👍Ancestor Approved (2022)

By Cynthia Leitich Smith

(and others)

4Rbooks                                       4/6                   grades          5-8

Amazon                                        4.8/5              grade level   3-7

Goodreads                                    4.19/5          

Common Sense Media               not yet reviewed

312 pages

Synopsis

             A large, inter-tribal pow wow is occurring in Ann Arbor, Michigan.  Native American families from the US and Canada are coming together from various tribes to sing and dance.  They will also be eating traditional foods, selling handmade goods, showing off their personal regalia.  Mostly they are gathering to see and be with family and to meet and make new friends.

            20 different authors have written stories about children and families making their way to the pow wow. The authors share their fears, excitement, and preparations for the pow wow. The stories continue into the pow wow where they converge with overlapping people and events. Each story is unique but connected.

            Some stories are about girls, others about boys, and one features a reservation dog. There are various types of dances, lots of drums, and family interactions that everyone can related to.

Parental Guidelines:    medium

A couple is taken hostage by a squad of poachers.

There are references to spirits and gods.

One child deals with a bully.

One of the adults considered herself a “two-spirit” person.

Recommendation

            I picked this book up in the Peregrin Book Company store in Prescott, AZ. Like any anthology, some stories are better than others, but most were entertaining because of the Native American and Pow Wow information. I was very impressed at how the writers wove their stories together.  It was more than just everyone is going to the same pow wow. The stories included crossovers of characters and events.  I would be interested in an article about how the main author brought everyone together and was able to connect the stories from so many different contributors.

            As good as it is, I think the audience for this book will be limited. Native American students and children with Native American heritage would be the most likely readers for this book. Teachers doing units on Native American culture and/or pow wows could use this book to enhance their lessons.

            In a different era, I would have no qualms about recommending this book. The idea of two-spirit people is a part of native culture and appropriate to discuss.  The problem for Christian parents and schools is that has been co-opted by the LGTBQ advocates to show that queer and trans people should recognized and affirmed. Parents and teachers will need to be prepared to discuss this issue with the proper Biblical perspectives.