Not My Girl

Gr 2–5—A poignant picture book memoir about an Inuit girl reconnecting with her culture. When I Was Eight (Annick, 2013), based on author Pokiak-Fenton's experiences, introduced eight-year-old Olemaun, an Inuit girl growing up in Canada's Northwest Territories. She was sent by her family to an outsiders' school, where she learned to read and speak English. At her new school, which was run by nuns, Olemaun's long braids were cut short, she was given the name Margaret, and she grew thin from doing hard labor and eating poorly. This experience caused her to lose contact with her native Inuit language and culture. This sequel is the continuation of her story: two years later, Olemaun returned to her family and struggled to assimilate into her native culture. Olemaun's mother, greeting her as she arrived, barely recognized her daughter and shouted, "Not my girl!" However, her father embraced her with tenderness, and the family took to her once more. The transition Olemaun made back into Inuit culture proved difficult because while she was away, she "lost the skills [she] needed to be useful…[to] help feed the family…" but soon she relearned her family's customs and, in turn, aspired to honor her native traditions, and language. Clear and easy-to-read text is appropriately spaced, making this an ideal picture book for independent or prechapter book readers. Culturally relevant, accurate, and soft, painterly illustrations depict the sequence of events and reinforce the bittersweet and tender reunion of Olemaun with her family. Readers who haven't read the first book may be confused. However, this is an excellent illustrated biography, overall.—Natalie Braham, Denver Public Library