Release: February 9th 2021
Format: Ebook
Publisher: Heartdrum
Source: Amazon
Find it at: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, Audible, B&N, Kobo
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A collection of intersecting stories set at a powwow that bursts with hope, joy, resilience. They also reflect the strength of community, and Native pride.
In a high school gym full of color and song, Native families from Nations within the borders of the U.S. and Canada dance. They also sell beadwork and books, and celebrate friendship and heritage. They are the heroes of their own stories.
Featured contributors: Joseph Bruchac, Art Coulson, Christine Day, Eric Gansworth, Dawn Quigley, Carole Lindstrom, Rebecca Roanhorse, David A. Robertson. Also, Andrea L. Rogers, Kim Rogers, Cynthia Leitich Smith, Monique Gray Smith, Traci Sorell, Tim Tingle, Erika T. Wurth, and Brian Young.
About the Author:
Cynthia Leitich Smith is the bestselling, acclaimed author of books for all ages, including Rain Is Not My Indian Name, Indian Shoes, Jingle Dancer. Her Hearts Unbroken, won the American Indian Library Association’s Youth Literature Award. She is also the anthologist of Ancestor Approved: Intertribal Stories for Kids. Most recently, she was named the 2021 NSK Neustadt Laureate.
Cynthia is the author-curator of Heartdrum, a Native-focused imprint at HarperCollins Children’s Books. And she serves as the Katherine Paterson Inaugural Endowed Chair on the faculty of the MFA program in Writing for Children and Young Adults at Vermont College of Fine Arts. She is a citizen of the Muscogee Nation and lives in Austin, Texas. You can visit Cynthia online at www.cynthialeitichsmith.com.
Ancestor Approved Review:
“Ancestor Approved” turned out to be so much better than I anticipated, and it opened my eyes to the Native American culture.
Firstly, I commend how the team brought this book together. The book contains a beautiful collection of short stories, which stand apart, yet connect somehow with the characters preparing for the Powwow. The tales range with themes of love, loss, and hope. It even has a story about a Rez Dog named Ozzie and a mystery where our characters solve a case in “Little Fox and the Case of the Missing Regalia.” There is something in this book for everyone to enjoy, and I loved the selection. One of my favorite stories was “Between the Lines,” where Mel and Ray form a lovely friendship.
Secondly, I loved reading about all the Native American details. Each story brings out something new, like the various nations like Navajo, Seneca, and Cherokee, or the history of the Ojibwe people. Another memorable story for me was Alan and Kevin’s tale. Alan ponders which Nation he should be with, and I liked his scenes with Kevin, as Kevin also works out his situation. The book makes you appreciate the culture and its rich history, even if the storylines occur in the present. Furthermore, I liked how the author touches on Wendigos in “Wendigos don’t dance,” and I particularly liked Jace’s relationship with his Uncle Mutt.
However, there were moments where I felt that some stories were too short for me to resonate with the characters. There were also instances where I felt the author could have added more details.
Apart from that, overall, I thought the team behind “Ancestor Approved: Intertribal Stories for Kids” executed it beautifully, and I appreciate the hard work put into the book.
