#tbt: Skeleton Man by Joseph Bruchac

#tbt features another book by Joseph Bruchac. Skeleton Man is a modern retelling of the Native American legend. Sixth grader Molly awakens to learn that her parents are missing and an "uncle" she never met is now her guardian. He allows her to go to school, but locks her into her bedroom each night. She's terrified of this creepy man, but can't get an adult to believe her. How can she escape her bedroom, especially when she learns she's being watched by a hidden camera? More importantly, are her parents still alive?

Skeleton Man is a short, scary read. It was published in 2001 and was followed by a sequel, The Return of Skeleton Man in 2008. 

Fact Friday: What the Eagle Sees: Indigenous Stories of Rebellion and Renewal by Eldon Yellowhorn & Kathy Lowinger

Image: Annick Press

What the Eagle Sees: Indigenous Stories of Rebellion and Renewal by Eldon Yellowhorn & Kathy Lowinger. 136 p. Annick Press, November, 2019. 9781773213286. (Review of paperback borrowed from public library.)

Happy Friday! Forgive the short post ahead. I definitely did not do this important book justice. I must admit that I am still struggling with time, attention and energy.

Fact Friday features What the Eagle Sees: Indigenous Stories of Rebellion and Renewal by Eldon Yellowhorn & Kathy Lowinger. This slim volume presents an overview of significant events in the history of North American Indigenous Peoples who inhabited this land for 10,000 years before Europeans "discovered" it. 

Accessible and attractively designed, it is also packed with photographs and maps. Back matter includes a glossary, selected sources that includes websites, image sources and an index.

I don't know how I missed this back in 2019, but I'm adding it to my school library collection. Isn't that cover just stunning?

Middle Grade Monday: Living Ghosts & Mischievous Monsters: Chilling American Indian Stories by Dan Sasuweh Jones

Image: Scholastic Inc.

Living Ghosts & Mischievous Monsters: Chilling American Indian Stories written and selected by Dan Sasuweh Jones, Ponca Nation and illustrated by Weshoyot Alvitre, Tongva. 166 p. Scholastic Press/ Scholastic Inc., September, 2021. 9781338681628. (Review of finished copy courtesy of publisher.)

Happy Monday! We return to school today after what I hope was a restful long weekend. Middle Grade Monday features Living Ghosts & Mischievous Monsters: Chilling American Indian Stories written and selected by Dan Sasuweh Jones, Ponca Nation and illustrated by Weshoyot Alvitre, Tongva. After graduating from college, Mr. Jones travelled the U.S. and Canada visiting tribal communities and listening to their stories, ghost stories in particular. He writes in his introduction that ghost stories were common no matter the region and that they fell into one of five categories-ghosts, spirits, witches, monsters and the supernatural. Mr. Jones is a filmmaker and bronze sculptor and storyteller himself. He compiled thirty-two of the stories he collected as a young adult in these five chapters. Each story contains an introduction describing the tribe, storyteller and context. Each story is illustrated by evocative pen and ink drawings, some creepy, some horrible.

If you love scary stories, you will love this collection.

Fact Friday (a day late): We are Still Here: Native American Truths Everyone Should Know by Traci Sorell

This was posted fairly late to my school's learning platform and out town's library FB page yesterday. I forgot to it post here. It was a tough day for me as Friday marked three months since my husband died. I had extra trouble concentrating and following through on tasks yesterday. My apologies.

Image: Charlesbridge

We are Still Here: Native American Truths Everyone Should Know by Traci Sorell. Illustrated by Frané Lessac. unpgd. April, 2021. Charlesbridge, April, 2021. 9781623541927.

Happy Friday TMS Readers! Sorry for the late post today. It has been a tough day for me. The weather is gorgeous though! I hope you are out and enjoying it.

