Flora, daughter of a romance novelist, who has grown weary of romance due to her parents’ divorce, sees a squirrel ingested by her neighbour’s vacuum cleaner one day and says, “Holy bagumba”-whatever that means. The novel’s whimsical title comes from a maxim, of Native American origin, which Creech found in a fortune cookie: “Don’t judge a man until you’ve walked two moons in his moccasins.” Definitely grabs your imagination more than “Never judge a man until you’ve walked a mile in his shoes,” doesn’t it? The book even comes with Sparknotes, and a Google Lit Trip, so you’ll get lots of opportunities for exploration.Īnother Newbery winner, this uproarious tale of a 10-year-old cynic and a super-squirrel is certainly not your usual bedtime story it’ll send the kids laughing all the way to bed. Phoebe’s fantastical tales, Sal gradually understands, is her way of hiding from guilt and loss. This Newbery winner unfolds as a travel narrative framing another story told by Salamanca of her friend Phoebe Winterbottom and her unbelievable tales.
A colourful, coming-of-age story of Native Americans and their heritage.