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Indians. History. Juvenile literature.
Indians. Social life and customs. Juvenile literature.
Indians in popular culture. Juvenile literature.
Indians. History.
Indians. Social life and customs.
Indians in popular culture.
A plainspoken cultural guide for Natives and non-Natives alike.This collection of short essays about Native Americans is comprehensive, equitable, and generous. Structured around questions that distinguished scholar Treuer (Ojibwe) encounters in his public talks, the book addresses a range of topics: sovereignty, politics, language, music, religion, gender and sexuality, and more. Responses to founding events in America's history help counteract missing Native perspectives in school curricula. Written with a clear desire to heal misunderstandings and do away with stereotypes, the book uses photographs and anecdotes to illustrate the author's lessons. This edition adapted for teens is also updated, with coverage of current events, including the Covington Catholic High School scandal at the Lincoln Memorial, the Black Lives Matters movement, the Dakota Access Pipeline protest, progress with removing Native sports team mascots, and the Covid-19 pandemic. The author's tone is thoughtful as he asks readers to engage with challenging subjects: "All human beings have dark chapters in their personal histories. And all nations have dark chapters in theirs. Nobody should be stuck in shame. However, it is important for all countries and all individuals to examine dark chapters in order to learn from them and prevent them from reoccurring." While driven by facts, the book becomes personal whenever elements of the author's life peek through, giving readers a sense of his character and the commitment he brings to his work.Wise, well-researched, and not to be missed. (recommended reading, notes, photo credits, index) (Nonfiction. 12-18)
School Library Journal Starred Review (Tue Jun 01 00:00:00 CDT 2021)Gr 6 Up-Reading this book is like enjoying a talk with a close relative who wants you to learn, grow, and continue to ask questions. Treuer, a professor of Ojibwe at Bemidji State University, presents himself as an ambassador of his people. In the book, adapted from the title of the same name aimed at adults, the author answers nearly 200 questions and covers topics ranging from Indian casinos to ceremonies, politics to powwows. Some questions will be familiar to young readers, such as "Why is there such a fuss about nonnative people wearing Indian costumes for Halloween?" The book is broken down into sections: Terminology; History; Religion, Culture, & Identity; Powwow; Tribal Languages; Politics; Economics; Education; Social Activism; Perspectives: Coming to Terms and Future Directions; and, the conclusion, Finding Ways to Make a Difference. Treuer speaks from his own perspective; he draws from his experience as an educator and is careful not to speak in generalizations or for anyone else. The title also includes recommended reading, source notes, and an index. VERDICT This book is an important resource about contemporary North American Indigenous peoples. Recommend for all libraries. Danielle Burbank, San Juan Coll., Farmington, NM
ALA Booklist (Mon Feb 01 00:00:00 CST 2021)Academic and Ojibwe author Treuer here adapts his 2012 adult title for young readers. Using a question-and-answer format arranged thematically (Terminology; History; Religion, Culture, and Identity; Powwow; Tribal Languages; Politics; Economics; Education; Social Activism; and Perspectives), he answers general queries ("What is the real story of Columbus?"), explains the more obscure ("What are allotments?"), and details sensitive inquiries ("What is Indian time?"). The arrangement allows for reading cover-to-cover or for researching specific topics; the writing is clear and concise, frequently augmented with personal examples. Treuer is careful to distinguish between facts and his opinions, often citing sources for his views. He doesn't sugarcoat the often-difficult history of Indigenous-settler relations, but neither does he scold, instead asking readers to acknowledge past mistakes and make better choices in the future. Appended with recommended reading and notes and illustrated with black-and-white photos (some archival, some personal), this is a thoughtful look at a complex subject that will be useful for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous readers and a welcome addition to most libraries.
