WILD GREENS BEAUTIFUL GIRL

A young girl learns about her people’s history and culture.

A beautiful landscape stretches out behind the child, who narrates: “Today, I am helping my ina, my mother, gather greens from our garden.” She’s finally old enough to forage with her mother on their wild lands. Mother and daughter are part of the Indigenous Amis people of Taiwan. Though the young narrator attempts to remove weeds, her mother explains, “We want those plants to grow—we can eat them!” Like the Amis, “wild vegetables…have their own kawas, their own spirit.” Schlaikjer draws a contrast between the protagonists, who are deeply connected to the food they eat, and most Taiwanese people, who purchase frozen dumplings or instant noodles at the grocery store. The child also learns the Amis language from her ina (only Mandarin and English are taught in school) as the two count to 10 together; the narrator shares other words with readers. Though rooted in concrete details, the prose has a lilting quality, brimming with pride for the Amis and their way of life, while the stunning double-spread watercolors capture the lushness of the land. Chinese and Pinyin translations accompany the text. Backmatter offers further information on the Amis, their native home, and their endangered language.

A simple, verdant celebration of heritage, identity, and food.