Jo Jo Makoons: The Used-To-Be Best Friend

American Indian Youth Literature Award: Middle Grade Honor Book! Hello/Boozhoo--meet Jo Jo Makoons! Full of pride, joy, and plenty of humor, this first book in an all-new chapter book series by Dawn Quigley celebrates a spunky young Ojibwe girl who loves who she is.

Jo Jo Makoons Azure is a spirited seven-year-old who moves through the world a little differently than anyone else on her Ojibwe reservation. It always seems like her mom, her kokum (grandma), and her teacher have a lot to learn--about how good Jo Jo is at cleaning up, what makes a good rhyme, and what it means to be friendly.

Even though Jo Jo loves her #1 best friend Mimi (who is a cat), she's worried that she needs to figure out how to make more friends. Because Fern, her best friend at school, may not want to be friends anymore...

The Heartdrum imprint centers a wide range of intertribal voices, visions, and stories while welcoming all young readers, with an emphasis on the present and future of Indian Country and on the strength of young Native heroes. In partnership with We Need Diverse Books.

Author: Dawn Quigley
Publisher: Heartdrum
Published: 05/11/2021
Pages: 80
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.45lbs
Size: 7.80h x 5.20w x 0.60d
ISBN: 9780063015371
Audience: Ages 9-12

Accelerated Reader:
Reading Level: 3.5
Point Value: 1
Interest Level: Middle Grade
Quiz #/Name: 511872 / Used-To-Be-Best Friend


Award: American Indian Youth Literature Award - Honor Book


Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Reviews 03/01/2021
Booklist 03/15/2021 pg. 57
Publishers Weekly 03/22/2021 pg. 83
School Library Journal 05/01/2021 pg. 73
Shelf Awareness 05/25/2021
Horn Book Magazine 07/01/2021 pg. 122

About the Author
Quigley, Dawn: -

Dawn Quigley is a citizen of the Turtle Mountain Band of Ojibwe, North Dakota. Her debut YA novel, Apple in the Middle, was awarded an American Indian Youth Literature Honor. She is a PhD, education university faculty member, and a former K-12 reading and English teacher, as well as Indian Education program codirector. You can find her online at www.dawnquigley.com.

Audibert, Tara: -

Tara Audibert is a multidisciplinary artist, filmmaker, cartoonist, animator, and podcaster. She owns and runs Moxy Fox Studio, where she creates her award-winning works, including the animated short film The Importance of Dreaming, comics This Place: 150 Years Retold and Lost Innocence, and "Nitap: Legends of the First Nations," an animated storytelling app. She is of Wolastoqey/French heritage and resides in Sunny Corner, New Brunswick, Canada. You can find her online at www.moxyfox.ca.