Book #45 of 2020:
Race to the Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse
A delightful middle-grade fantasy novel that incorporates elements of traditional Navajo folklore while avoiding the paint-by-numbers plot that such modernizations often entail. (I hesitate to call the work #ownvoices, since author Rebecca Roanhorse is not Navajo herself and she makes clear in an afterword that she isn’t speaking for or from the culture. But as a fellow Native American married into that tribe, she does bring a certain authenticity to the project.) The plucky twelve-year-old protagonist is a joy to root for along her quest, and I love how the narrative rewards her for her bravery and selflessness alike. This is a standalone book for now, but I’d happily come back for a sequel.
★★★★☆
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