  | Second chance of Benjamin Waterfalls Author: Bird, James | |
| Price: $22.38 | ||
Summary:
Benjamin Waterfalls comes from a broken home, and the quickest fix he's found for his life is to fill that emptiness with stealing. When he appears before a tough judge, his mother proposes sending him to "boot camp" at the Ojibwe reservation where they used to live. His rehabilitation seems to be in the hands of the tribal leader's daughter, who wears a mask. Finding out why proves tougher than any military-style boot camp. Will it all be enough for Benny to turn his life around?
| Accelerated Reader Information: Interest Level: MG Reading Level: 4.00 Points: 9.0 Quiz: 518588 |
Reviews:
School Library Journal (00/11/22)
Booklist (02/15/22)
Full Text Reviews:
Booklist - 02/15/2022 After 13-year-old Benny's arrest for shoplifting, his mom makes a deal with the judge to send him to his father, who she hopes can turn Benny's life around by putting him through Native boot camp, an Ojibwe form of rehabilitation. No drill sergeants or work details emerge, however; instead Benny finds himself trailing along with Niimi, the 12-year-old daughter of the local chief, as she helps community members to mend the errors in their ways. Benny is predictably resistant to both Niimi's techniques and his father's new family, which includes stepmother Wendy and her son, George. Bird's strengths include his multidimensional characters (each of whom has flaws that they struggle to overcome) as well as the vivid descriptions of Grand Portage, Minnesota, home of the Gitchi Onigaming Ojibwe. Of equal importance is the more understated message that Indigenous ways of knowing and approaches to problems can be extremely effective, despite the dominant culture's insistence on discounting them. While parts of the ending feel a bit pat, Benny's progress is heartening and sure to encourage readers. - Copyright 2022 Booklist.
Booklist - 02/15/2022 - Copyright 2022 Booklist.
School Library Journal - 11/04/2022 Gr 5 Up—Benjamin Waterfalls is used to being in trouble, but when his most recent shoplifting lands him a sentence in 'boot camp' with his Ojibwe family, it turns out to be so much more than he's expecting. Not only does he find himself required to live with his dad who left Benjamin behind years ago, he's also forced to help the Chief's mysterious daughter teach people how to be their best selves. Will Benjamin find his own way, or is everything just an elaborate trick to embarrass him for his actions? Set in modern-day Grand Portage, MN, this realistic fictional tale of redemption and retribution leans heavily on Ojibwe traditions to find family healing. VERDICT A heartfelt, endearing, and inspiring story of second chances and first steps toward greatness. Recommended for purchase.—Emily Beasley - Copyright 2022 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
