Rez Dogs is a charming novel in verse for a middle grade audience about a young Native American girl named Malian staying with her grandparents on the reservation during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. She doesn't go play with friends in order to keep her grandparents safe, does virtual school, and listens to traditional stories. This also touches on serious topics including the Black Lives Matter summer protests, residential schools, forced sterilization, and the taking of Native child...

This beautiful middle-grade verse novel by Joseph Bruchac is a worthy addition to every bookshelf. Not only is it a timely, COVID read, but introduces themes of history, inclusion, and a sense of belonging.My only problem was with the e-book version's dog illustration that covered text at the beginning of each chapter. Better to buy the book and read all the words!

I'm always impressed when a verse novel manages to tell an elaborate story in a really condensed form, and this book does exactly that. During the pandemic, Malian quarantines with her grandparents, which is a way for her to connect with her Indigenous heritage, by listening to her grandparents' stories. Especially lovely is the rez dog who comes to stay with Malian to protect her and her family.

A young girl shelters in place with her grandparents on a Wabanaki reservation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Listening to their stories about their experience at residential schools, her ancestors, and her people's spirituality she draws connections between her family history and what is happening to her in the present day. And there is a big wonderful dog who has adopted her and provides protection and guidance. Nice!(A favorite Steinbeck passage I choose to interpret without irony: The paintin...

E ARC provided by Edelweiss PlusNovel in verse set during the pandemic. Reminded me strongly of Patricia MacLachlan or Barbara O'Connor.

“Been there, done that” Bruchac uses this sentiment to describe how the Native American family in the story felt about the “unprecedented” COVID-19 pandemic, as White colonialists brought diseases to the continent hundreds of years ago, decimating the Indigenous population. This MG story in verse is set during COVID, but is much more about oral storytelling and remembering Indian boarding schools, being taken into foster care, and other atrocities committed against Native Americans. Highly recom...

I wanted to like this more, and it was FINE, just not great for me. I don’t think putting the novel in verse added to the story; in fact I think it took away from the author’s ability to thoroughly address some of the topics brought up in the book. Also I think the format took away from the reader being able to engage with the main character. I liked her but I wanted to know MORE of her thoughts, feelings, and struggles and there just wasn’t enough for me.

My husband had to twist my arm to get me to read this and I'm so glad he did. I usually don't like stories told in verse, but very quickly that became a non-issue just as he predicted. Some very heavy issues are introduced in a way suitable for young readers without sugar-coating or dumbing down. Excellent magical realism feel as well.

Bruchac never ceases to amaze me with his amazing storytelling skills that both capture the attention of the reader and inform them about the Indigenous experience. Rez Dogs proves to be no different.Rez Dogs is a middle grade story written in verse that captures the experiences of Malian as she quarantines with her grandparents (all members of the Wabanaki Nation). While the story itself does cover the current experiences of the pandemic such as quarantining, virtual school, etc, I absolutely l...

DNF @ 25%This was really sweet, but ultimately failed to hold my interest. Definitely recommend it though!

Such a wonderful story telling novel in verse set in current time.COVID-19 hit the nation and Malian is staying on the Rez with her grandparents until shelter in place is lifted. During this time a Rez dog finds her and becomes her companion. Malian learns courage, history, and maturity during her time. Bruchac does a fantastic job of weaving in realities for Native Americans historically and in the present. Highly recommend.

This review and many more can be found on my blog: Feed Your Fiction AddictionRez Dogs is the first book I’ve read set during the pandemic, and I’m guessing kids will appreciate seeing their recent reality on the page. Malian was visiting her grandparents on the reservation when the quarantine was ordered, but she loves her grandparents and the stories of their Native history, so she doesn’t mind staying with them. Besides the shoddy internet and missing her parents, she’s content. And she reali...

"What it showed himwas that the dogscould do just fineon their own without us.We humans were luckythey chose to live with us.Or maybe it was the other way around -We're the ones who choseto live with them.""A dog needs peopleas much as peopleneed a dog.""You will always bea friend to them,a better friend thansome of them deserve.""No one should feel guiltyabout the past. Unlessthey're not doinganything about the present."This book was full of layer after layer of wisdom. The audiobook read by th...

Loved it really great read every one should pick this up such a good read

I think this was a sweet story. I could really imagine how cute the dog was. I personally wish it had a more structured plot, because there really was no climax. I think it could have just been more packed with content. It kept me reading, but I mostly didn't get bored because the pages were so short. I don't really understand why they put regular sentences into verse, because I didn't read it like a poem because the sentences weren't very poetic, but that is just my opinion. Overall, I think th...

Rez Dogs is told in verse and follows 8th grader Malian who is staying at her grandparents' house on the Wabanaki reservation when the pandemic lockdown is put in place. The storytelling aspect is wonderful; Bruchac effortlessly weaves community stories of the past with the newly navigated reality of the present. I loved the strong familial bonds and how Malian was able to share her history with her virtual class.

hm I thought this would shine in audiobook but it didn't totally click for me--I understand the desire for the author to read their own book but since the protagonist is a girl, a female reader might have been better IMO?That aside, it's wild that there are already books set during COVID and I think this is one that can both universally help a lot of kids process the trauma and weirdness of early lockdown while also specifically sharing Wabanaki stories. Plus: dogs! Lots to like.

This is such a fantastic middle grade in verse! I loved the way this touched on so many topics that affect Indigenous communities in the U.S., but in a way that is really appropriate for a middle grade audience. It shows the main character processing both what is happening to her family during COVID-19 quarantine as well as the history of what her family has been through in the past, all with a focus on strength through sharing stories. Really lovely story that I'd highly recommend!Content Warni...

Read it.

A beautiful book, told in open verse like an oral story, about a girl at the start of the pandemic. As she guards her grandparents, she is guarded by a dog who came just when he knew he was needed. There are stories within the story: old stories of animals and ancestors, and newer stories about her life, and the lives of her parents and grandparents. Added thought: this would be an excellent book for classrooms.