Two Tribes
by Emily Bowen Cohen
**Videos are linked from Google Drive and work best with Google Chrome. Some school districts may block outside Chrome access for student accounts. If unable to view, please see embedded videos at the end of this page or try the Texas Bluebonnet Award YouTube Channel. We regret that individual access will not be granted.
Two Tribes
By Emily Bowen Cohen
Informational Resources:
Author Information:
Author’s Website:
https://www.emilybowencohen.com/
Living in Two Tribes: Author Guest Post by Emily Bowen Cohen:
https://harperstacks.com/blogs/blog/emily-bowen-cohen-guest-post
Activities & Resources:
Jewish Culture
How to Make Challah
https://breakingmatzo.com/recipes/challah/
Bar/Bat Mitzvah for Kids
https://breakingmatzo.com/philosophy/barbat-mitzvah-for-kids/
A Day in the Life of Hebrew School at Darchei Noam (1:16)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8OpXcIcgpI
A Family’s Shabbat
A Family's Shabbat - The Jewish Museum London.
International Shabbaton
https://shabbaton.cteen.com/#!home
American Indian Culture
Creek Nation | Virtual Field Trip
https://kera.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/6ca2998a-808a-4c07-8981-0302a1490385/creek-nation/
Oklahoma Pow Wows (3:02)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4cYKvzOmn8
Mvskoke Traditional Foods
Mvskoke Traditional Foods – Visit The Muscogee Nation
Mvskoke Youth Arts Festival
https://www.mvskokeyouth.com/youthartsfestival
Travel
Plan a mock bus trip like Mia’s
https://www.greyhound.com/bus-routes
MakerSpace Activities:
Basic Finger Weaving
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALSI6m9PByQ&t=4s
Cosplay Creation with Elementary Students
https://www.slj.com/story/cosplay-creation-maker-space
How to Make a Paper Dreidel
https://blog.creativebug.com/how-to-make-a-paper-dreidel-with-a-free-printable-pdf/
Native American Heritage Month | How to Make Corn Husk Dolls (5:12)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_w71JzalGc
Plant wild onion seeds
Discussion Questions:
The book begins with Mia and her mom arguing about Mia being disrespectful to her stepdad. What about him made Mia frustrated?
Justin tells Mia at lunch that she doesn’t look American Indian and then asks her questions about what he thinks American Indians do. What is called when someone makes an assumption that is not based on fact?
Mia enjoys making challah with her mom after school. What is something you enjoy doing with the important people in your life?
Mia checks out a book from the library to help her learn more about being American Indian but the book is filled with harmful stereotypes. How do you think this book made Mia feel about her heritage?
The Shabbat is a sacred day in the Jewish religion where tradition is important. What are some special traditions in your life?
Mia tells the Rabbi at dinner that she isn’t just Jewish alone and he tells her that she is. What do you think this means when Mia’s Rabbi is ignoring the American Indian side of her?
Why is it so important for Mia to travel to Tulsa to see her dad?
Mia and her friend Chloe both have to lie to the adults in their lives to pull off Mia’s travel plan. What could be some of the consequences of doing something like this?
When Mia gets to the bus station, she looks scared. If you were 12 or 13 and traveling alone, how do you think you would handle it?
On page 96, Mia says “Visiting my family is an honorable reason to break the rules.” Do you agree with that statement? Tell us why or why not.
It’s important to understand that language changes over time. When Mia asks her dad why he says “Creek” sometimes instead of Muscogee Nation, what does he tell her?
What was your favorite part of Mia’s Tulsa, Oklahoma tour on pages 102 and 103?
On page 111, Mia tells her step-mom that she can’t have a ham and cheese sandwich because she only eats Kosher. What does it mean to eat Kosher?
When Mia is confused about wild onions, her cousin says “You really don’t know anything.” What would be a better way to teach Mia about American Indian recipes?
Nova tells Mia she doesn’t understand why Mia wants to come visit when all Nova wants to do is leave. Tell us about a time when someone thought you had something great but you just wanted what they had?
Nova loves to dress in cosplay even though her family doesn’t understand it. If you could cosplay anyone, who would it be?
