★ 03/22/2021
In this buoyant series starter by Ojibwe author Quigley (Apple in the Middle ), Indigenous first grader Josephine Makoons Azure, known as Jo Jo, narrates her experiences of home and school on the fictional Pem-bina Ojibwe Reservation, where she lives with her mother and grandmother. In a winning, straightforward voice (“Ojibwe is my Native American tribe. You say it like this: Oh-JIB-way. See? Ojibwe”), Jo Jo introduces her growing concerns. Cat Mimi, Jo Jo’s “home best friend who ignores me sometimes,” needs shots, which the girl believes may deflate the feline, “just like a balloon letting the air out.” Jo Jo also worries that her school best friend, Fern, may not want to eat lunch with her anymore. Quigley adeptly creates strong classroom scenes that convey an inclusive student body’s realistic dynamic and an endearing, assured seven-year-old protagonist who appreciates her cultural identity (“If you can say Tyrannosaurus rex , you can say nindizhinikaaz ”). B&w cartoon drawings by Audibert (This Place ), who is of Wolastoqey/French heritage, emphasize characterization throughout. Front matter discusses reservations and Native Nations; back matter includes a Michif and Ojibwe glossary with pronunciations and an author’s note. Ages 6–10. Agent: Erin Murphy, Erin Murphy Literary. (May)
"Funny and smart, with a sly sense of humor that’s entirely its own, prepare for a series that you’ll want to see much more of in the future."
"Jo Jo's magnetic personality and liberal humor should endear her immediately to readers struggling to sort out their own worlds—she is sure to be young readers' new 'book best friend.'"
Shelf Awareness (starred review)
"Readers come to know Jo Jo’s quirky perspective, her insecurities and her cultural identity, which informs how she sees the world. Jo Jo’s sense of humor, playful attitude and frequent misinterpretations of dialogue and body language are sure to lead to plenty of giggles. Jo Jo’s family, teachers and friends keep her on her toes, learning and growing. Quigley’s first-person narration is fast paced, witty and engaging, while illustrator Tara Audibert’s black-and-white cartoon-style illustrations assist with character development and deepen the story’s setting."
"Young readers will revel in the humor this chapter book offers: the wordplay, the nicknames, and Jo Jo’s irrepressible narrative voice. A joyful book about growing up Native in a loving community—not to be missed." — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"In a winning, straightforward voice, Quigley adeptly creates strong classroom scenes that convey an inclusive student body’s realistic dynamic and an endearing, assured seven-year-old protagonist who appreciates her cultural identity." — Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"Jo Jo's magnetic personality and liberal humor should endear her immediately to readers struggling to sort out their own worlds—she is sure to be young readers' new 'book best friend.'" — Shelf Awareness (starred review)
"In eight brief yet eventful chapters, we follow this seven-year-old Everygirl through a relatable and entertaining series of misadventures and misunderstandings. Through it all, the first-person narrative is consistently engaging, with just the right touch of primary-grade silliness to balance out Jo Jo’s fears about friendship. Audibert’s cartoony illustrations add humorous layers to this exemplary transitional reader." — Horn Book (starred review)
"A sweet, slice-of-life series debut. Readers will love Jo Jo and want to be her friend." — School Library Journal (starred review)
"Funny and smart, with a sly sense of humor that’s entirely its own, prepare for a series that you’ll want to see much more of in the future." — Betsy Bird, A Fuse #8 Production (SLJ blog)
"Readers come to know Jo Jo’s quirky perspective, her insecurities and her cultural identity, which informs how she sees the world. Jo Jo’s sense of humor, playful attitude and frequent misinterpretations of dialogue and body language are sure to lead to plenty of giggles. Jo Jo’s family, teachers and friends keep her on her toes, learning and growing. Quigley’s first-person narration is fast paced, witty and engaging, while illustrator Tara Audibert’s black-and-white cartoon-style illustrations assist with character development and deepen the story’s setting." — BookPage
"A fun and fanciful story... Jo Jo Makoons , the first in a series, provides Indigenous children an opportunity to see themselves in books and teaches non-Indigenous children more about Ojibwe culture." — Quill & Quire
"In eight brief yet eventful chapters, we follow this seven-year-old Everygirl through a relatable and entertaining series of misadventures and misunderstandings. Through it all, the first-person narrative is consistently engaging, with just the right touch of primary-grade silliness to balance out Jo Jo’s fears about friendship. Audibert’s cartoony illustrations add humorous layers to this exemplary transitional reader."
