Welcome to Litsy!

And now, some sticky toffee apple cake with my daily short story. ANCESTOR APPROVED is a great anthology so far. It‘s full of emotional truths and I love all the little connections between the stories as these kids (& one dog) converge on the powwow.

The cake recipe is available on the Food Network‘s website. They bill it as the best ever, and they ain‘t wrong. I ate it off my hummingbird plate designed by Coast Salish artist Maynard Johnny Jr.

I love this middle grade Peter Pan retelling by Muscogee Creek author Cynthia Leitich Smith. It focuses on two stepsisters & addresses racism straightforwardly in the text. Wendy & Lily immediately speak up when Peter or the Lost boys use the word ‘Injun,‘ for example. On many occasions the omniscient narrator breaks the fourth wall & addresses readers directly—I like that too. A fun read with satisfying depth. #Indigenous #kidlit

Lily: I‘m Muscogee Creek from the Tulsa ‘burbs. I came for my brother and stepsister. Have you seen them? He‘s four, and she‘s annoying.

@Deblovestoread Your #LitSolace card was waiting for me to open it while watching the leaves blow all around my yard. I adore pine cones and that sticker is adorable.

Determined and talented, this Native-American prima ballerina, rarely discussed in mainstream pop culture, was a force in the dance world of the 1940s-1960s. She tried to honor her Osage heritage & live her dreams. For it‘s frank discussion of her father‘s alcoholism, I would recommend this for 9 years and up. #5stars #dance #indigenousculture

In this complex and emotionally resonant novel about a Métis girl living on the Canadian prairies, debut author Jen Ferguson serves up a powerful story about rage, secrets, and all the spectrums that make up a person—and the sweetness that can still live alongside the bitterest truth.
#TheSummerOfBitterAndSweet #JenFerguson #YoungAdult #Contemporary #LGBT #Romance #Fiction #Queer #RealisticFiction #Canada #Audiobook #Indigenous #NativeAmerican ?

A touching middle grade story based on the author's family history of being “terminated“ by the U.S. Government--their reservation land stolen and tribal rolls disavowed. There were some positive aspects for the family's standard of living, but the narrator, Regina, struggles to hold onto her identity amidst ignorance and prejudice.

This is also a book published posthumously, as the author sadly died before its completion.

#URC #BookSpinBingo

HF based on the life of Charlene Willing McManis, of the Umpqua tribe in the forests of Oregon. Some ridiculous federal govt/BIA law ‘relocated‘ them to LosAngeles in the 1950s, to low rent rundown houses with postage stamp yards - told them they were no longer Indians. Charlene died of cancer before the manuscript was completed; Traci Sorrell finished it for her.
#Pantone2023
#OutstandingOctoberReadathon Day8
#RushAThon Day 21

This narnia-like tale has a great storyline and wonderful characters. I will definitely recommend this one.

In the mid 1500s, Alis and her parents make the long journey from England to Virginia - immediately there are conflicts with the Roanoke community, of which young Kimi is a member. The 2 girls form a sweet (secret) friendship, and despite their different backgrounds and languages, they learn to communicate with each other. The ending is a lovely surprise too.

#Pantone2023
#20in4Readathon Day 1