On page 156, Mia learns about the tragic time period in American Indian history where children were taken away from their homes and not allowed to be themselves. How would you feel if you came to school and weren’t allowed to even speak your own language?
When Mia’s mom and step-dad finally figure out where she is, she’s in huge trouble. What do you think would be an appropriate consequence for a lie this big?
When Mia is back at school, Chloe asks Mia if the trip was worth it even though she was now grounded. Why did Mia say yes, it was worth it.
At the end of the book, Mia’s grandmother tells her “You’ve got to name what’s in your heart so you can follow it.” What do you think she means by that?
Book Talk Teasers:
Read the reader’s theater for Two Tribes by Emily Bowen Cohen.
Watch the book trailer on the Texas Bluebonnet Award website.
Read Alikes:
Day, Christine. We still belong. Wesley's hopeful plans for Indigenous Peoples' Day (and asking her crush to the dance) go all wrong-until she finds herself surrounded by the love of her Indigenous family and community at the intertribal powwow. (NoveList Plus)
Le, Minh. Enlighten me. After standing up to a bully who made fun of his Vietnamese heritage, Binh is forced to participate in a silent meditation retreat where he unexpectedly loses himself in the stories of the Buddha's many past lives, finding inner peace and belonging. (NoveList Plus)
Lucido, Aimee. Recipe for disaster. Hannah Malfa-Adler is Jew...ish. Not that she really thinks about it. She'd prefer to focus on her favorite pastime: baking delicious food! But when her best friend has a beyond-awesome Bat Mitzvah, Hannah starts to feel a little envious ...and a little left out. Despite her parents' firm no, Hannah knows that if she can learn enough about her own faith, she can convince her friends that the party is still in motion. As the secrets mount, a few are bound to explode. When they do, Hannah learns that being Jewish isn't about having a big party and a fancy dress and a first kiss -- it's about actually being Jewish. Most importantly, Hannah realizes that the only person's permission she needs to be Jewish, is her own. (NoveList Plus)
McManis, Charlene Willing. Indian no more. When Regina's Umpqua tribe is legally terminated and her family must relocate from Oregon to Los Angeles, she goes on a quest to understand her identity as an Indian despite being so far from home. (NoveList Plus)
Ortega, Claribel A. Frizzy. Marlene loves three things: books, her cool Tía Ruby and hanging out with her best friend Camila. But according to her mother, Paola, the only thing she needs to focus on is school and "growing up." That means straightening her hair every weekend so she could have "presentable", "good hair". But Marlene hates being in the salon and doesn't understand why her curls are not considered pretty by those around her. With a few hiccups, a dash of embarrassment, and the much-needed help of Camila and Tia Ruby—she slowly starts a journey to learn to appreciate and proudly wear her curly hair. (NoveList Plus)
Reviews:
School Library Journal starred (July 1, 2023)
Gr 5 Up-Mia lives with her Jewish mom and stepdad in Los Angeles and attends a Jewish community school. However, she feels different from her classmates and friends because she is not just Jewish. Her father is Native American, and even though she hasn't lived with him most of her life, Mia longs to learn about that part of her heritage. Because her mom doesn't like talking about her dad, Mia hatches a plan with her best friend to secretly visit him and his family in Oklahoma. There she attends a powwow, meets extended family, and discovers answers to many of her questions about the Muscogee Nation culture. Then Mia's parents discover she lied to both of them about the trip, and Mia is whisked back to L.A. How will she continue to become who she really is, a member of two tribes? Every sentence in this coming-of-age story is purposeful; whether it is demonstrating how to deal with those who would mock her heritage and standing up for who she is, teaching about Jewish and Muscogee Nation culture and heritage, or bringing to light the misrepresentation of Native Americans in books and pop culture, each lesson is artfully woven into the story of a young girl learning to discover and fight for who she really is. The adults are deeply supportive and model how to accept responsibility for mistakes and apologize. All readers will walk away feeling empowered to embrace their unique backgrounds. The artwork complements the text perfectly as Cohen uses internal monologues to great visual effect. The back matter includes an author's note explaining the use of the term "Indian" as well as a Mvskoke glossary. VERDICT A must-purchase for young readers everywhere on how to learn about, be empowered by, and embrace one's identity.-Emily Beasley © Copyright 2023. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc.