HALL OF FAME # 5-- JINGLE DANCER and INDIAN SHOES, by Cynthia Leitich Smith

Ashleigh, 13: After Alexis' review of HEARTS UNBROKEN, we decided there were so many books by Cynthia Leitich Smith (Muscogee (Creek) Nation) that we want to honor. This is my favorite! After she watches a video of her Grandma Wolfe jingle dancing, a girl Jenna wants to dance at an upcoming powwow. But she needs jingles for her dress. Jenna visits her neighbors and family who loan her jingles for the dress. She is careful not to take too many, so that another person's dress won't "lose its voice." This book looks and sounds like our real lives, the way we keep traditions in today's world. I wrap my arms around it and squeeze it to my heart.

Charlie, 16: INDIAN SHOES is a great book about a boy named Ray and his Grampa Halfmoon. I like to see a book about a loving relationship between generations of Native men. In this book, there are different stories about them. I have two favorites. "Night Fishing." where the boy and his grandfather spend quality time together. And the title story, "Indian Shoes," where Ray tries to buy the Seminole moccasins that Grampa Halfmoon sees in the window and says remind him of home. He has to come up with a clever solution to buy them. "Guess Who's Coming for Dinner" is a perfect story to share during Christmastime. Ray is a Seminole-Cherokee boy from Oklahoma, but this Florida Seminole boy can totally relate to him.

These are more than Hall of Fame books. They are the stories of our lives.

*Thanks to Alexis and Eduardo for helping us with our reviews.

Comments

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Indigo's Bookshelf: Voices of Native Youth

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