GOLD MEDAL #1: JOJO MAKOONS, The-Used-To-Be-Best-Friend, by Dawn Quigley, a review by Ashleigh, 15

I asked my friends if I could be the first one to do a blog after our long hiatus. Indigo's Bookshelf has changed. We have some new members--like Liz H., 16, who can talk to Florida, Deaf, Mexican Indigenous experience! Alexis has decided to take more of a backseat (because she became a lightning rod for criticism). But we still feel this is worth the mission we set out to do! To honor the strength and memory of our friend Indigo and talk about Indigenous books for kids and teens.

 My life has changed too. Last year, my younger sister Violet, or Vi which she preferred, died of Covid-19. She was "almost six." It's been hard for me to read kidlit because of her. It was Dawn Quigley's early chapter book Jo Jo Makoons that brought me back and I know this is a book that kids like Vi will love to read and feel proud to be Indigenous.

Dawn Quigley is a citizen of the Turtle Mountain Band of Ojibwe, North Dakota. The illustrator Tara Audibert is of Wolastoqey/French heritage. I am a citizen of the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida. 

The cover is just so cute! Seven-year-old Jo Jo with her moon buns and long hair and her at-home-best-friend Mimi the cat. Jo Jo and Mimi live on a fictional reservation which "incorporates many of those [special elements] found in Ojibwe (and many other Native American) communities." The book teaches words in Ojibwe and Michif languages. Jo Jo's full name is Jo Jo Makoons Azure nindizhinikaaz. I love that Makoons is part of her name--"When I was a baby, I growled and had short black hair--just like a little bear cub!"--because Makoons is the name of another Native book character (and book title) that I love by (Turtle Mountain Band of the Chippewa Indians) author Louise Erdrich!

This book definitely has some res humor, like when Jo Jo's bus friend Ferris says "that if a cat gets a shot, sometimes it lets all the air out of their body. Just like a balloon letting the air out." Ok, I probably would have believed that at Jojo's age! It's very true that Jo Jo wants to call the her teacher Teacher rather than use a specific name. That helps non-Indigenous kids understand cultural differences. Mr. Welch is nice but he talks Ojibwe like "he's choking on a bunch of marbles."

There are so many funny (I love that Jo Jo cuts the toes off her summer "night socks" and makes her mom a present with the sock toes!), sweet ("My skin is brown. "Lovely brown. Beautiful brown," Mama calls it.") and many teaching moments (like about friendship) in the book. It's totes awesome that the principal's name is Ms. Whirl Wind Horse. 

It's so special to me that Vi wanted to be an artist and so does Jo Jo.

Our cat Moosh made by Vi 

I won't give away any more of the great stuff in this little book. It's perfect for the right age (6-10) and I wish I had it instead of Junie B dressed as a pilgrim when I was young. Shonabish, Dawn Quigley and illustrator Tara Audibert, for this wonderful book!!!! I can't wait for book two in the series! 

This review is dedicated to my Mom who is the best in the world.  <3 <3 <3