This Indian Kid: A Native American Memoir (Scholastic Focus)

Best book of 2023 and it wasn’t close. Engaging memoir; great history and geography lesson; goes to sport, culture, family, friendship, education, humanity.

First of all, I didn’t realize it was a YA book when I asked for the book for Christmas.It was written from a young Indigenous man’s point of view.Good writing, and nice to know he didn’t seem to experience much discrimination.

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.

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 love sports.

This book brought back memories of my childhood. It was a different perspective, yet it was familiar.

Eddie recounts his early life, growing up Indian in Oklahoma. The book recites the good times and the bad times and involves several colorful family members. The chapters are just the right length. I recommend it!

When I pick up a memoir, I want three things: honesty; a glimpse into a life totally unlike my own; and to find out how the author has made the world a better place. Eddie Chuculate is brutally honest with and about himself. His grandparents indulged him but also kept him in line and instilled in him a strict sense of morals. The most enchanting parts of the book, and the best parts of his childhood, were in their "Little House on the Prairie," as it was called. His mother and stepfather were more problematic. Eddie had it tough sometimes--having to cut grass and even steal to put food on the family's table while still a child--but he's not complaining. He did what had to be done. The most harrowing part is the part about the band room. Why, Eddie, WHY? He doesn't make excuses; he tries and fails to explain his own actions to himself, takes his punishment, and moves on. And he makes good! The book a lot less "exotic" than I was expecting--I had initially thought that "Chuculate" was a Mexican name. It's not; he's from Oklahoma. The exotic parts, for me, were the baseball scenes, cause what do I know about baseball? Eddie's about the same age as me, so I related to the TV shows, music and "Soul Train" jeans! Other parts, like picking up cans and flattening pennies reminded me of stories from my father's childhood. And his perennial best friend Lonnie was a great supporting character. (Maybe Lonnie will write a memoir someday, and we'll get his own take on what happened in the car that awful day before Christmas.) I'll be looking for Eddie's short stories next. Note: I would have liked to see a family tree.

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