THE POWWOW DOG

An unusual picture book/chapter book/graphic novel hybrid offers readers a mystery set at a powwow in upstate New York.

Grama and Grampa are taking twins Marie and Jamie to the powwow, where they are greeted by other attendees from different cultural backgrounds who have come to enjoy the gathering. Grama and Grampa set up a table to sell Grama’s beaded bracelets. Marie and Jamie watch the dance competition with some local kids, who tell them about a creepy old house near the grounds. When a dog steals a burger from one of the nearby food stands and then vanishes in the direction of that old house, the kids decide to solve the mystery of the disappearing dog. In the old house they find the dog—and a fallen elder lying on the floor in need of help. Thus the twins’ curiosity and the dog’s attentiveness save the day. Abenaki author Bruchac collaborates with illustrator Deforest, who uses his experiences growing up in Navajo country to create bold and colorful comic-book–style illustrations of this contemporary Native American family and a diverse, happy gathering of powwow attendees. The flaw in this otherwise-wonderful tale is its ambiguity, as Bruchac doesn’t identify any of the Indigenous nations represented in the story, as is customary at a powwow. Though shaped like a picture book and running only to 32 pages, the story is broken into short chapters and aims for independent readers.

Happily, there are more powwow adventures to come.