Horn Book (Mon Feb 06 00:00:00 CST 2023)This adaptation of Ojibwe author Treuer's adult title uses the same question-and-answer format as the original. The well-laid-out topics include terminology; history; religion, culture, and identity; tribal languages; and education. Each section contains at least seven questions (others contain many more), which are listed in the table of contents for quick access. Some of the questions -- "Why do Indians have long hair?" "Do Indians live in tipis?" -- might be asked by a young reader. Others -- "What is sovereignty?" "What is clouded title?" -- would likely be new concepts, since they aren't often taught in school. A broad audience will be able to relate to, and appreciate, the "social activism" concerns. In the introduction, Treuer states that the answers to some of the questions are his own views, and he encourages readers to seek the perspectives of other Native Americans. This would be a good resource for readers to begin learning about Native American histories, lives, and cultures. Extensive recommended reading and notes, along with an index, provide resources for deeper understanding of the concepts presented. Photos throughout add context and vitality to the information provided. Nicholl Denice Montgomery
Kirkus Reviews (Fri Oct 04 00:00:00 CDT 2024)A plainspoken cultural guide for Natives and non-Natives alike.This collection of short essays about Native Americans is comprehensive, equitable, and generous. Structured around questions that distinguished scholar Treuer (Ojibwe) encounters in his public talks, the book addresses a range of topics: sovereignty, politics, language, music, religion, gender and sexuality, and more. Responses to founding events in America's history help counteract missing Native perspectives in school curricula. Written with a clear desire to heal misunderstandings and do away with stereotypes, the book uses photographs and anecdotes to illustrate the author's lessons. This edition adapted for teens is also updated, with coverage of current events, including the Covington Catholic High School scandal at the Lincoln Memorial, the Black Lives Matters movement, the Dakota Access Pipeline protest, progress with removing Native sports team mascots, and the Covid-19 pandemic. The author's tone is thoughtful as he asks readers to engage with challenging subjects: "All human beings have dark chapters in their personal histories. And all nations have dark chapters in theirs. Nobody should be stuck in shame. However, it is important for all countries and all individuals to examine dark chapters in order to learn from them and prevent them from reoccurring." While driven by facts, the book becomes personal whenever elements of the author's life peek through, giving readers a sense of his character and the commitment he brings to his work.Wise, well-researched, and not to be missed. (recommended reading, notes, photo credits, index) (Nonfiction. 12-18)
Starred Review for Kirkus Reviews (Mon Feb 01 00:00:00 CST 2021)
School Library Journal Starred Review (Tue Jun 01 00:00:00 CDT 2021)
ALA Booklist (Mon Feb 01 00:00:00 CST 2021)
Horn Book (Mon Feb 06 00:00:00 CST 2023)
Kirkus Reviews (Fri Oct 04 00:00:00 CDT 2024)
From the acclaimed Ojibwe author and professor Anton Treuer comes an essential book of questions and answers for Native and non-Native young readers alike.
Ranging from “Why is there such a fuss about nonnative people wearing Indian costumes for Halloween?” to “Why is it called a ‘traditional Indian fry bread taco’?“ to “What’s it like for natives who don’t look native?” to “Why are Indians so often imagined rather than understood?”, and beyond, Everything You Wanted to Know About Indians But Were Afraid to Ask (Young Readers Edition) does exactly what its title says for young readers, in a style consistently thoughtful, personal, and engaging.
Updated and expanded to include:
* Dozens of New Questions and New Sections—including a social activism section that explores the Dakota Access Pipeline, racism, identity, politics, and more!
* Over 50 new Photos
* Adapted text for broad appeal
P R A I S E
GOLDEN KITE AWARD WINNER
CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY’S BEST OF THE BEST
KIRKUS’ BEST OF THE YEAR
ABC GROUP BEST BOOKS FOR YOUNG READERS
TLA’S 2022 TEXAS TOPAZ READING LIST
CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY’S BEST TEEN BOOK COVERS OF THE YEAR
ILLUMINATIVE CHILDREN’S BOOK GIFT GUIDE
AICL'S BEST BOOKS OF 2021
A JUNIOR LIBRARY GUILD SELECTION
2022 TEXAS TOPAZ SELECTION
CYBILS AWARDS FINALIST
CCBC CHOICES
“A wide-ranging compendium of provocative questions and satisfying answers. Perfect for browsing or a deep dive.”—San Francisco Chronicle
★ “Wise, well-researched, and not to be missed. This collection of short essays about Native Americans is comprehensive, equitable, and generous.”—Kirkus (starred)
★ “Reading this book is like enjoying a talk with a close relative who wants you to learn, grow, and continue to ask questions. This book is an important resource about contemporary North American Indigenous peoples. Recommend for all libraries.”—School Library Journal (starred)
“A personal, reflective, yet thoroughly grounded take on the present as well as the past, and it’s a great starting place for young readers beginning to ask these exact questions.” —The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
“A comprehensive and stimulating read.”—Shelf-Awareness
“An excellent resource that should be in every middle and high school.”—School Library Connection
“This would be a good resource for readers to begin learning about Native American histories, lives, and cultures.”—Horn Book
“Treuer imbues his research and cultural commentary with both humanity and style. An astonishing depth of knowledge and insight complements his conversational writing voice. Treuer’s latest release should be on every American bookshelf – and in every American history classroom.” —Cowboys and Indians
“This is a thoughtful, useful book. If every middle school kid in the country knew its contents, the upcoming generation of Indians and non-Indians could live side-by-side with far more ease.”—The Circle News