Zana's Reviews > Stealing Little Moon: The Legacy of the American Indian Boarding Schools

4.5 stars rounded up.

Wow! Despite this being a Middle Grade nonfiction book, I really learned a lot! I highlighted so many passages from this book and I don't think I've highlighted so much in a setting outside of academia.

Also, I think this book might be better for upper MG and the YA set because of the content (and possibly the book's length and semi dry-ish nonfiction tone too).

I'm really glad a book like this is being published. Native American boarding schools was something I never learned about in K-12 or college. I only know about this topic because of the news about the Kamloops Indian Residential School in Canada, and because lately, I've been interested in US history from marginalized perspectives.

Even though this book is written for younger audiences, adults can definitely learn a lot if you're new to Native American history during the colonial period and modern times. The author made it easy to read and follow along, even though he does go off on (related) tangents. (Which is why I had to knock down half a star.) If you're familiar with nonfiction books on history written this way instead of chronologically, then this might not bother you.

Along with learning about the history of boarding schools and how Native children were treated by the US government, I loved how the author talked about his family's experiences with Chilocco Indian School. It really gave a well-rounded perspective on how Chilocco went from destroying any traces of Indigeneity to one that fully accepted its students for who they were when US policies on boarding schools became more progressive.

I really appreciated the mini biographies of historical boarding school attendees, especially the pictures showing these children in their traditional clothing before vs. after the boarding school officials essentially destroyed their culture and forced them to wear European clothing, forced haircuts on them, etc. The black and white photos were really powerful.

I also loved the chapters on the American Indian Movement and their protests at Alcatraz and Pine Ridge, including how they brought light to the US government's historical and ongoing mistreatment of Native Americans, their cultures, and their land.

The author also mentioned successful Native American activists today (such as US Secretary of the Interior, Deb Haaland) and how their parents and grandparents were affected by boarding schools and US policies. He also talked a bit about Native Americans in the film industry and how it has evolved from racist stereotypes to much more accurate representations and portrayals today.

I really appreciated learning about all of these topics. I'd definitely recommend for anyone interested in US history or Native American history, written in a way that's easy to read and digest.

Thank you to Scholastic Focus and NetGalley for this arc.