barberchicago_books's reviews
1054 reviews

The Gift of the Great Buffalo by Carole Lindstrom

challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

Every single part of this exquisite and much-needed book is a treasure for both Indigenous people who can see themselves in stories, and for others who are learning about native culture, traditions, and ways of life.

Rose's story is one of courage and choices. Her need to help her people outweighs her father's instructions, and that choice results in a bounty for her Métis community. It is a story of the other side of "progress," where the impact on Native nations due to white man's "good intentions" is felt deeply. It is a story that needs to be shared in homes and schools. Do not sleep on the back matter, which includes important terms and their meanings, a moving author's note, and a history of the buffalo hunt.

Aly McKnight's watercolor art is nothing short of incredible (hello, Caldecott committee!) The medium allows for an ethereal, spiritual feel, bringing the land, the animals, and the Métis people together in a harmony that reflects the Native people's relationship with the earth. From the jacket to the case cover to the double-page spreads to the endpapers, every part of this book invites the reader into a world rarely highlighted in traditional American history. And each part invites the reader to ask why that is.
An absolute must for every home, classroom, and library.

Fledgling by S.K. Ali

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional informative mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

4.75

Daydream by Hannah Grace

Go to review page

funny lighthearted

4.0

Wildfire by Hannah Grace

Go to review page

funny lighthearted medium-paced

3.5