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Dreaming in Indian: Contemporary Native American Voices by Lisa Charleyboy, Mary Beth Leatherdale
showell's review against another edition
5.0
By turns hard, hopeful, sorrowful, resilient, brutal, honest. Ends on a joyful note. Our middle school students are not noticing this book on our nonfiction shelves and that’s a shame. I’m going to place it open to various pages on a table in our library as if it were a magazine to browse and see what happens.
lattelibrarian's review against another edition
5.0
Charleyboy and Leatherdale have yet again done a fantastic job of compiling and editing the various voices of various Native Americans through North America. Their other collection, #notyourprincess is similar in vein, and if you liked that, then you'll certainly enjoy this! It was incredible to see all of the ways that Native Americans express their creativity and how, and reading this truly enlightened me to many conversations that are currently happening in native communities. Overall, this was a pleasure to read and to learn from.
Review cross-listed here!
Review cross-listed here!
clarag's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
4.25
erincataldi's review against another edition
5.0
I LOVED this anthology of Native American poetry, short stories, interviews, art, and photographs. It captured the very real struggles, beliefs, and hopes of a young generation of aboriginal youth in Canada and America. Beautifully crafted and haunting, this collection is a must read. It's inspiring, heartbreaking, and hopeful. Surviving against the odds and holding onto the past is no easy feat and these works capture the struggle. It is a fantastic collection and a must read for all in order to understand the complexities of their beliefs and culture. Although aimed at teens, it surpasses that demographic and has something to offer for everyone.
cimorene1558's review against another edition
5.0
Excellent book, I just wish more people were likely to read it! If you're on Netgalley, it is available, and I highly recommend you request it and give it a look if nothing else, because it's a much-needed look at the awesomeness of Native American young people! I will be buying a personal copy just because I want to support books like this about all kinds of young people, and especially about Native Americans.
readwithpassion's review against another edition
5.0
I fell in love with the stunning illustrations and beautiful language of this book. I read two to three pages per night because I wanted to leave time to absorb the authors’ words and artists’ work. The eclectic mix of forms makes for a very powerful anthology that will prove enduring for readers. It features a variety of tribes, and the differing formats and content give readers a sense of both a unity across tribes and a distinctness of individuals from the different tribes. I found it to be truly inspiring and wish I could donate this book to every middle and high school classroom.
Full Review: http://www.unleashingreaders.com/?p=5637
Full Review: http://www.unleashingreaders.com/?p=5637
noahbw's review against another edition
4.0
This is a really neat anthology depicting Native youth and their work -- poetry, songs, paintings, instillations, writing, and more! It's got some really inspiring forms of healing and resistance. My only complaint is that it's pretty short -- I wish there were more of these awesome young people's work!
sarahannkateri's review against another edition
4.0
High-quality, eye-opening collection of art, poetry, essays, etc. by First Nation people from North America. I would have given it 5 stars, but I thought the targeting was a little muddled (is it meant to be for older youth or for adults or both?; while some of the Canadianisms were explained, others might be confusing to readers from the States).
Good choice to pair w/ [b:The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian|693208|The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian|Sherman Alexie|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327908992s/693208.jpg|829330], or to give along with [b:Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee|10524173|Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee|Frederic P. Miller|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348085443s/10524173.jpg|15430386] as a Christmas gift to jackass white hipsters who still think it's okay to wear a war bonnet.
Good choice to pair w/ [b:The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian|693208|The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian|Sherman Alexie|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327908992s/693208.jpg|829330], or to give along with [b:Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee|10524173|Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee|Frederic P. Miller|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348085443s/10524173.jpg|15430386] as a Christmas gift to jackass white hipsters who still think it's okay to wear a war bonnet.
crystal_reading's review against another edition
5.0
Review copy: Digital ARC via Netgalley & final copy via public library
Dreaming in Indian is a breathtaking collection of stories told through a wide range of methods. In their welcome, editors Lisa Charleyboy (Tsilhqot’in – Raven Clan) and Mary Beth Leatherdale explain, "We wanted to give people a fresh perspective on what it means to be Native in North America." They wanted to give Native Americans the opportunity, "... to tell their stories, their way." They definitely accomplished these goals. The many voices heard within the covers of Dreaming in Indian allow readers to see the incredible diversity of the Native experience. The voices shout out that Native Americans are still here. They are here remembering the past, but also looking to the future speaking to us through fashion, art, words, and ways that fit them.
In the foreword, Lee Maracle (Salish and Cree Stó:lō Nation) shared this thought, "All the works in the following pages are part of that amazing struggle to go forward, into modernity, onto the global stage, without leaving our ancient selves behind." The first section of the book, 'Roots,' pointed to maintaining history, remembering the things that shaped them and their families. The section opens with two poems from Nicola Campbell (Nle7kepmx [Thompson], Nsilx [Okanagan], and Métis) speaking of childhood memories. These are followed by photos and essays from young people who are expressing what home means to them. Eleven different pieces speak to home and roots.
