Find her

Debut author Reno, who is Cherokee, dives into issues regarding the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls crisis through the lens of one child who was left to wonder where her loved one has gone. Twelve-year-old Wren, who is white and Cherokee, is "good at finding things for people." The only thing she can't locate is her Cherokee mother, who disappeared five years ago. "So very sick of having nothing but questions," she instead starts a business locating lost pets ("Her real talent, her real sweet spot, was missing pets"), calling upon her strength as a member of the Wolf Clan, the "protectors," for help. She soon discovers that pets are being viciously killed in the small town of Gibson, Okla., and vows to bring the perpetrator to justice, a plan she keeps from her white police sheriff father and her maternal grandmother. It's only when she's assigned a class project with a schoolmate that Wren gains an ally in her investigation. Via crisp prose, Reno meshes plot threads involving abandoned shelter pets and a mystery surrounding a locator on Wren's grandmother's keys, which emphasize the futility Wren feels in trying to find someone who seems unreachable. Ages 10--up. (Sept.)

Gr 5 Up--Wren is a ghost of who she used to be. Five years ago her mother disappeared without a trace. Every day Wren searches for clues through her police chief dad, online searches, and the MMIWG (Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls) movement database. Her elisi (Cherokee for grandmother) is a source of comfort, but there is still something missing. When animals start being hurt and killed, Wren decides to put her research skills to work and find out who is behind the crimes. With her new friend Brantley, she follows the leads until they realize that the person committing these acts may be closer to home than either of them thought. With the backdrop of the Cherokee tribal land in Oklahoma, this book brings into focus the epidemic of missing Indigenous women across the United States in an age-appropriate way. So many of these families, just like Wren's, are given no answers to what happened to their loved ones. Although written for middle schoolers, Reno's debut does not shy away from the truth. With a mystery to solve, students will want to follow Wren on her quest for justice. VERDICT Cherokee writer Reno crafts a powerful debut centering an important issue affecting Indigenous women and families; a strong purchase for all middle schools.--Heather Lassley