The powwow treasure

Gr 2--4--In Bruchac's newest "Powwow Mysteries" installment, twins Jamie and Marie Longbow excitedly help their grandparents prep for a powwow. Marie is on high alert, hoping for a mystery to solve as they watch the family booth while Grama and Grampa Longbow collect more items from their trailer. When a laughing stranger in old-fashioned buckskin clothes presents the twins with a treasure map, the two can't resist. They only have an hour to locate the treasure before they have to be back at the powwow booth, which creates dynamic pacing for their adventure. The treasure map takes the twins across the grounds, where they eventually find a buried chest full of wampum beads. The mystery is heightened when they learn from their grandparents that the mysterious stranger is their ancestor Lester Laughing, and the twins realize they were speaking with the memory of someone long gone. Bold lines depict expressive faces and sparse landscapes. Color is judiciously used to highlight the details of Grama's beadwork and Lester's clothing. The early chapter book's comic style makes it appear more mature, which adds to the appeal. VERDICT This high interest, low-risk adventure narrative pairs well with the clear and simple text, making it a win for beginning readers; recommended.--Lauren Younger, Univ. of Dallas Lib.

A treasure map written on buckskin leads siblings to a discovery worth more than gold. Old tropes and new fun greet young readers in a mystery about two kids traveling the powwow highway with their grandparents. Jamie and Marie Longbow are twins. Marie helps Grama make and sell beadwork while Jamie gives Grampa a hand setting up their canvas tent. After finishing one powwow in Massachusetts, they arrive for another in Connecticut, where they are preparing for the grand entry when their grandparents leave them alone for a minute at their booth. Before they know it, they are approached by a stranger who calls himself Lester Laughing. Lester is dressed in old-time regalia. He wears authentic buckskin and carries a big, eagle-feather fan. He stands out due to a scar next to his nose, and he says he knows their family. When he gives them an old map, asking them to keep it a secret from their grandparents, they head off on an adventure with a surprise at the end. Building his story around the trope of the Indian ghost, Abenaki author Bruchac addresses cultural practices in a loving Native family with sweet touches of humor. Deforest, who grew up on the Navajo reservation, gives his characters big, warm eyes and open, cartoon faces that make the illustrations familiar, warm, and friendly. (This book was reviewed digitally with 10-by-20-inch double-page spreads viewed at 30.3% of actual size.) A satisfying story in which two children discover the love of an ancestor. (Graphic/mystery hybrid. 7-10) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.