'Battles' is the second section of the book and included thirteen different pieces that addressed many topics such as stereotypes, gender, sexual abuse, government issues, fashion, comedy, superheroes and poverty. This is a section that gets at the heart of some issues Native youth are facing.
In 'Medicine,' the third section, readers hear about the many different ways that Indigenous people find strength and healing in their lives. This includes art, music, dance, culture, hunting, sports and many other activities. Chayla Delorme Maracle (Cree, Mohawk) wrote of her addictions and the choice to stay sober so she could share Sun Dance with her mother. "Nothing--no drug--can compare to the feeling I felt at that Sun Dance. That's what helped me quit everything."
The final section of the book, 'Dreamcatchers,' shows how Indigenous people in North America are dreaming and making those dreams come true. The book ends with healing and hope. With more than 60 contributors, this book is an amazing testament to what people can do when they collaborate and utilize their creativity.
The incredible beauty of this book is found in the turning of the page. The pages are 8.5 x 11" so the visuals are able to make quite an impact, especially when there is a two page spread. With each turn, the reader meets a new person or group of people - hearing other stories in a completely different way. There was a lot of attention paid to the presentation of each of these pieces. Even when the majority of the page is text, the design will lend fantastic visual support. One example is the essay 'Shedding My Own Skin' by Joseph Boyden (Anishinaabe). They used a white font and layered the text over a photo by Inti Amaterasu entitled Snake skin. Boyden shared his story of teenage struggles and his triumph over them. The text is excellent alone, but with the added richness of the photography, it becomes even more powerful.
Recommendation: I highly recommend this book to young adults or anyone working with young adults and college age students. It would be an excellent springboard for discussion about social issues, history, identity, and culture among other things. Art teachers may also want to add it to their design collection. It would also make for a wonderful coffee table book. Can you tell I love this book? This will be a book I visit and revisit many times. Dreaming in Indian is a book to savor.
Dreaming in Indian is a breathtaking collection of stories told through a wide range of methods. In their welcome, editors Lisa Charleyboy (Tsilhqot’in – Raven Clan) and Mary Beth Leatherdale explain, "We wanted to give people a fresh perspective on what it means to be Native in North America." They wanted to give Native Americans the opportunity, "... to tell their stories, their way." They definitely accomplished these goals. The many voices heard within the covers of Dreaming in Indian allow readers to see the incredible diversity of the Native experience. The voices shout out that Native Americans are still here. They are here remembering the past, but also looking to the future speaking to us through fashion, art, words, and ways that fit them.
In the foreword, Lee Maracle (Salish and Cree Stó:lō Nation) shared this thought, "All the works in the following pages are part of that amazing struggle to go forward, into modernity, onto the global stage, without leaving our ancient selves behind." The first section of the book, 'Roots,' pointed to maintaining history, remembering the things that shaped them and their families. The section opens with two poems from Nicola Campbell (Nle7kepmx [Thompson], Nsilx [Okanagan], and Métis) speaking of childhood memories. These are followed by photos and essays from young people who are expressing what home means to them. Eleven different pieces speak to home and roots.
'Battles' is the second section of the book and included thirteen different pieces that addressed many topics such as stereotypes, gender, sexual abuse, government issues, fashion, comedy, superheroes and poverty. This is a section that gets at the heart of some issues Native youth are facing.
In 'Medicine,' the third section, readers hear about the many different ways that Indigenous people find strength and healing in their lives. This includes art, music, dance, culture, hunting, sports and many other activities. Chayla Delorme Maracle (Cree, Mohawk) wrote of her addictions and the choice to stay sober so she could share Sun Dance with her mother. "Nothing--no drug--can compare to the feeling I felt at that Sun Dance. That's what helped me quit everything."
The final section of the book, 'Dreamcatchers,' shows how Indigenous people in North America are dreaming and making those dreams come true. The book ends with healing and hope. With more than 60 contributors, this book is an amazing testament to what people can do when they collaborate and utilize their creativity.
The incredible beauty of this book is found in the turning of the page. The pages are 8.5 x 11" so the visuals are able to make quite an impact, especially when there is a two page spread. With each turn, the reader meets a new person or group of people - hearing other stories in a completely different way. There was a lot of attention paid to the presentation of each of these pieces. Even when the majority of the page is text, the design will lend fantastic visual support. One example is the essay 'Shedding My Own Skin' by Joseph Boyden (Anishinaabe). They used a white font and layered the text over a photo by Inti Amaterasu entitled Snake skin. Boyden shared his story of teenage struggles and his triumph over them. The text is excellent alone, but with the added richness of the photography, it becomes even more powerful.
Recommendation: I highly recommend this book to young adults or anyone working with young adults and college age students. It would be an excellent springboard for discussion about social issues, history, identity, and culture among other things. Art teachers may also want to add it to their design collection. It would also make for a wonderful coffee table book. Can you tell I love this book? This will be a book I visit and revisit many times. Dreaming in Indian is a book to savor.