Fact Friday features We are Still Here: Native American Truths Everyone Should Know by Traci Sorell. Illustrated by Frané Lessac. This is the book to read for a perfect introduction to Indigenous history, especially if you don't have the time or stamina to read Anton Treuer's, Everything You Wanted to Know about Indians But were Afraid to Ask (Young Reader's Edition), which was featured here on July 16, because I try to read diversely all through the year. The book is also a partner with Ms. Sorell's multiple-award-winning, We are Grateful: Otsaliheliga.

In We are Still Here, a class of Native American kids take turns presenting their "class project," which covers historical and contemporary facts about Indigenous life, culture, laws, struggles, and activism. Topics include forced assimilation, where Indigenous children were forced to attend boarding school and severely punished for speaking their tribal language; land allotment; termination of tribal nations; the Indian Child Welfare Act that protected the forced removal and adoption of Native children by white families. The text is concise and age-appropriate, aimed at introducing middle grade readers to history. Helpful back matter includes more detail about events in the book, a timeline and suggestions for further reading.

The folk-style gouache art is vibrant and depicts a variety of skin tones present in the community as well as activities past and present.

Closter Public Library's copy of We are Still Here is checked out, but their copy of We are Grateful: Otsaliheliga is available to check out. Of course, We are Still Here can be ordered in through ILL (Inter-Library Loan). Happy reading!

Teen Tuesday: If I Ever Get Out of Here by Eric Gansworth

Image: Scholastic Inc.

Happy Tuesday! Teen Tuesday features If I Ever Get Out of Here by Eric Gansworth. Mr. Gansworth's YA debut, published in 2013, is set in 1975. The Beatles just broke up and Lewis "Shoe" Blake's world is rocked by this. The twelve-year-old just loves the Beatles and music. He also moves between cultures every day where he lives in abject poverty with his mother and uncle on the reservation and is the only Indian kid in his Gifted and Talented class. Add his wry and sardonic humor to the mix and Lewis is pretty much an outcast. Enter George Haddonfield. George grew up on military bases all around the world. He's used to moving and used to meeting people from diverse backgrounds. He also loves music and the Beatles and wants to be Lewis' friend.

Readers who like a leisurely paced story will love this story of identity and friendship and music. Readers who prefer a faster pace should stick with it, because it's just lovely. Here's a link to my review from 2013, where I pulled tons of quotes that resonated. I think I need to reread this one. 

Middle Grade Monday and Audiobook Review: Race to the Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse

Image: Penguin Random House Audio

Race to the Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse. Unabridged e-audiobook, ~7 hours, 18 minutes. Read by Kinsale Hueston. Listening Library/ Penguin Random House Audio, January, 2020. (Review of e-audiobook borrowed from public library.)

Happy Monday! I hope you had a fantastic weekend. I had a total of zero trick-or-treaters on Sunday. I'm also ready for our short week! NJ public schools are closed Thursday and Friday for Teachers' Convention Weekend. November celebrates Native American Indian/ Alaska Native Heritage month, so many of the books recommended this month will feature books by or about Indigenous North Americans (even though I try to keep the Daily Book Talks diverse all through the year).

Middle Grade Monday features Race to the Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse. This entry in the Rick Riordan Presents Imprint doesn't disappoint. Twelve-year-old Nizhoni Begay has dreams of doing something heroic - on the basketball court, at school or onine. She's just a bit distractable and seems to always mess things up because she can see monsters hidden in human disguises and one happens to be at her basketball game where she has the opportunity to win the game for her team. She ends up on the gym floor with a bloody nose instead, and she returns home to fine the man/ monster in her driveway! He's her dad's new boss and the reason the family will be moving from New Mexico to Oklahoma.

Turns out, NIzhoni is a monster-slayer and her brother, Mac, has powers as well. They are both descendants of the Hero Twins of Navajo myth and legend and now they have to rescue their father and save the world.

The story is fast-paced and peppered with moments of humor and Navajo words, for which there is a glossary. I am glad to have read this one with my ears to hear the words and names correctly pronounced. Memorable characters include a talking horned toad, a guardian of a mountain made of crystal and Spider Woman.

Readers who love fantasy adventure like the Percy Jackson books will love this one. Happy reading!