Wednesday, February 19, 2020

Indian No More by Charlene Willing McManis - ESSENTIAL

Indian No More by Charlene Willing McManis with Traci Sorell 211 pages. Lee and Low, 2019. $19.

Content: G.

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

10yo Regina Petit is Umpqua, and has lived on her Grand Ronde Tribe's reservation her whole life. But when the Federal Government terminates her tribe in 1954, Regina's father signs up for the Indian Relocation Program and the family is moved to Los Angeles. Suddenly she is "Indian No More." The other children in her neighborhood have never met a real Indian, and are confused when she isn't like the Indians they've seen on TV. Faced with racism and misconceptions, Regina, her grandmother and her family must now adjust to living as "Americans."

I did not know about this terrible injustice, and am so pleased to see McManis' story. I loved seeing modern day Indian relocation through a child's eyes, I loved that her grandmother was part of the household - a connection to the traditions and stories.  There is an extensive appendix at the end, including a glossary with thorough definitions; an author's note from Charlene McManis complete with photographs and a short history of the Termination Act.

Lisa Librarian

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