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bookish_mrs_w's review against another edition
3.0
3.5
I can’t say this was the most exciting book I read. However, it was informative and for 8-10 year olds, I think this is a great book to slowly introduce social justice. It did have a really great message about heritage and what makes a person who they are and that nobody can take that away.
I can’t say this was the most exciting book I read. However, it was informative and for 8-10 year olds, I think this is a great book to slowly introduce social justice. It did have a really great message about heritage and what makes a person who they are and that nobody can take that away.
crawfsie's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Read for a book review- really enjoyed it!
onceuponacarm's review against another edition
5.0
Regina’s family is Umpqua until their tribe is terminated by the US government. What does that mean for her family, her people, her identity? When her dad moves the family to LA, Regina is confronted with what it means to be “Indian” for the first time, as she sees this identity in contrast to those of her friends, neighbors, and even media depictions. This is a moving, own voice novel inspired by the author childhood experiences, lovingly and meticulously edited after her passing, and accompanied by detailed notes about language, history, and the process of creating this book. Recommended reading for all (probably best for 8-12 year olds in general) and recommended for elementary and children’s libraries as a first choice.
Note: contains the N word, two explicit incidents of racial aggression, internalized racism, alcohol abuse, and death
Note: contains the N word, two explicit incidents of racial aggression, internalized racism, alcohol abuse, and death
readmoreyall's review against another edition
4.0
I feel the inclusion of the n word to be unnecessary here.
migimon2002's review against another edition
4.0
Interesting American perspectives portrayed in this book; I’d really like to delve further into comparisons between the US & Canadian Indigenous experiences. I appreciate this was based on the author’s real life experiences (although finished separately by a co-author) - it adds authenticity that inspires one to learn more + do better.
showell's review against another edition
5.0
I learned of this book through Dr. Debbie Reese’s extensive work assessing how Indigenous peoples are represented in children’s literature (https://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com/?m=1). I had visited her site originally during the process of deciding whether to weed a different book from our middle school library, and her review of this one caught my eye.
I had no idea that Congress passed a law in the 1950s just stripping tribes of their identity so that the US would no longer have to fulfill its treaty obligations to those tribes. It blew my mind.
Charlene Willing McManus & Traci Sorell have written an amazing story about the devastating impact that law had on Indigenous families whose tribes were so abruptly terminated without their consent. This book, and its wealth of characters, Regina, Peewee, Chich, Mama, and Daddy grabbed my heart and wouldn’t let go.
I had no idea that Congress passed a law in the 1950s just stripping tribes of their identity so that the US would no longer have to fulfill its treaty obligations to those tribes. It blew my mind.
Charlene Willing McManus & Traci Sorell have written an amazing story about the devastating impact that law had on Indigenous families whose tribes were so abruptly terminated without their consent. This book, and its wealth of characters, Regina, Peewee, Chich, Mama, and Daddy grabbed my heart and wouldn’t let go.
ellenpederson's review against another edition
4.0
Hugely important topic that not enough people know about. I worry that students of the target age (4th-6th grade, more or less) might miss out on some of the social pressures and historical context. This would be fantastic as a class book study with ELA and social studies integration. (4th grade teachers, I'm looking at you!)
It's important to note the fact that the novel is based on one of the co-authors' childhood experiences. Termination isn't some vague issue of the distant past -- people are still living through the consequences today.
It's important to note the fact that the novel is based on one of the co-authors' childhood experiences. Termination isn't some vague issue of the distant past -- people are still living through the consequences today.
theokaysarah's review against another edition
4.0
Indian No More by Charlene Willing McManis follows the story of a young Umpqua girl named Regina whose family is forced to relocate due to the U.S. government signing a bill into effect that claims Regina's tribe no longer exists. Struggling to find opportunities, Regina's family moves to California in hopes of finding financial stability. This story was an emotional, eye-opening read. McManis is very forward with the atrocities that occurred to not only the Umpqua people but many other minorities as well. I enjoyed the pacing of this story, however, I did not find it to be a super quick read as the story is an emotionally heavy one. The setting of this story is 1950s America and some of the language reflects that. Prior to bringing this book into the classroom, it would be a good idea to speak with students on the weight of language, and perhaps the history of it as well. Although the language is intense at some points in this book, it is very important that students have a space to acknowledge it. Even though some students have not faced discrimination based on their race, others have and it is crucial that we as educators provide space to discuss these heavy topics. As someone that is looking into going into upper-elementary or middle school education, I definitely want to keep this book in mind for my future classroom library. Overall, I found Indian No More to be a great story with excellent diversity representation and honest portrayals of experiences of the time period.
meaganmart's review against another edition
3.0
I found this novel to be educational and enjoyable. I had no idea that the federal government had terminated Native American tribes in the 50s in order to strip their funding, and their land and rob them of their cultural heritage. It is incredibly distressing to see the way that the federal government has continued to treat those of Native American descent, even in our not-so-distant past.
When 8-year-old Regina Petit's tribe is federally terminated, she feels lost. The reservation is the only home she has ever known, her cousins her only playmates. Now, her father wants to take advantage of funding from the Bureau of Indian Affairs and resettle the family in a city that can provide more opportunity and more room for growth. The Petits land in Los Angeles and the learning curve is steep for the entire family as they try to adjust to a radically different way of life than they have ever known. Regina makes new friends, builds a new community, and wrestles with her self-identity as she struggles to understand what it means to be Native American in a community whose only knowledge of Native Americans comes from racist and backward depictions on television.
I would have rated this novel 4 stars, but one of the characters is physically assaulted when her father comes home and cuts all of her hair off in a drunken rage to make her "American" and "no longer an Indian." If this had been done by someone on the street it would have been prosecuted as a hate crime. But the author simply glosses over the incident. There is no apology from the father, no discussion with another adult to talk about how wrong his actions were, and no consequences of the action at all. I take issue with the message this sends to the middle grades audience the book is intended for.
When 8-year-old Regina Petit's tribe is federally terminated, she feels lost. The reservation is the only home she has ever known, her cousins her only playmates. Now, her father wants to take advantage of funding from the Bureau of Indian Affairs and resettle the family in a city that can provide more opportunity and more room for growth. The Petits land in Los Angeles and the learning curve is steep for the entire family as they try to adjust to a radically different way of life than they have ever known. Regina makes new friends, builds a new community, and wrestles with her self-identity as she struggles to understand what it means to be Native American in a community whose only knowledge of Native Americans comes from racist and backward depictions on television.
I would have rated this novel 4 stars, but one of the characters is physically assaulted when her father comes home and cuts all of her hair off in a drunken rage to make her "American" and "no longer an Indian." If this had been done by someone on the street it would have been prosecuted as a hate crime. But the author simply glosses over the incident. There is no apology from the father, no discussion with another adult to talk about how wrong his actions were, and no consequences of the action at all. I take issue with the message this sends to the middle grades audience the book is intended for.
paperbacksandpines's review against another edition
3.0
This is a fictionalized version of what could have been Charlene Willing McManis's life. The federal government signed a bill into law that dissolved Regina's tribe, leaving many of her community members without benefits, homes, or jobs. Although this was a fictional story, it was based on real life events. I was astounded how the government could once again leave native tribes that had already had so many factors against them, once again, in the lurch. This was an enlightening read.