white girl

by Sylvia Olsen

     Josie Jessop's life takes a 90-degree turn when her mother marries Martin, an Indian (his term for himself), and they move to the reservation.  Rose befriends Josie, but the pair have their own difficulties learning to accept one another as members of different cultures.  Josie eventually comes to love her new father and brother, Luke, who helps her when she faces serious bullying from Christy and Mary Ann.  She even finds a boyfriend, Zeb.  

    One day, Martin cleans out the room in the basement that has been closed ever since his seventeen-year-old sister committed suicide there.  Zeb tells Josie that Indians have a higher rate of suicide than anyone in the country.

     For me, one of the best parts of the book was the section where Josie reflected on her experiences and realized that even though she thought she was unprejudiced, she still had prejudiced ways of thinking.  Only by experience could she really become unprejudiced.

     I believe this is an outstanding book because it is realistic.  Olsen bluntly yet sensitively addresses important issues in the context of both society and interpersonal relationships.  I'd hesitate to use the book with grade schoolers due to certain scenes with Zeb.  There is nothing excessively graphic, but it would not be age-appropriate.  I think older or more mature high schoolers would benefit from it.