Horn Book (starred review)
"A fun and fanciful story... Jo Jo Makoons , the first in a series, provides Indigenous children an opportunity to see themselves in books and teaches non-Indigenous children more about Ojibwe culture."
★ 05/01/2021
Gr 2–5— Seven-year-old Jo Jo Makoons Azure lives on a fictional version of an Ojibwe reservation, and likes to do things a little differently than everyone else. When her cat Mimi sleeps on her feet every night and makes them too warm, Jo Jo solves the problem by cutting the toes off all of her nighttime socks. Her idea of Language Arts is drawing pictures with Ojibwe captions for Teacher: "language + arts!" Readers follow Jo Jo through a myriad of first grade adventures involving her family, classmates, and cat Mimi. Even though Mimi is her best friend at home, Jo Jo is worried about her friendship with Fern when the girl stops doing school best friend things like saving her a seat at lunch. The story playfully captures age-appropriate concerns and interests, as young Jo Jo navigates family traditions and shifting friendships. Audibert's fun illustrations utilize big expressions to convey the book's gentle high jinks and Jo Jo's rambunctious, carefree nature. Quigley includes "Jo Jo's Glossary" and an author's note for further explanation about Ojibwe language and culture. The story is interspersed with Ojibwe and Michif words; Jo Jo even explains that if readers can pronounce Tyrannosaurs rex, they should be able to say these words as well. VERDICT A sweet, slice-of-life series debut. Readers will love Jo Jo and want to be her friend.—Danielle Burbank, San Juan Coll., Farmington, NM
First Nations theater artist Jennifer Bobiwash captures the enthusiastic voice of Jo Jo Makoons in her lively narration of this hilarious audiobook for young listeners. Seven-year-old Jo Jo is proudly Ojibwe. She’s growing up with her mother and grandmother on a fictional reservation and happily shares words in Ojibwe and Michif with listeners. She also knows how to get into trouble and will have listeners laughing (hard!) over her antics and goofy rhymes. Bobiwash’s youthful voice conveys Jo Jo’s bold personality, her creative ways of approaching problems, and the ups and downs she experiences while navigating friendships and learning in first grade. This delightful start to an early chapter book series is not to be missed. E.E.C. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine
First Nations theater artist Jennifer Bobiwash captures the enthusiastic voice of Jo Jo Makoons in her lively narration of this hilarious audiobook for young listeners. Seven-year-old Jo Jo is proudly Ojibwe. She’s growing up with her mother and grandmother on a fictional reservation and happily shares words in Ojibwe and Michif with listeners. She also knows how to get into trouble and will have listeners laughing (hard!) over her antics and goofy rhymes. Bobiwash’s youthful voice conveys Jo Jo’s bold personality, her creative ways of approaching problems, and the ups and downs she experiences while navigating friendships and learning in first grade. This delightful start to an early chapter book series is not to be missed. E.E.C. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine
★ 2021-02-09
Set on a fictional reservation known as the Pembina Ojibwe, this story introduces Jo Jo, an intelligent and charismatic first grader who is fretting over two big problems in this series opener. Her first worry concerns her home best friend, Mimi the cat, who she fears may deflate when she gets vaccinated. Her second concern is that her school best friend, Fern, has begun to ignore her at lunchtime. From Jo Jo’s difficulties with language arts to her attempts to save Mimi, hijinks emerge. Through it all, cultural information about Jo Jo’s Ojibwe way of life is shared in a way that suggests her pride for her people, traditions, and family. Young readers will revel in the humor this chapter book offers: the wordplay, the nicknames, and Jo Jo’s irrepressible narrative voice. But it is the friendships at her school, where her teacher is White and her classmates are multicultural, that will linger with readers. Even though it is in a border town, the school Jo Jo attends respects her cultural traditions, and the effect is heartwarming. Quigley (Turtle Mountain Band of Ojibwe) provides a glossary of Ojibwe and Michif words that enhances the experience. Audibert (of Wolastoqey and French heritage) supplies plentiful grayscale illustrations that depict Jo Jo and her friends with big, pretty eyes and expressive faces.
A joyful book about growing up Native in a loving community—not to be missed. (Fiction. 6-10)
