Synopsis
Summary
Goodbye is another word for “new beginning.” A young Cherokee girl learns this when her family moves away from their city home. The family is moving back to their ancestral land, and the girl excitedly draws in her sketchbook as her mother drives them to their new beginning. The young girl can’t wait for what lies ahead, like eating a feast with her big, extended family and playing with her cousins by the creek.
Notable Achievements
Reviews
School Library Journal: “A grounded depiction of treasuring home and culture, skillfully presented by two artists of Indigenous backgrounds.”
Publishers Weekly: “An Indigenous child narrator looks forward to adjusting ‘our tempo’ in this expansive portrait of a family’s move away from metropolitan surrounds and to ‘our ancestors’ land / and to our people.’ […] Background characters are portrayed with various abilities, ages, body types, and skin tones.”
Kirkus: “…Goade’s (Tlingit Nation) breathtaking mixed-media artwork layers in emotion, transitioning from urban scenes dominated by dark, looming structures and impersonal silhouettes to vibrantly illustrated spreads teeming with the smiling faces of friends and family. Shimmering colors and geometric shapes bring to life the protagonist’s world.”
Booklist: “On the surface, Being Home is a simple story of a small family that leaves one home, takes a long road trip, and settles in a new place. But layered on top of that premise is a message of deep connections felt by the girl and her mother to their ancestors and land.”
Link to Review
Educator Guide
Link to Guide
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