Dog Tracks

Abby is having trouble fitting in at Bear Creek Reserve. After having lived most of her life with her grandparents in town, it's definitely a transition moving back to the reserve. When Choom, her grandfather, falls ill, Abby must leave her best friends at school, her supportive grandparents, and her perfect pink bedroom, and adjust to living with her mom. But it's not only being back with Mom that is hard -- there's a new father, John, and a pesky half-brother, Blink. There is also a schoolroom full of kids who don't know her (and don't seem to want to), not to mention a completely different way of life that seems so traditional, so puzzling and complicated.
But, with the help of the reserve's chief, Paulie, a puppy named Ki-Moot, and her parents' vision of a sled-dog tourist venture, Abby slowly begins to find her rhythm at Bear Creek. All she has to do is follow the dog tracks.\nFrom School Library Journal\nGr 4–9—Slipperjack (Eabametoong First Nation) crafts a hopeful coming-of-age tale about 13-year-old Abby who was raised by her grandparents, whom she lovingly calls Choom and Goom, her version of short form in Ojibwe. The teen must return to her family after her grandfather becomes ill, and she reconnects with her mom, stepdad, sister, and half-brother in the Bear Creek Reserve. Through Abby's journey, readers are introduced to Anishinawbe people, culture, and language. This novel of a loving Indigenous family is endearing. Abby learns her language and develops life skills based on her culture, all with the support of her family, who are always laughing and joking around. This a refreshing read that does not delve into negative stereotypes or social issues that sometimes overshadow Indigenous stories. VERDICT This uplifting coming-of-age tale is a recommended purchase.—Danielle Burbank, San Juan Coll., Farmington, NM