We Still Belong by Christine Day – Book Review
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Title: We Still Belong Author: Christine Day Publisher: Heartdrum Release Date: August 1, 2023  |
Wesley Wilder has big plans for this day. Her poem for Indigenous People’s Day will be printed in the school newspaper, and she looks forward to reading it aloud in class. She also plans to ask her crush, Ryan Thomas, to the TOLO dance. However, her day takes one unexpected turn after the next. By the time she returns home, a day of hope and promise seems to end with disappointment and gloom. Still, Wesley braves an outing to an intertribal powwow. There, she finds her courage to use her voice and claim her place of belonging.
We Still Belong is a homely novel that captures a single day in the life of its protagonist. Flashbacks help paint the larger picture and add more depth to Wesley’s story. While author Christine Day touches on important topics about Native rights and the controversy around Christopher Columbus, in-depth exploration is left up to the reader. Day’s own work mirrors Wesley’s hope with her poem: to celebrate Indigenous People and not engage in debate. By taking that approach, Wesley’s poem and story remain solidly her own, safeguarded from anyone intent on coopting her message. In the end, We Still Belong is heartwarming with a happy ending, something that many young readers do and will enjoy.
While We Still Belong includes some important touchpoints for discussion, Day leaves the heavy lifting for readers. Opportunities exist to dive deeper, but the moments are brief. Still, the novel lends itself as a perfect text for younger readers, younger classrooms, or book clubs. Just as Wesley belongs, so does her story among other great titles of the middle grades genre.
Thank you to NetGalley and publisher, Heartdrum, for an eARC of this book.
Classroom Applications
- Cross-Curricular Study – Teach the novel in conjunction with a study of the history of First Nations of the Pacific Northwest.
- Literature Circles – Use novel for small groups or choice reading with a variety of books that center of Native voices.
- Book Club or Book Exchange – Share the novel with students that enjoy reading realistic fiction.
Nonfiction Connections
The list below outlines topics that will enrich your students’ understanding of the novel.
- First Nations of the Pacific Northwest
- History of First Nations in the U.S.
Book Companions
The following are great books to pair with We Still Belong. In parenthesis are the specific aspects students could explore when synthesizing across the texts.
- Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Alexie Sherman (Themes, Character Connections, Nonfiction Connections)
- Indian No More by Charlene Willing McManis & Traci Sorell (Themes, Character Connections, Nonfiction Connections)
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