Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.19 AVERAGE
4.19 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Yes
Sweet and hopeful story, but also addresses serious topics like blood quantums, the stigma single mothers face, and dismissive teachers. Also like how Wesley’s family and friends are a bunch of gamers.
funny
hopeful
informative
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:
No
Wesley is excited to have her poem about Indigenous Peoples’ Day published in the school newspaper, and is also super nervous to ask her crush and gamer friend Ryan to the dance.
As always, Christine Day delivers a wonderful story that begs to be read and re-read. This one is definitely going to be a comfort book for me, and I'm sure tons of young readers will agree. We Still Belong is full of relatable characters in realistic situations, such as how Wesley lives with extended family as well as her mom, a character's parents are going through divorce, and Wesley waits for the reaction from her peers and teachers after her poem is published in the school newspaper.
We Still Belong may only follow Wesley for a single day, but in that time readers get to engage with a gorgeous setting, meet her family, see her school life, and attend an intertribal powwow where Wesley is reminded of how loved and cherished she is as a member of her community.
I especially enjoyed the focus on family, standing up for oneself, and learning to trust oneself. This delightful novel is full of humor and heart, creating space for compelling characters that leave the reader feeling loved, reassured, cherished.
This book gave me all feels. The range of representation in how varied Native people can appear is so inclusive and loving. That’s it— this book feels so loving. While blood quantum politics is tackled, the heart of this story is beautifully shown through the reality that though Wesley is not an enrolled tribal member, she still belongs: to community, to her family, to her tribal Nation, to herself.
I didn’t want this book to end. I loved every moment spent with Wesley, enjoying her voice and way of moving through the world. Wesley’s confidence, even when she was not in fact feeling confident, so precisely captures that age and feeling of both complete security in your identity and also the concern that maybe you’re totally wrong.
Once again, Christine Day leaves readers feeling loved, cared for, and having heard an excellent story from an interesting, lovable main character. She’s one of those authors who you can safely buy any of her books and never be disappointed. Each title is highly re-readable, full of incredible characters and beautiful stories.
We Still Belong will be available August 1, 2023.
Thank you to the author, NetGalley, HarperCollins Children's Books, and Heartdrum for an e-ARC such that I could share my honest opinions.
As always, Christine Day delivers a wonderful story that begs to be read and re-read. This one is definitely going to be a comfort book for me, and I'm sure tons of young readers will agree. We Still Belong is full of relatable characters in realistic situations, such as how Wesley lives with extended family as well as her mom, a character's parents are going through divorce, and Wesley waits for the reaction from her peers and teachers after her poem is published in the school newspaper.
We Still Belong may only follow Wesley for a single day, but in that time readers get to engage with a gorgeous setting, meet her family, see her school life, and attend an intertribal powwow where Wesley is reminded of how loved and cherished she is as a member of her community.
I especially enjoyed the focus on family, standing up for oneself, and learning to trust oneself. This delightful novel is full of humor and heart, creating space for compelling characters that leave the reader feeling loved, reassured, cherished.
This book gave me all feels. The range of representation in how varied Native people can appear is so inclusive and loving. That’s it— this book feels so loving. While blood quantum politics is tackled, the heart of this story is beautifully shown through the reality that though Wesley is not an enrolled tribal member, she still belongs: to community, to her family, to her tribal Nation, to herself.
I didn’t want this book to end. I loved every moment spent with Wesley, enjoying her voice and way of moving through the world. Wesley’s confidence, even when she was not in fact feeling confident, so precisely captures that age and feeling of both complete security in your identity and also the concern that maybe you’re totally wrong.
Once again, Christine Day leaves readers feeling loved, cared for, and having heard an excellent story from an interesting, lovable main character. She’s one of those authors who you can safely buy any of her books and never be disappointed. Each title is highly re-readable, full of incredible characters and beautiful stories.
We Still Belong will be available August 1, 2023.
Thank you to the author, NetGalley, HarperCollins Children's Books, and Heartdrum for an e-ARC such that I could share my honest opinions.
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
reflective
medium-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:
No
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
fast-paced
A simple story with two focuses, but full of family values and Native American Identity. The main character is excited about celebrating Indigenous Peoples’ Day by publishing her poem for the first time in the school's newspaper and sharing it with everyone. Also, she has a crush on a boy she wants to invite to the dance. Somewhere between her confidence and action some adults, and events take her confidence away and make her feel less. Her two focuses start to fade.
I love that the author has a character pointing out that fighting for your beliefs/identity is not always being aggressive and going to war with the opposition, sometimes it's just living your life and being yourself.
The character is a gamer and loves to watch streamers play and be helpful to the community by raising money.
I love the ending. Sometimes it's a matter of not wasting time with the wrong people.
Thank you The shelfstuff and Harpercollins for this ARC.
I love that the author has a character pointing out that fighting for your beliefs/identity is not always being aggressive and going to war with the opposition, sometimes it's just living your life and being yourself.
The character is a gamer and loves to watch streamers play and be helpful to the community by raising money.
I love the ending. Sometimes it's a matter of not wasting time with the wrong people.
