Jo Jo Makoons: The Used-To-Be Best Friend

Josephine Makoons Azure, affectionately known as Jo Jo, is a high spirited seven-year-old sharing her experiences as a Native American living on the fictional Pembina Ojibwe Reservation.

Jo Jo introduces readers to herself, her cat Mimi, her family and best friends. She shares her uncertainty about her friendships and navigates the ups and downs of being in the first grade as well as her Ojibwe and Native American traditions.

She begins with her middle name, Makoons, which means bear cub. Her Moushoom named her this because she had short dark hair and, as a baby, growled just like a bear cub. Moushoom means ‘grandpa’ and Kokum means ‘grandmother’ in the Michif language, and Jo Jo further explains that Michif is one kind of Native American language, and that many languages are spoken on her reservation. She is learning to speak Ojibwe and Michif.

At school, Jo Jo is learning all sorts of new things, and she enjoys seeing her friends each day, but sometimes friendships can be confusing, as they can be for many children. Jo Jo’s best friend, Fern, hasn’t been sitting with her at lunch, an action which has made Jo Jo unsure if they are still best friends. Susan, the new girl in class, helps Jo Jo out when she gets into a pickle, the pickle being that Jo Jo accidently brought Mimi to school and let her loose in the classroom. Thankfully, her teacher didn’t notice, and Jo Jo realizes that Susan could be a new friend… or best friend.

Jo Jo is very proud of her language and culture, and she is impressed that, even though Mr. Welch, her teacher, is not Native American, he is trying to speak their language and learn their traditions. She can tell when Mr. Welch is not happy with her; sometimes she speaks out, sometimes she does not understand things and asks many questions. This situation makes Jo Jo feel nervous and upset. At heart, Jo Jo is a funny and lovable girl, but she still learning to manage her feelings and herself in new situations. Jo Jo is feeling left out from her friends and confused about school, but eventually she realizes her friends can help her and they really want the best for her.

Dawn Quigley has written a lighthearted and endearing early chapter book, a perfect introduction to Ojibwe culture. Young readers, who will find Jo Jo to be adorably funny, will easily relate to her as they may be experiencing similar things. Tara Audibert’s black and white comic style illustrations complement Jo Jo and the storyline and add a fun component to this early chapter book.