Phoenix gets greater

When Phoenix is born with an illness, doctors say he'll be unable to talk or do physical activities. But his mother "smudged him with the four medicines: sage, tobacco, cedar, and sweetgrass," and Phoenix recuperates and gets to go home from the hospital. Young Phoenix carries his mother's pink blanket everywhere and likes dolls and dancing, but after he's teased at school, he gives everything up. Then he tells his mother and brother he's gay, but worries they won't accept or still love him. After reassurances, his mother shares how in their Anishinaabe culture, there are "Two Spirit people, Niizh Manidoowag, who have both boy and girl spirits" like him--"and that makes you extra special." Uplifted, Phoenix returns to what he enjoys, proud of who he is. With bright, expressive illustrations, incorporating pinks, blues and purples, this picture book is drawn from real-life Phoenix's childhood and co-written with his mother. Even though Phoenix's story is deeply personal, the themes of embracing who you are and the meaningfulness of a family's unconditional love will resonate widely.

In this personal-feeling family story, Wilson-Trudeau gives loving voice to the early experiences of her child Wilson, who also contributes. As an infant, "Phoenix was sick, and his doctors said he would never be able to talk, ride a bike, or kick a ball," but he improves after his mother uses the Indigenous healing technique of smudging. Home from the hospital, Phoenix plays with a pink blanket and dolls, wraps a towel around his head to approximate long hair, and learns to "spin, swish, and swirl," taking ballet and dancing at powwows. When he's bullied at school, Phoenix stops dancing and playing with dolls, until his coming out as gay leads to his mother introducing a new concept around gender. "We all carry a spirit within us," Phoenix's mother explains. "It gives us life and guides us. But in our Anishinaabe culture there are Two Spirit people, Niizh Manidoowag, who have both girl and boy spirits" and for whom "Anishinaabe have great respect." In saturated pinks and purples, Kyak-Monteith's portrait-oriented art offers warmth to an individual narrative about acceptance, authenticity, and identity. Ages 6--8. (Oct.)

Gr 2--4--Vibrant colored drawings exude sweetness and joy when Phoenix, a baby covered in very fine hair, is born. His brother calls him "Fuzzy," and as he grows up, Phoenix wraps himself in a pink blanket to practice shawl dancing and play with friends. The background hues of the illustrations become somber as Phoenix deals with bullies and starts to give up the things he loves. Phoenix finally reveals to his family he is gay. After this revelation, his mother explains how in "Anishinaabe culture there are Two Spirit people, Niizh Manidoowag, who have both girl and boy spirits" and the respect Niizh Manidoowag enjoy in their tribe. Safe in his family's unconditional love and the knowledge there are other Niizh Manidoowag, Phoenix returns to the activities he loves. This is a valuable book with a charming narrative, and most of the illustrations radiate the love and acceptance Phoenix feels with his family. The discussion of Anishinaabe culture help set this story apart from similar ones, yet readers will yearn for more information on what it means for the community to accept Phoenix as gay--a term that seems to stamp or compartmentalize the identity far more than the Anishinaabe would--or even more about the Niizh Manidoowag to provide more depth to the story. VERDICT This short and sweet memoir is a good general purchase.--Tamara Saarinen