Jo Jo Makoons : the used-to-be best friend

This silly chapter book features a funny Ojibwe girl protagonist.

Set on a fictional reservation known as the Pembina Ojibwe, this story introduces Jo Jo, an intelligent and charismatic first grader who is fretting over two big problems in this series opener. Her first worry concerns her home best friend, Mimi the cat, who she fears may deflate when she gets vaccinated. Her second concern is that her school best friend, Fern, has begun to ignore her at lunchtime. From Jo Jo’s difficulties with language arts to her attempts to save Mimi, hijinks emerge. Through it all, cultural information about Jo Jo’s Ojibwe way of life is shared in a way that suggests her pride for her people, traditions, and family. Young readers will revel in the show more humor this chapter book offers: the wordplay, the nicknames, and Jo Jo’s irrepressible narrative voice. But it is the friendships at her school, where her teacher is White and her classmates are multicultural, that will linger with readers. Even though it is in a border town, the school Jo Jo attends respects her cultural traditions, and the effect is heartwarming. Quigley (Turtle Mountain Band of Ojibwe) provides a glossary of Ojibwe and Michif words that enhances the experience. Audibert (of Wolastoqey and French heritage) supplies plentiful grayscale illustrations that depict Jo Jo and her friends with big, pretty eyes and expressive faces.

A joyful book about growing up Native in a loving community—not to be missed. (Fiction. 6-10)

-Kirkus Review show less

Important to have a fun book about a modern Native (Ojibwe) first-grader, a girl any child can identify with, who can also teach us non-Native people something about modern Ojibwe culture. Unfortunately I, personally, didn't find the book all that enjoyable. Jo Jo makes sillier mistakes than Amelia Bedelia and doesn't actually learn from them, for example about rhyming.

And were her illustrations that she submitted to the yearbook any good? If I were Teacher I would have trouble with them as being disrespectful of her classmates. And speaking of respect, his name is not Teacher, Jo Jo, as he told you. He's being careful with names, cannot you be?

Definitely mixed feelings about this. If you choose to share it with your child, please discuss.

Seven-year-old Ojibwe first-grader Jo Jo Makoons has a best friend at home - her cat, Mimi - and a "school best friend," Fern. But Jo Jo is worried that Fern doesn't want to be her school best friend anymore.

This familiar quandary is presented through Jo Jo's quirky perspective, as well as through her cultural lens; for example, her interactions with her white teacher (the school is on a fictional Ojibwe reservation) frequently result in confusion on both sides.

This transitional reader has eight chapters, with black-and-white illustrations by Tara Audibert on every other page.Back matter includes a glossary and an author's note.

"Teacher tries to use our Ojibwe words every morning. It sounds more like he's choking on a bunch of marbles. show more His words don't sound like the way elders say them. Teacher isn't Native American. He didn't grow up hearing or speaking our language. But he's trying. I would give him a C+ for trying. And maybe a smiley face." (14) show less

Jo Jo is an endearing kid on interesting kid adventures, and this book is spot on for early chapterbook readers. The use of the Ojibwe language throughout adds to the book's appeal and it's great to see a book set on a Reservation that celebrates the culture without getting stuck in larger politics or history. Politics, history, culture -- those things are important when you're old enough to understand them. Jo Jo's learning other lessons, and keeping us laughing with her while she does. I loved the illustrations, too!

Advanced reader's copy provided by Edelweiss.

Gr 2–5—Jo Jo Makoons Azure is a seven-year-old Ojibwe girl with a sunny attitude. She loves her family (especially
her cat Mimi) and life on her reservation. But shifting friendship dynamics and school drama lead to incidents that
eventually yield important, heartwarming lessons. This outstanding chapter book weaves daily kid concerns with
engaging information about Ojibwe customs.
NB: Part of a series.

Cute chapter book with a fun protagonist whom many kids will love getting to know and learning some of her Ojibwe language.

RGG: Fun read; perfect for novice chapter book readers. You'll want to read more about 4th Grader JoJo.