Bear’s Braid

by Joelle Bearstail
Bear and his good friend Ben feel as if they are living double lives: one, where indigenous customs – like long hair – are essential aspects of their identities, and the other, where diverse practices are scorned and treated unfairly. When the two friends are bullied due to their braids, these two worlds are forced together.

Looking for advice from his adored grandma, Bear expresses his anxieties and questions his native identity. Bear’s grandma knows all about the hard work and inner fight it takes to overcome difficulties, and with her aid, Bear and Ben craft a strategy to bridge the gap between the intolerance at their school and the indigenous traditions of their culture.
ISBN: 978-1-64543-497-9