After the fall from grace of another prominent Native American writer, there has been a gap in male First People voices in YA lit. Not only does this text fill the gap with strong non-fiction, it fills it with dignity and respect. I found it so well written that I immediately ordered copies to share in my classroom. This is an important text that can stand the test of time.

I learned a lot about growing up in Oklahoma with Cherokee and Creek heritage. Thank you for the review copy,

While providing a unique perspective of a child growing up in northeast Oklahoma, this title doesn't seem to really be for teens. Many adults will feel like they are sitting cozily with an elder, listening to stories of their life.

3.5 stars

In <i>This Indian Kid: A Native American Memoir</i>, Eddie Chuculate (of Creek and Cherokee descent) looks back on his childhood in rural Oklahoma. After opening with a heart-wrenching scene, he goes back to when he was born and tells about his life through graduating high school. Eddie moves around a lot, between his grandparents’ house and wherever his mother and stepfather have to go to find work, with most of his childhood being spent in Muskogee. I think this is a good book for middle-grade and middle school readers to learn about more contemporary (set in the ‘70s and ‘80s, it is still historical fiction) Native life than what is covered in school. I had not heard of Chuculate before picking up this novel, and I liked getting to learn a bit about his career at the end of the book. I recommend this book for students.

Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me an ARC of this book.

A delightful yet gritty coming of age story, This Indian Kid is a critical piece of YA literature sorely needed. Not only because it gives us a story of a young Native American boy- a demographic for too underrepresented in American literature- but because it also provides readers with a truly real protagonist: a kid flawed like all kids his age, he’s neither a victim nor a hero. This is a voice we need more of in YA literature

Eddie Chuculate shares his youthful adventures growing up as an "Indian Kid" and I wanted his story to go on longer. This book is a real life success story for any culture. Through good times and bad and I followed him on his adventures, comparing his childhood with mine. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to broaden their understanding of what it's like to grow up in a minority culture in the US. There are a lot of opportunities to draw compare and contrasts for a single reader or classroom.

I wish I had read the author’s note before I read this book! In the note, Chuculate explains that while many Native American memoirs are written from a place of trauma, his is not. He wants readers to see the experience of a normal kid growing up in middle America who also happens to be Native American. Chuculate wants readers to know that many Native Americans have moved on to “grander things.” With that in mind, I can appreciate his story so much more and am thankful to add his life experience to my understanding of Native American culture.

This Indian Kid tells Eddie Chuculate’s life growing up in Oklahoma as a Creek and Cherokee Indian. Chuculate is a member of the Muscogee Creek Nation and is also of Cherokee descent. His ancestors were from Alabama and North Carolina, all forced from their lands, some during the Trail of Tears. He spent his impoverished childhood moving between his mother and grandmother but lived mainly in Muskogee, Oklahoma. He was often separated from his brother and two sisters.
The book targets 7th- through 9th-grade students, but I enjoyed it immensely. Though his writing is spare, Chucalate is a virtuoso in his interpretation of everyday life. When he was awarded the PEN/O. Henry prize in 2007, author Ursula K. Le Guin wrote of Chuculate’s “calm, beautiful, unexplaining accuracy of description.” He does not overly dramatize his life despite challenges others might lament. He writes simply and from a place of love. I heard Chuculate say that from the shame and embarrassment of something his uncle said to his best friend, a Black boy, when they were in sixth grade sprang this book. That incident is described in the book. I cannot say enough about my veneration of Eddie Chuculate’s writing.
Thank you so very much to NetGalley, Scholastic Focus Publishing, and Eddie Chuculate for the ARC of this book.

This is a great memoir for middle grade and teen to help them appreciate and understand the life of a Native American . Too often, young people just see the indigenous culture of the United States as something from the past. Young and old alike need to understand and that the indigenous people of the United States are still here, still thriving and keeping their culture alive.

*I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Eddie Chucalate’s memoir really allows the reader to picture his life and experiences growing up. Told through a series of stories throughout his childhood, the reader really gets to understand the connections among family and friends that helps shape who a person becomes. I really enjoyed reading about a coach that made a big difference in his life, and can only hope that all kids have such a positive influence! This memoir shows the power of supportive relationships, connections, second chances, and self-determination.

This is an interesting read for adults, but I do not believe my students would really be able to relate.

Interesting story with a different perspective. It was well written, but just wasn't my type of book.

Short memoir that paints a clear picture of growing up Native during the 70s and 80s, great detail brings the past to life. Sports lovers will enjoy the descriptions of great moments and appreciate how the author turns this passion into a living. I wanted to understand the circumstances of Eddie’s life better. His recounting of events sticks to the child’s point of view, which is good for authenticity, but leaves so much unanswered. Really think young male readers will enjoy what all Eddie and his friends get up to. Recommend for reluctant male readers who are active and live sports.