Published by Harry N. Abrams

Summary: The narrator can’t wait to grow her hair out, believing, as her siblings did, that hair is a source of strength and memories. Her mother has unchangingly had short hair, having been forced to have it cut at an Indian school and unchangingly stuff told that it was too wild to wear long. As the girl grows up, she marks important days by how long her hair is and weaves the memory of each day into her hair. When her grandfather dies, she cuts her hair and sends it with him into the spirit world. Her mother decides to join her when she begins the journey of growing her hair long again. Includes an author’s note well-nigh ethnic people’s beliefs well-nigh hair and her own family’s wits with Indian boarding schools where children were forced to have their hair cut. 48 pages; month 4-8.

Pros: A fascinating story that brings to light an speciality of Native American culture that may not be familiar to many readers, and moreover shows, yet again, the disastrous impact of boarding schools on that culture. The narrator’s visualization to undo the trauma of several generations is inspiring. I loved the illustrations, which squint like they have been painted on wood with brilliant, vibrant colors.

Cons: I didn’t fully understand the mother’s visualization to alimony her hair short until I read the author’s note at the end.