Dawn Quigley
Heartdrum/HarperCollins, 2021 62 pages
Grades 2-4
Realistic Fiction
JoJo Makoons series #1
First grader Jojo Makoons often finds life confusing. Part of the problem is code-switching between languages and cultures. She is a member of the Ojibwe Nation and speaks Obibwe, Michif (the local dialect on her reservation), and English. School can run tricky. Jojo often confuses sayings and idioms and doesn't always understand why her answers make people laugh. Even more confusing is the world of friendship. Jojo's #1 best friend is her cat Mimi, but that friendship can be less than satisfying-and certainly doesn't help during school hours. Her #2 best friend, who is also her best school friend, has been sometimes eating lunch with other people. Is Fern moving on and away from Jojo? After eavesdropping on Mom and Kokum (Grandmother) Jojo discovers that poor Mimi must go to the vet for shots. What is a best friend to do? Smuggle her buddy to school of course!
This new chapter book series is helping to launch a new imprint from HarperCollins featuring Native American children, who are formally underrepresented in children's literature. As far as I know, this is the first early chapter book series featuring a native girl, which will be a welcome sight for children who see themselves within the pages and non-native children to broaden their exposure to other cultures. Jojo is a very likable character who will appeal to the target audience, who will immediately feel better about their own skills knowing what Jojo doesn't. In fact she reminds me of a Ojibwe Junie B. Jones, only with better grammar. There are some truly funny bits as Jojo learns about life, friendships, and what is appropriate behavior. Black and white illustrations, contributed by Tara Audibert, are plentiful and sometimes full-page, encouraging the emerging reader to turn pages. The chapters are short, the margins are wide, and the print is large, inviting new and struggling readers to hop right in. The end of the volume offers a glossary of some of the terms used by Jojo that readers may be unfamiliar with, as well as an author's note offering some Ojibwe context. A welcome series featuring a charming protagonist that is sure to find a wide audience.
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