Washing My Mother’s Body: A Ceremony for Grief

by Joy Harjo Art by Dana Tiger 5 stars A stunning edition of a powerful poem of grief and healing. It was nice having read this poem previously in An American Sunrise: Poems. Because I was already familiar with the poem, I could focus on its interplay with the artwork in this edition. The poem itself…

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An American Sunrise by Joy Harjo

4 stars Fantastically written, this collection explores history and the human connection to the land. Through stunning verse, Harjo shares stories and imagery of her tribe’s forced removal from their ancestorial home, her return to her family’s land, stories of her family’s legacy, her own personal experiences, and creative new tales featuring well-known characters from…

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Harvest House by Cynthia Leitich Smith

4 stars For Halloween, Hughie volunteers at Harvest House, a haunted house fundraiser highlighting local ghost stories. But strange things start happening at the crossroads by Harvest House. With the help of his friends, Hughie investigates to determine whether something sinister is lurking at the crossroads. A cool blend of mystery, supernatural elements, and current…

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