Grandma Says: Wake Up World!

Gr 7 Up—Grandma Aggie, the oldest living member of the Takelma Tribe, one of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz, delivers her message with sass and candor. The content deals with many environmental issues, such as conserving water and not using lead in bullets. She shares stories of her childhood to encourage listeners to work hard, get an education, and stay away from drugs. Though the material is interesting and her delivery engaging, the book struggles with execution. Many stories are repeated, a few three or four times. And though Grandma Aggie touches on issues of bullying and suicide, her solution of going to the bully's parents to get them to show that child love and to stop any abuse hardly addresses the bullied. Many times she says depressed people need to change their way of thinking. Encouraging laughter and staying away from drugs are fine words of advice but may not be enough for youth feeling trapped by poverty and entrenched racism. With more editing and better direction, this may have had a bigger impact.