Two Tribes

I thought this was a beautiful book to help children appreciate their cultural identities, especially when they are growing up as part of multiple cultures. This book deals with how Mia copes with the cultural expectations of being Jewish and learning it can co-exist and even complement her native american identity. Being Jewish, I appreciated the struggle and respect she discovers as she reconciles both.

This beautiful graphic novel is an exposition on how we are all human and we all make mistakes, kids, teens, parents, step parents, even the rabbi and of course dear old Jonah.The story of a half-Jewish, half-Muscogee girl who, on the eve of her bat mitzvah, sneaks away to visit the estranged Native American side of her family in Oklahoma. Mia just assumes her mother would never let her visit her father and his family.. After all, her mom and stepdad regularly made derogatory comments about her father, Van. They had good reason to as Van truly messed up in marriage and fatherhood with Mia and her mother. But it’s never okay to bash a parent in front of a child. So Mia devises a clever plan to travel from her home in Los Angeles to Oklahoma to spend time with her father and family and learn about her Native American heritage and customs. That’s pretty noble of Mia, but also deceptive. She uses her Bat Mitzvah gift money to fund the trip and involves her friend in her deception as she is actually supposed to be attending a Shabbation. She even has her mom sign a permission slip for her to attend. It’s an ingenious plan for a young girl and it almost works.She arrives via bus and is greeted warmly and becomes so enamored with the new life she wants to to abandon her life in Los Angeles and devote herself to life with her Muscogee relatives. She tells dad she wants to move and live with him.Mia keeps in touch with her mom via cell phone telling lie upon lie to cover her story. But lies tend to catch up with us just as it did for Mia and the wayward prophet Jonah.I really enjoyed this book from start to finish as there is so much content….The Jewish customs, the Muskogee customs, the punishment she incurs spending time with the rabbi where a study of Jonah is used to teach Mia a lesson. I was impressed with how the author allowed the characters to make mistakes and bad decisions, then each has the errors of their ways revealed to them and they then chose to make amends. That’s the way it should be. Own up to your bad choices and simply say I’m sorry, I was wrong. .The part of the book that keeps readers engaged is waiting for the next shoe to drop as one knows Mia’s deception is going to finally catch up with her as well as the stiff consequences.Two Tribes is a beautifully illustrated book illuminating a troubled teen who takes on her identity and exploration of self. I highly recommend this wonderful debut graphic novel.Beware of some terms used in this story and understand there is a point being made if it feels offensive. The author’s afterward addresses this quite succinctly.Coming of age, blended families, religious references, cultures of the Jewish and Muskogee come together to make a fine graphic novel.

I liked it. Very good insight into Indian culture and Jewish culture as well. Had a lot of good artwork too

Mia is negotiating her belonging in Jewish and Muscogee worlds, but she is also learning about how to stand up for herself, confront those who harm her, and essentially become her own person. That's one reason it feels so profoundly right that the book's events are set in motion in more ways than one by Mia's preparation for her bat mitzvah, which will celebrate her becoming a young adult.One of the things I admire most about this book is the confident, cinematic pacing, which is somehow propulsive and wonderfully unhurried at once. Readers will be drawn in and still find ample time to reflect on the sly comedy and beautiful revelations about both of Mia's families' traditions.Another thing I admire is the artwork itself -- which is imaginative and draws richly on both sides of Mia's identity.One last thing I think readers will appreciate is that Mia's story deals with having to reconcile the complexities of belonging to two ethnic traditions, but so many of us can relate to having to reconcile what it means to have two parents with incompatible attitudes, beliefs, or values—and divorce can throw those differences into even higher relief.Mia navigates these issues with humor, earnestness, and grace. Her story is just delightful.

I bought this book for my 9 year old daughter and she loved it! She was so interested in it, she read it in 2 days! She even wrote an essay on it for school. Definitely a must read!

Mia lives with her Jewish mom and stepdad, has recently celebrated her bat mitzvah and attends a Jewish school with her best friend Chloe. Life is good, but the “dad” part of her life, both his actual presence and his Muskogee Nation heritage. A plan develops for using monetary gifts from her bat mitzvah and teaming up with Chloe to secretly take a bus from Los Angeles, CA to her dad’s home in Oklahoma and she’s off to discover more about that missing portion of who she is. Cohen’s own mixed heritage background allows her to tell Mia’s story while also teaching and entertaining readers. The graphic panels are realistic and well drawn and colored and I found the combination of art and dialogue more than enough to allow the plot to unfold smoothly and with plenty of detail. ELA teachers desiring to use the text in literature circles or class novel studies will find plenty of support for objectives covering character profiles as well as much to use in the area of compare/contrast. A clear plot progression is also evident with exposition, rising/falling action, climax and resolution easy to identify. (I found myself thinking what a great example Two Tribes would be in helping those who do not see graphic novels as “real” books realize that they are more than just pretty pictures.) Highly recommended for the shelves of libraries serving readers in grades 3-7. Representation: Jewish, Muskogee Nation, and Chinese main characters; various family configurations (step parents, only children, an adopted child). Some might be unhappy with Mia’s blatant disobedience in reaching out to her father and deceiving her mom/step dad in order to take a bus as a 13 yr old across the country, but she is found out and the consequences are significant and, in fact, are part of her further self-discovery and maturity.A 2024-2025 Texas Bluebonnet Award nominee.