A loving exploration of LGBTQ identities and families within indigenous (specifically Cree) culture.
A young girl named Molly is spending the evening at the Intertribal Community Center, where she introduces readers to her grandmother (kôhkom) and grandmother’s wife, her uncles and their baby, her nonbinary older sibling, and to her cousins and friends (one of whom has two moms). Along the way, she expresses the emotions she is feeling: energized from listening to their sibling play music; creative from drawing with a friend; kind from reading to the babies, and more. She learns jingle dance steps and smells the sweetgrass burning as her parents prepare for a ceremony. Her auntie speaks to her in Nehiyawewin, and she feels pride; she listens to her Kôhkom Raven tell stories and sees them play out in her mind.
The words “Love is love” appear on many pages, reminding us of the book’s central theme. In the end, as family and community come together, Molly herself tells us she feels love.
Backmatter includes a note from the two-spirit author, Monique Gray Smith, about the reasons for writing this book; information about indigenous community centers, culture, two-spirit and LGBTQIA2S+ identities, an activity for fostering children’s social and emotional growth; a short glossary of Cree words; and a note from the Heartdrum imprint’s curator, Cynthia Leitich Smith. Adult readers should find much of value here to help deepen discussions of the book with young readers.
The celebration of indigenous culture, woven with recognition of LGBTQ identities and families, make this a book that offers important intersectional representation as it also helps connect readers with their feelings.
