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panda_incognito's review
4.0
This is a great chapter book biography about an indigenous ballerina. It is simple and easy to read, with great illustrations, providing a glimpse into Maria Tallchief's childhood, career, and advocacy.
My one critique is about the quote on the back of the book. I have already returned the book to the library, so I can't quote it directly, but it was something like, "It never would have occurred to me to say, 'No, that hurts.'" I would assume that in context, Tallchief was simply saying that she persisted in the face of difficult odds, mastering a challenging sport without backing down. However, since the book doesn't provide any context, it seems to imply that children shouldn't speak up for themselves, set boundaries, or respect their physical and mental limits. I don't know enough about the full statement to make any judgment about what Tallchief actually said, but I am shocked that a publisher in the 2020s would think this was a good quote to isolate on the back of a book for young children.
My one critique is about the quote on the back of the book. I have already returned the book to the library, so I can't quote it directly, but it was something like, "It never would have occurred to me to say, 'No, that hurts.'" I would assume that in context, Tallchief was simply saying that she persisted in the face of difficult odds, mastering a challenging sport without backing down. However, since the book doesn't provide any context, it seems to imply that children shouldn't speak up for themselves, set boundaries, or respect their physical and mental limits. I don't know enough about the full statement to make any judgment about what Tallchief actually said, but I am shocked that a publisher in the 2020s would think this was a good quote to isolate on the back of a book for young children.
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