Read & download Rez Dogs
Mailan spends the early months of 2020 with her grandparents on the reservation due to COVID and stay at home orders. Hardcover Bruchac never ceases to amaze me with his amazing storytelling skills that both capture the attention of the reader and inform them about the Indigenous experience. Rez Dogs proves to be no different.
Rez Dogs is a middle grade story written in verse that captures the experiences of Malian as she quarantines with her grandparents (all members of the Wabanaki Nation). While the story itself does cover the current experiences of the pandemic such as quarantining, virtual school, etc, I absolutely loved that Bruchac took this as an opportunity to discuss an array of tough topics including the experiences of Native/Indigenous peoples sent to residential schools, colonization, forced sterilization, the removal of Native/Indigenous children from their homes, and more. While he does not go into deep detail about every atrocity committed against Native American/Indigenous communities, he does provide a brief insight that will make readers more aware of their experiences. While I listened to this on audio, I did know that it was written in verse. What's even more powerful about this story is that it feels like oral storytelling. This made it feel more impactful and more personal. It truly felt as though I was sitting in a room with Joseph Bruchac as he told me this story from his memory.
I absolutely adored this book and believe that Bruchac crafted this story in a way that is truly accessible for children especially for children who are learning about the experiences of others. His ability to weave in current events while also recognizing the events of the past and their lasting effects on marginalized communities is powerful. If you're looking for a children's book that is great for all audiences, I would recommend checking this out. Hardcover I wanted to like this more, and it was FINE, just not great for me. I don’t think putting the novel in verse added to the story; in fact I think it took away from the author’s ability to thoroughly address some of the topics brought up in the book. Also I think the format took away from the reader being able to engage with the main character. I liked her but I wanted to know MORE of her thoughts, feelings, and struggles and there just wasn’t enough for me. Hardcover I'm always impressed when a verse novel manages to tell an elaborate story in a really condensed form, and this book does exactly that. During the pandemic, Malian quarantines with her grandparents, which is a way for her to connect with her Indigenous heritage, by listening to her grandparents' stories. Especially lovely is the rez dog who comes to stay with Malian to protect her and her family. Hardcover Rez Dogs is a charming novel in verse for a middle grade audience about a young Native American girl named Malian staying with her grandparents on the reservation during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. She doesn't go play with friends in order to keep her grandparents safe, does virtual school, and listens to traditional stories. This also touches on serious topics including the Black Lives Matter summer protests, residential schools, forced sterilization, and the taking of Native children to foster care. All of which is done in an age appropriate, accessible way. A dog also befriends Malian while she is staying there and protects her. This was short and sweet and does a great job of addressing the experience of young kids last year. The audiobook is read by the author and feels like a story is being told to you. I received an audio copy for review from the publisher. All opinions are my own. Hardcover
From the U.S.'s foremost indigenous children's author comes a middle grade verse novel set during the COVID-19 pandemic, about a Wabanaki girl's quarantine on her grandparents' reservation and the local dog that becomes her best friend
Malian was visiting her grandparents on the reservation when the COVID-19 pandemic started. Now she's staying there, away from her parents and her school in Boston. Everyone is worried about the pandemic, but on the reservation, everyone protects each other, from Malian caring for her grandparents to the local dog, Malsum, guarding their house. They always survive together.
Malian hears stories from her grandparents about how it has always been this way in their community: Stories about their ancestors, who survived epidemics of European diseases; about her grandfather, who survived a terrible government boarding school; and about Malian's own mother, who survived and returned to her Native community after social services took her away to live in foster care as a child. With their community and caring for one another, Malian and her family will survive this pandemic, too. Rez Dogs
A young girl shelters in place with her grandparents on a Wabanaki reservation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Listening to their stories about their experience at residential schools, her ancestors, and her people's spirituality she draws connections between her family history and what is happening to her in the present day. And there is a big wonderful dog who has adopted her and provides protection and guidance. Nice!
(A favorite Steinbeck passage I choose to interpret without irony: The paintings on the wall were largely preoccupied with the amazing heroism of large dogs faced with imperiled children. Nor water nor fire nor earthquake could do in a child so long as a big dog was available.)
With only a narrow column of text on each page (one to five words per line), it's a quick read to boot. Very nice! Hardcover What it showed him
was that the dogs
could do just fine
on their own without us.
We humans were lucky
they chose to live with us.
Or maybe it was the other way around -
We're the ones who chose
to live with them.
A dog needs people
as much as people
need a dog.
You will always be
a friend to them,
a better friend than
some of them deserve.
No one should feel guilty
about the past. Unless
they're not doing
anything about the present.
This book was full of layer after layer of wisdom. The audiobook read by the author was the loveliest experience, and I cherished it! Hardcover A beautiful book, told in open verse like an oral story, about a girl at the start of the pandemic. As she guards her grandparents, she is guarded by a dog who came just when he knew he was needed. There are stories within the story: old stories of animals and ancestors, and newer stories about her life, and the lives of her parents and grandparents.
Added thought: this would be an excellent book for classrooms. Hardcover Such a wonderful story telling novel in verse set in current time.
COVID-19 hit the nation and Malian is staying on the Rez with her grandparents until shelter in place is lifted. During this time a Rez dog finds her and becomes her companion. Malian learns courage, history, and maturity during her time.
Bruchac does a fantastic job of weaving in realities for Native Americans historically and in the present.
Highly recommend. Hardcover hm I thought this would shine in audiobook but it didn't totally click for me--I understand the desire for the author to read their own book but since the protagonist is a girl, a female reader might have been better IMO?
That aside, it's wild that there are already books set during COVID and I think this is one that can both universally help a lot of kids process the trauma and weirdness of early lockdown while also specifically sharing Wabanaki stories. Plus: dogs! Lots to like. Hardcover