I actually really loved this coming of age graphic novel! It reads a bit young and the art isn't my favorite, but I thought the story was well done and I would definitely recommend it to young readers. I loved the Jewish and Native rep both were amazing and deeply personal - I loved the time our mc spent learning from her elders of both tribes, I actually wish there had been more of that part of the book. The rest of the book is a little flat (conflict with/between parents, school bully, token Chinese-adoptee friend who doesn't really get developed?) and I personally, think the cover is a crime. I wouldn't pick this up based on that cover. HOWEVER, I would miss out on a really cool story if I'd judged this one by its cover. If you are a middle-school teacher/parent/librarian I think this book is great for that audience and could provide a lot of learning moments for young readers.

Two Tribes by @memberoftwotribes should be in every school library! What a great way to start conversations about who we are and where we came from!
Mia knows a lot about her mothers life and the choices her mother has made. But she doesn’t know nearly as much about her father’s side of the family!
Mia goes to great lengths to learn more, and it had its rewards and its consequences!
I read it early, thanks to @netgalley, but you can get it on August 15!
#ilovetoread #graphicnovels #advancedreaderscopy

This was a very interesting story exploring the two different cultures of our MC. Although the dialogue could sometimes be rather simplistic I still enjoyed the story and would recommend to young readers.

Two Tribes is an absolutely gorgeous and well-rendered take on identity and exploration of self. I love the vivid colors and the use of art and words to tell the story. A truly wonderful debut graphic novel, and I highly recommend this book for school libraries, classroom libraries, and a wide range of readers.

I’ve recently been on a Jewish story kick and so I appreciated this perspective about a Jewish and Native person. This story resonates with anyone who is often split between two cultures, two worlds, and finding their own way embracing the two.

*Ebook sent from netgalley for an honest review*

I really enjoyed this book. I loved how it explored both cultures (Jewish and Indigenous). It showed the push and pull of belonging to two different worlds and families and difficulty of navigating them both. I also enjoyed the diversity of the supporting characters and the individuality of them all. I enjoyed seeing how the families were able to reconcile and do what was best for their daughter.

I got an ARC of this book.

I am a bit torn on this book. It has some amazing elements, but it just didn’t have enough at the same time.

The biggest issue is I just didn’t like the art. There were panels were I was trying to figure out how someone’s arm was doing what it was doing. The art really detracted from the story on every page for me. It is really hard to be super into a graphic novel if you don’t like the art. The art does so much.

The story itself was ok. The idea of a girl have to figure out who she is and how much she wants to engage with herself is a great idea. My issue comes down to how she did it and how it was pushed by others. The jokes and racism shown by everyone around her was a lot. I have no doubts that she would experience this, but she is also acted like it was the first time she heard it. Then it isn’t really brought up when she is in Oklahoma. I wish it had been something she talked about with her family. Instead it just felt like a plot device and not real.

I love how Indigenous pain wasn’t shied away from. There were mentions of huge historical events that are painful for those who experienced it and their children. The generational pain was real and there was a little bit of showing how that can trickle down. This is something that could have also been explored on her Jewish side, but was not. Instead, the Jewish stuff was one practice and one bible story. The Jewish stuff felt pretty much left out, but the Indigenous stuff didn’t go far enough. Part of that was explained, her dad wasn’t interested when he was a kid so he assumed she wasn’t either. But her grandmother was there and it just felt like there were some holes on why she wasn’t aware of some things.

So yes, I enjoyed this book. There were some good word play jokes. I just wish there was more to it. I wanted more depth than I got. That might partially be because it was middle grade, but with how much was covered very quickly it felt like there was possibility.

3.5 stars

It was cool learning about two different cultures, Jewish and Muscogee Nation. I do wish it went more in depth, but I'll check out the author's other comics at some point, probably.

I do wish there wasn't positive Israel stuff in it, because of what they do to Palestinians. It's one of the reasons I have it a lower rating.

This graphic novel shares the story of a teenager whose mother is Jewish and father is Muscogee. She struggles to figure out what that makes her, especially since her parents are divorced and she is living with only her mother.

I love the perspective shared here of a teenager grappling with dual-cultures and identities. I loved the positive connections she made between the two cultures. I think her experience living in a step-family was really important, and well done--something that many readers will be able to relate to.

I don't think this will be a graphic novel that a casual reader picks up, but one with value to those willing to give it a try. It is a slower read, with less focus on an action driven plot, and more on relationships and identity.

Teen Mia is Jewish and Muscogee, but it doesn't feel like it. Mia goes goes to a Jewish day school, had a bat mitzvah and enjoys Seder with her mom and stepmom. Mia's dad lives in Oklahoma on a reservation with his new wife and kids. He sends birthday cards, but they don't have a deep relationship. After learning about Native Americans in school, Mia feels even further disconnected from her dad and Muscogee identity.