Thank you The shelfstuff and Harpercollins for this ARC.
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
**I received an ARC from Netgalley and the publisher. This is my honest review.**
This book follows one day (Indigenous Peoples Day) in Wesley's life but we get a LOT of story. Wesley's own developing understanding and views of her culture is explored but we also see how her family's experiences and views influence her as well. With many middle-grade novels focused on low-income MC's we usually see abusive homes. I was happy that the author showed how much Wesley's family cares and support each other. This book is a wonderful read with themes of culture, self-identity, coming of age, friendship, family, and taking risks. There are several important topics that are covered with sensitivity but also not shied away from. One of these is blood-quantum levels which is addressed in an age appropriate manner while still presenting both sides. Another is how some of Wesley's teachers and peers expect her to be aggressively outspoken about Indigenous People's Day vs. Columbus day. These topics were presented naturally within the story.
I think this is a great book for any middle-grader. As an adult the plot ran slower for me at times, but I would have devoured this book in middle school. I'll be keeping an eye out for future books by this author.
This book follows one day (Indigenous Peoples Day) in Wesley's life but we get a LOT of story. Wesley's own developing understanding and views of her culture is explored but we also see how her family's experiences and views influence her as well. With many middle-grade novels focused on low-income MC's we usually see abusive homes. I was happy that the author showed how much Wesley's family cares and support each other. This book is a wonderful read with themes of culture, self-identity, coming of age, friendship, family, and taking risks. There are several important topics that are covered with sensitivity but also not shied away from. One of these is blood-quantum levels which is addressed in an age appropriate manner while still presenting both sides. Another is how some of Wesley's teachers and peers expect her to be aggressively outspoken about Indigenous People's Day vs. Columbus day. These topics were presented naturally within the story.
I think this is a great book for any middle-grader. As an adult the plot ran slower for me at times, but I would have devoured this book in middle school. I'll be keeping an eye out for future books by this author.
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
READ. THIS. BOOK. [4.75/5]
We Still Belong follows Wesley (12-yo, fmc) throughout the course of a day. She had high hopes and expectations, but the day doesn't go exactly to plan. However the day has its own suprises.
There's so much I love about this book - I read it in one sitting - that it's hard to put into words.
Wesley and her family were easy to love and connect to, even with some of the harsher realities they faced, shared via flashbacks that thankfully don't take you out of the story.
I really enjoyed the diversity and inclusiveness, and that it's subtle yet poignant. And its use to remind that stereotypes shouldn't be believed because there's more to people than their outward appearance.
We Still Belong also touches on real events and circumstances that Indigenous Peoples faced, and in many ways still do. I'm glad they were touched upon, but done in a gentle way so that readers of all ages and ethnicities can really engage with these facts & realities.
My only critique is that there were a few instances where Wesley and her peers acted / spoke as if they were much older than twelve-years-old. While every child is different, these moments did briefly take me out of the story even though the messages and these moments were greatly important.
Thank you NetGalley, Heartdrum/HarperCollins, and Christine Day for allowing me to read We Still Belong in exchange for an honest review.
We Still Belong follows Wesley (12-yo, fmc) throughout the course of a day. She had high hopes and expectations, but the day doesn't go exactly to plan. However the day has its own suprises.
There's so much I love about this book - I read it in one sitting - that it's hard to put into words.
Wesley and her family were easy to love and connect to, even with some of the harsher realities they faced, shared via flashbacks that thankfully don't take you out of the story.
I really enjoyed the diversity and inclusiveness, and that it's subtle yet poignant. And its use to remind that stereotypes shouldn't be believed because there's more to people than their outward appearance.
We Still Belong also touches on real events and circumstances that Indigenous Peoples faced, and in many ways still do. I'm glad they were touched upon, but done in a gentle way so that readers of all ages and ethnicities can really engage with these facts & realities.
My only critique is that there were a few instances where Wesley and her peers acted / spoke as if they were much older than twelve-years-old. While every child is different, these moments did briefly take me out of the story even though the messages and these moments were greatly important.
Thank you NetGalley, Heartdrum/HarperCollins, and Christine Day for allowing me to read We Still Belong in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Minor: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Slavery
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I was sent this arc from NetGalley for my honest review.
Wesley is a middle school girl. She lives with her single mom in her grandfather’s house. She likes video games and is shy. Wesley has many obstacles to overcome. She wants to be excepted. She struggles with her acceptance as 1/4 and not full Native American, her absent father, and her middle school crush. I appreciated how Wesley took strides to overcome her insecurities but still expressed her feelings of fear. That is the definition of courage.
I think this story has many good qualities in the characters and the plot. I would recommend it to others.
Wesley is a middle school girl. She lives with her single mom in her grandfather’s house. She likes video games and is shy. Wesley has many obstacles to overcome. She wants to be excepted. She struggles with her acceptance as 1/4 and not full Native American, her absent father, and her middle school crush. I appreciated how Wesley took strides to overcome her insecurities but still expressed her feelings of fear. That is the definition of courage.
I think this story has many good qualities in the characters and the plot. I would recommend it to others.