![]() #NotYourPrincess: Voices of Native American Women edited by Lisa Charleyboy and Mary Beth Leatherdale ISBN: 978-1554519576 Publisher: Annick Press Copyright Date: 2017 Reading Age: 12-17 Reading Level: Grades 7-12 Awards: American Indian Youth Literature Award for Best Young Adult Book, Norma Fleck Award, Kirkus Best Book of 2017: Teen Genre: Young Adult Anthology Plot Summary Strong, insightful, evocative, mournful, angry, hopeful—the lives and experiences of Native American women are all that and more. In this anthology edited by Mary Beth Leatherdale and Lisa Charleyboy, Indigenous voices are given the space to share which each contributor wishes to offer. There are painful stories of abuse and stereotypes. There are also stories of wonder and success. In each entry is the demand to be heard and to make change. Critical Evaluation #NotYourPrincess is a collection of essays, short stories, interviews, poetry, and art that represent the experiences of the Indigenous women who created them. The stories are as specific as the women telling them—tales of abuse and cultural appropriation but also strength and celebration. Native American have long been invisible, and this book gives them a voice. Indigenous women continue to disappear. Missing and murdered Indigenous women is a huge problem with a data problem as well. According to the National Crime Information Center, "in 2016, there were 5,712 reports of missing American Indian and Alaska Native women and girls, though the US Department of Justice’s federal missing person database, NamUs, only logged 116 cases" (NativeHope.org). This anthology helps to give a voice to those who have long been marginalized. It explores the cycle of violence and assimilation that native peoples have experienced for so long. But this book also celebrates the joy in the different Indigenous cultures, showcasing them in all their beauty. The collection is laid out in sections that are accessible and easy-to-understand for teen readers including "The Ties That Bind Us," "It Could Have Been Me," "I Am Not Your Princess," and "Pathfinders," creating an outline for the tone of the stories and art inside each part. Reader’s Annotation Through poems, art, essays, and short stories, the powerful voices of Indigenous women are showcased in this collection. ![]() About the Editors Lisa Charleyboy (Tsilhqot’in from Tsi Deldel First Nation) is a true urban Native girl. The award-winning media professional expertly weaves her professional prowess and personal experiences to tell the contemporary stories of the Indigenous people of Turtle Island. Named one of three Aboriginals to watch by Huffington Post Canada and an “Aboriginal Storyteller for the Digital Generation” by the National Post, Charleyboy is a captivating keynote speaker, published author, engaging blogger, TV and radio personality, and the brains behind the online lifestyle publication Urban Native Magazine. Fashion, beauty, Indigenous issues, entrepreneurship, and politics are just a slice of topics that fall under Charleyboy’s umbrella of expertise. She has completed a Toronto DiverseCity Fellowship in 2013-2014 and earned her Masters of Business Administration in Aboriginal Business & Leadership student at Simon Fraser University. (About and image from here.) ![]() Mary Beth Leatherdale is an award-winning author of books for children and youth. Her picture book biography Terry Fox and Me was a SCBWI Golden Kite finalist, a Junior Library Guild title, a Silver Birch Honour Book and a Globe and Mail Bestseller among other accolades. Stormy Seas: Stories of Boat Refugees received three starred reviews and more than twenty awards and honors, including being selected for the White Raven Collection and Booklist Editors’ Choice List. Mary Beth also works as an editor on critically acclaimed and much loved books such as #NotYourPrincess, an anthology co-edited with Lisa Charleyboy, selected as YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction Award Finalist and an Amelia Bloomer Top Ten Choice as well as other accolades. Mary Beth has a degree in Visual Arts from the University of Western Ontario and a Master of Education from the Ontario Institute of Studies in Education (OISE). Mary Beth lives in Toronto with her family and her dog Champ. (About the author from here. Image from here.) Booktalking Ideas
Why do you think the anthology is called #NotYourPrincess? What section of the collection impacted you the most? Challenge issues: violence, politics, strong language Challenge Issue Resources: Nevada County Library Selection Policy Selection of materials is based upon a number of criteria that include:
The Library selects materials in accordance with the guidelines stated by the American Library Association in its Library Bill of Rights, and Freedom to Read Statement and Freedom to View Statements. The Library supports diversity of expression and views in its collection in an attempt to provide patrons with a foundation for making informed decisions and formulating personal opinions. The Library does not exclude items because of the race, nationality, social, political, or religious views of the authors. The presence of controversial materials in the collection does not represent the Library’s endorsement of the opinions expressed therein. Although some materials selected may contain language and/or illustrations that may be offensive to some patrons, the Library cannot undertake the task of pleasing all individuals by censoring such items. Active Listening Skills Staff should listen calmly to the patron’s concerns without judgement or commentary. They should acknowledge the public’s right to challenge materials and help the patron find an alternative item that will fit their needs. Nevada County Library Reconsideration form Any citizen may challenge materials. If the citizen chooses to submit a written Request for Reconsideration of Library Materials, Library staff will collect reviews and accumulate data on how the material conforms to the selection policy. An ad hoc review committee consisting of the Library Director, Branch Manager, one other librarian, and a citizen appointed at the discretion of the Library Director will review the material, judge whether it conforms to the Selection Policy and submit its report in writing to the Nevada County Board of Supervisors. Concerned parties will be notified of the final decision in writing. ALA Strategies and Tips for Dealing with Challenges to Library Materials ALA Bill of Rights on Intellectual Freedom The American Library Association affirms that all libraries are forums for information and ideas, and that the following basic policies should guide their services. Why Included - This is a powerful collection of stories written and/or illustrated by Indigenous women. In a collection of short stories, essays, photographs, and art, Native American women talk about their experiences, their strength, and their place in society. |