Desperate to learn more, Mia takes an unauthorized trip to visit her dad by tricking her mom and stepdad and lying to her father. Before being found out, Mia bonds with her dad, cousin, grandmother and step-siblings and learns about her Muscogee identity. Her trip will set off a chain of events that connects the two sides of her family, helps her discover her voice, and allow her to embrace being Muscogee-Jewish.

Two Tribes is by Emily Bowen Cohen, a Muscogee-Jewish author/illustrator and published by Heartdrum, an imprint focused on Indigenous stories. While the intended audience is ages 8-12, all readers ages 8+ - including adults - will love it. Two Tribes is a MUST PURCHASE for all school and public libraries.

Mia, our main character, is Jewish and is most presently connected to this world as she attends a Jewish school.
Her father, who separated from her mother when she was small, is Muscogee.
Mia struggles with bullying at her school as one of the few kids there that appear “different.” As she looks to connect with and find out more about her dad’s heritage she only finds horrible views in a library book. Hoping to feel less out of place she runs away to visit her dad in Oklahoma.
Here she is able to connect with more of her traditions expanding upon those she practices with her mom and in school.
I would recommend this to those who liked Ancestor Approved and I Can Make This Promise.

My one real hesitation about this book is that the art gives it a kind of 1970s vibe, and I was actually quite taken aback when we saw Mia pull out her phone to send texts. Secondarily, I thought some of the statements Mia makes when standing up for herself sounded overly rehearsed and that the story may have benefited from a more nuanced emotional response from her mother. Nevertheless, it is a delightful read that keeps the reader hooked throughout. It got me thinking about my own cultural identities and I imagine it will do the same for kids!

Two Tribes does a great job of reflecting how difficult it can be to feel like you're being pulled between two different identities. I really appreciated the discussion the protagonist has with the rabbi. It showed a good example of adults really listening to young adults and respecting what they have to say. I believe my students would enjoy this graphic novel about exploring family and identity.

Mia is both Jewish and Muskogee. But lately she’s been wondering more about her Muskogee side. People at her Jewish school don’t understand what it’s like to more than just Jewish. Her mom doesn’t like talking about her dad so Mia checks out a book from the library about Native Americans. Mia is not sure that the book is accurate so runs away to her dad’s house to learn more about that side of her family. While there, she learns that she wants to be more connected. Her longing to belong finally comes together when she learns to embrace both sides of herself.

I really wanted to like this book. It has so much potential, but didn’t quite meet the mark on it for me. The artwork I felt didn’t quite match with the story. And while I love that the author made it a point to show that the history of native Americans isn’t always told accurately, I would have like to see that topic explored more.

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In an age where we need more Jewish AND indigenous stories, this was awesome. I got to learn more about both Jewish and Muscogee culture, while reading a really cute story. The art style wasn't my favorite, but it was overshadowed by the story it was telling. I think this story is very accessible and may help not only kids who identify to these communities, but others as well.

An excellent examination of what it means to be biracial and bicultural and the complexities of divorce and blended families. Very immersive with excellent illustrations.

While Mia lives with her white and Jewish mother and stepfather and goes to a Jewish school, she feels lost without the Muscogee heritage of her father. After dealing with thoughtless racist stereotypes about "Indians" (including from her rabbi/principal), Mia decides to cash in her bat mitzvah checks and take the bus to Tulsa to visit her father and learn more about her heritage.

This vivid, poignant graphic novel does a wonderful job of exploring the rootlessness that generations of Indigenous people have experienced, whether they were taken from their homes and placed in government boarding schools or they lost touch with family members after a marriage fell apart. The story makes room both for the consequences of Mia's actions and also for the new understanding her family members and elders must find once she speaks honestly with them about her feelings.

Thank you, Heartdrum and NetGalley, for providing an eARC of this book. Opinions expressed here are solely my own.

This beautiful and unique graphic novel deserves a place on every public library shelf. My only disappointment is that I felt that everything wrapped up a little too neatly.

"Two Tribes" is a middle grade graphic novel about a young girl who comes from two different heritages: Jewish and Muscogee. I love how this book discusses embracing your own heritage(s) and learning about/respecting other heritages that are different from your own.

While I love the overarching message of "Two Tribes," the dialogue was quite simplistic. Yes, this is a middle grade book, but even taking that into account, it felt lacking in some way. I'm not sure how to eloquently explain how the dialogue fell flat for me. That being said, the root message in the book is still amazing; it is definitely a great introduction to a more in-depth discussion for young readers.

I am thankful for "A Note From The Author" at the end of the book; I was uncomfortable with a couple of the language choices while reading and I appreciated the explanation from the author.

CW: Microaggressions, Racism

What a fantastic graphic novel about being from two different cultural backgrounds. I loved how it taught a little bit about both tribes but mostly focused on Mia’s struggles as a coming of age story.