Book cover of Jo Jo Makoons and the Used-To-Be Best Friend

Jo Jo Makoons and the Used-To-Be Best Friend

ISBN

9780063015371

Publisher & Publication Year

Heartdrum, 2021

Publisher's Book Page

Author

Dawn Quigley (Turtle Mountain Band of Ojibwe)

Author's Website 

Illustrator

Tara Audibert (Wolastoqey)

Synopsis

Summary

Jo Jo Makoons Azure is a spirited seven-year-old who moves through the world a little differently than anyone else on her Ojibwe reservation. It always seems like her mom, her kokum (grandma), and her teacher have a lot to learn—about how good Jo Jo is at cleaning up, what makes a good rhyme, and what it means to be friendly. And even though Jo Jo loves her #1 best friend Mimi (who is a cat), she’s worried that she needs to figure out how to make more friends. Because Fern, her best friend at school, may not want to be friends anymore…

Notable Achievements

American Indian Youth Literature Award: Middle Grade Honor Book

Reviews

Publishers Weekly: "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."

Kirkus Reviews: "A joyful book about growing up Native in a loving community—not to be missed."

School Library Journal: "A sweet, slice-of-life series debut. Readers will love Jo Jo and want to be her friend."

The Horn Book: "Contemporary Native culture takes center stage: Jo Jo’s multigenerational family lives on the fictional Pembina Ojibwe reservation; some Ojibwe and Michif words are phonetically spelled within the text in a manner consistent with Jo Jo’s hilariously frank voice."

Educator Guide

This guide to Indigenous literature, created by Muskogee educator Jenna Wolf in association with Heartdrum, includes discussion questions for Jo Jo Makoons and the Used-To-Be Best Friend as well as a general introduction to the importance of Indigenous books.

Link to Guide

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