Gr 2–5—Jo Jo Makoons Azure is a seven-year-old Ojibwe girl with a sunny attitude. She loves her family (especially
her cat Mimi) and life on her reservation. But shifting friendship dynamics and school drama lead to incidents that
eventually yield important, heartwarming lessons. This outstanding chapter book weaves daily kid concerns with
engaging information about Ojibwe customs.
NB: Part of a series.

This silly chapter book features a funny Ojibwe girl protagonist.

Set on a fictional reservation known as the Pembina Ojibwe, this story introduces Jo Jo, an intelligent and charismatic first grader who is fretting over two big problems in this series opener. Her first worry concerns her home best friend, Mimi the cat, who she fears may deflate when she gets vaccinated. Her second concern is that her school best friend, Fern, has begun to ignore her at lunchtime. From Jo Jo’s difficulties with language arts to her attempts to save Mimi, hijinks emerge. Through it all, cultural information about Jo Jo’s Ojibwe way of life is shared in a way that suggests her pride for her people, traditions, and family. Young readers will revel in the humor this chapter book offers: the wordplay, the nicknames, and Jo Jo’s irrepressible narrative voice. But it is the friendships at her school, where her teacher is White and her classmates are multicultural, that will linger with readers. Even though it is in a border town, the school Jo Jo attends respects her cultural traditions, and the effect is heartwarming. Quigley (Turtle Mountain Band of Ojibwe) provides a glossary of Ojibwe and Michif words that enhances the experience. Audibert (of Wolastoqey and French heritage) supplies plentiful grayscale illustrations that depict Jo Jo and her friends with big, pretty eyes and expressive faces.

A joyful book about growing up Native in a loving community—not to be missed. (Fiction. 6-10)

-Kirkus Review

RGG: Fun read; perfect for novice chapter book readers. You'll want to read more about 4th Grader JoJo.

Jo Jo is an endearing kid on interesting kid adventures, and this book is spot on for early chapterbook readers. The use of the Ojibwe language throughout adds to the book's appeal and it's great to see a book set on a Reservation that celebrates the culture without getting stuck in larger politics or history. Politics, history, culture -- those things are important when you're old enough to understand them. Jo Jo's learning other lessons, and keeping us laughing with her while she does. I loved the illustrations, too!

Advanced reader's copy provided by Edelweiss. ( )