Sharice’s Big Voice: A Native Kid Becomes a Congresswoman

A big personality with a voice to match, Sharice listens to her heart to find her own path.

In this autobiographical account, U.S. Rep. Sharice Davis shows how she’s always liked to talk and ask questions. She learned early that “good conversation can make people happy” and that “the best way to learn about people is to listen to them.” When Sharice’s mother told her that they were members of the Ho-Chunk nation, who call themselves “People of the Big Voice,” she knew she was on the right path. Sharice wanted to follow in her Army sergeant mother’s footsteps and be “a person who serves others,” so she worked hard at everything she did, excelling at customer service and perfecting martial arts training. Eventually show more this led her to law school and then to work with Native American tribes. “That’s when,” she tells readers, “I had a bold, brave idea that would need my big voice, my ability to listen, and my ability to take a punch.” Deciding that government needed many different voices, she ran for Congress and won the election, becoming one of the first Native women in Congress and the first lesbian to represent Kansas. Rich, vivid illustrations by Ojibwe Woodland artist Pawis-Steckley are delivered in a graphic style that honors Indigenous people. The bold artwork adds impact to the compelling text. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Demonstrates that everyone’s voice matters and needs to be heard. Powerful stuff! (author’s note, illustrator’s note, cultural note) (Picture book/memoir. 5-10)

-Kirkus Review show less

Abig personality with a voice to match, Sharice listens to her heart to find her own path.

In this autobiographical account, U.S. Rep. Sharice Davis shows how she’s always liked to talk and ask questions. She learned early that “good conversation can make people happy” and that “the best way to learn about people is to listen to them.” When Sharice’s mother told her that they were members of the Ho-Chunk nation, who call themselves “People of the Big Voice,” she knew she was on the right path. Sharice wanted to follow in her Army sergeant mother’s footsteps and be “a person who serves others,” so she worked hard at everything she did, excelling at customer service and perfecting martial arts training. Eventually show more this led her to law school and then to work with Native American tribes. “That’s when,” she tells readers, “I had a bold, brave idea that would need my big voice, my ability to listen, and my ability to take a punch.” Deciding that government needed many different voices, she ran for Congress and won the election, becoming one of the first Native women in Congress and the first lesbian to represent Kansas. Rich, vivid illustrations by Ojibwe Woodland artist Pawis-Steckley are delivered in a graphic style that honors Indigenous people. The bold artwork adds impact to the compelling text. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Demonstrates that everyone’s voice matters and needs to be heard. Powerful stuff! (author’s note, illustrator’s note, cultural note) (Picture book/memoir. 5-10)

-Kirkus Review show less

An inspiring story of an Native American woman's road to Congress, winding through her childhood as the military brat of a single mother and careers as an MMA fighter, lawyer, and White House Fellow. It's not real deep and skims past some big issues too quickly, since it is written for children, but I liked the personality that shines through the chatty tone.

I found the art lacking though, with a dependence on profile shots and a distracting absence of fingers that gives everyone weird spatula hands.

Recommended Ages: Gr. 1-4

Plot Summary: Sharice has been a talker her whole life, which is good since with a mom in the military they moved around a lot. As a Native American, she wanted to help people so went to law school. A typical law job wasn't for her but she learned she could use her law degree to help others after she moved to South Dakota. There she learned that she could help more people if she ran for congress. She didn't think it would work, but she won!

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Personal Thoughts: While the writing felt a big like she was talking down to us, it did make the book accessible to a lot of kids. And it should be accessible -- the illustrations are beautiful and Sharice is show more inspiring.

Genre: picture book autobiography

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Sharice's Big Voice is a book about perseverance and willpower, Sharice shares her story about how she pursued her dreams and became the first native congresswoman.

The illustrated autobiography is followed by photos, author’s note, artist’s notes, and “Beyond the Ho-Chunk”.