You Were Made For this World Celebrated indigenous voices speak to young people

Gr 5 Up--In a world where family histories are at our fingertips, this collection takes readers on a journey through what it means to be Indigenous. The book is organized by the elements of a medicine bundle: water, tobacco, cedar, sweetgrass, and sage. It has both visual elements and letters to Indigenous children from 40 artists, writers, activists, athletes, and more. As readers work their ways through the medicine bundle, the letters use personal stories and vulnerability to show young people that they are not alone in their feelings. Being of Indigenous descent comes with a different culture, a different language, and a different look. Most Indigenous people were told to hide what they were and to adapt to the people around them. The medicine bundle missives encourage kids to be who they are and to be proud. The visual component is stunning. Colorful, full-page artwork opens each entry; they are unique and fit the tone of each letter perfectly. Artists Chief Lady Bird and Christi Belcourt, illustrator Mangeshig Pawis-Steckley, and many more are featured. Each one has a different element and a different medium, but they all are brimming with meaning. VERDICT An inclusive must-buy for all upper elementar collections and for any institution serving an Indigenous community.--Heather Lassley

A collection of letters and art from a constellation of renowned Indigenous creators, addressed to Native youth. Acknowledging that many Native people have "grown up at some distance from their ancestors' stories," editors Stephanie and Sara Sinclair (who are of Cree, Ojibwe, and German/Jewish heritage) celebrate the ways that "being Indigenous is a journey toward reclamation and continuance of language, knowledge and nationhood." They structure their work like a "medicine bundle, with each letter representing a traditional medicine--water, tobacco, cedar, sweetgrass or sage." Deeply personal, eloquent, and insightful entries explore topics such as ancestral pride, political advocacy, connection to land, and healing from colonial trauma. Tasha Spillett, who describes herself as "an Afro-Indigenous person with mixed European ancestry," confides that when she was younger, she saw her identity as a "mosaic of fragmented pieces" but that she now views herself as "a complete person, formed by all those I came from." Métis artist Christi Belcourt contributes an intricate painting of beadwork--just one example of the striking images paired with each letter, illustrating the beauty of Native traditions and expression. Young readers will gravitate toward this collection for its wide range of voices and perspectives on Indigenous identity, fortitude, and creativity. Like the sacred items in a medicine bundle, these entries reverberate powerfully, both individually and as a whole. (contributor bios, artist note on cover art, credits)(Anthology. 8-12) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.