Zora and Me

Mare's War

Red, White, and Whole

Girl in Reverse

The Day of the Pelican

Sure Signs of Crazy

Paper Wishes

Merci Suárez Changes Gears

Regina Petit's family has always been Umpqua, and living on the Grand Ronde reservation is all ten-year-old Regina has ever known. Her biggest worry is that Sasquatch may actually exist out in the forest. But when the federal government signs a bill into law that says Regina's tribe no longer exists, Regina becomes "Indian no more" overnight--even though she was given a number by the Bureau of Indian Affairs that counted her as Indian, even though she lives with her tribe and practices tribal customs, and even though her ancestors were Indian for countless generations.

With no good jobs available in Oregon, Regina's father signs the family up for the Indian Relocation program and moves them to Los Angeles. Regina finds a whole new world in her neighborhood on 58th Place. She's never met kids of other races, and they've never met a real Indian. For the first time in her life, Regina comes face to face with the viciousness of racism, personally and toward her new friends.

Meanwhile, her father believes that if he works hard, their family will be treated just like white Americans. But it's not that easy. It's 1957 during the Civil Rights Era. The family struggles without their tribal community and land. At least Regina has her grandmother, Chich, and her stories. At least they are all together.

In this moving middle-grade novel drawing upon Umpqua author Charlene Willing McManis's own tribal history, Regina must find out: Who is Regina Petit? Is she Indian? Is she American? And will she and her family ever be okay?

Discover Your Child's Next Read

Zora and Me

Victoria Bond, T.R. Simon, 2010

Mare's War

Tanita S. Davis, 2009

Red, White, and Whole

Rajani Larocca, 2021

Girl in Reverse

Barbara Stuber, 2014

The Day of the Pelican

Katherine Paterson, 2009

Sure Signs of Crazy

Karen Harrington, 2013

Paper Wishes

Lois Sepahban, 2016

Merci Suárez Changes Gears

Meg Medina, 2018