ish)

Senecavajo (2.5 stars)
Unlikely friendship with the school bully? I guess. Still, I liked this one.
Squash Blossom Bracelet: Kevin’s Story (3 stars)
Ohhh, a dual POV. Somehow, I liked Kevin’s narrative the slightest bit more than Alan’s.
Joey Reads the Sky (3 stars)

What We Know About Glaciers (3.5 stars)
If you’re not taking care of yourself, you’re no good to anyone else.
Little Fox and the Case of the Missing Regalia (2 stars)

The Ballad of Maggie (3 stars)

Bad Dog (3 stars)

Between the Lines (3 stars)

Circles (3.5 stars) ( )

11
Novel 2

I enjoyed this collection of interlocking stories 1poem. The characters were nicely connected from one story to the next. Wonderful variation on pov. Great selection of writers. ( )

Eighteen Native American writers each write a story about a child and their family heading towards a pow wow in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Since the eighteen authors are from a variety of tribes spanning the US and Canada, the stories include kids from many indigenous nations.

Many of the stories are somewhat alike as a young person gets ready to compete in dance contests, help their family sell items at the pow-wow, meet far away family members and meet new friends. Sometimes the characters, especially a dog wearing a tee shirt that says ‘Ancestor Approved” are recurring. A few include a supernatural encounter.

My favorite was “Little Fox and the Case of the Missing Regalia” by Erika T. Wurth. In it, a young detective solves a series of thefts and deals with the wrongdoer in a very Indian way.

These stories highlight the differences and similarities in various tribes and families. All are uplifting and positive – there is none of the uncomfortable grit that characterizes many books by Native authors written for adults. And although, I’ve never been quite certain if white people are welcomed at powwows, while this book does address cultural appropriation, it also makes clear that everyone is invited to attend and participate in particular ways.

The front of the library book I borrowed is marked Grade 4 reading level; grade 4-7 interest level. ( )

This collection of short stories by indigenous authors all across the U.S. tell the stories of several Native children, generally between the ages of 9 and 12, who are all going to a powwow in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

The stories really showcase the depth and breadth of the experiences of Native people today. Some kids live in a tribal community, some do not. The shared space of the powwow allows some overlap in the stories, and it was fun to see a character from one pop up in the other. The quality of stories varied - none were bad, but some had the stilted sort of writing of an adult not sure how to write for kids, or someone used to novels unsure with a short story format. My favorites were "Rez Dog Rules" by Rebecca Roanhorse, in which the main character was indeed the dog, and "Bad Dog" by Joseph Bruchac, in which a boy named Wendell has an encounter with an older man who imparts some wisdom. I'll look forward to checking out some of the longer works by the authors included here. ( )