Braiding Sweetgrass for Young Adults: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants Paperback – November 1, 2022

For such a blend of modern botany, biology, chemistry, ecological understanding, and oral stories and teaching from indigenous peoples, it's a surprisingly easy read. There is a gentelness to this writing by Dr. Robin Wall Kimmerer that makes clear our place in this astonishingly beautiful and awesome world and reminds us that we co-exist with all other living entities with whom we share space. Don't read it all a once. Get comfortable with your feet up and a warm drink and savor her words. Her writing flows with the grace of good poetry. The ideas and themes inherent in the stories handed down from early, elder peoples as she relates them for us provide insights and teachings on how we might better integrate ourselves into the natural world that gave rise to us. Twould be good to have our young people read this book.

This book changed me. I used it to teach my middle school students. The knowledge is delivered in engaging stories, and then built up over chapters. It's inspiring, up lifting and amazing

Helping youth engage with the natural world is critical. This book connects them to missing pieces that current technology often misses.

The format of the book with the boxed definitions on the page of terms used in the texts is an excellent teaching tool. My granddaughter has excellent reading skills , and has worked in my native plant and herb gardens with me. I know she will enjoy this book.

Kimmerer shares her Indigenous wisdom to create a needed dialogue we all need to respect and heed to care for Mother Earth. This book is a keeper.

We loved this book! While it was sad to hear about how much the ecology has changed and diminished in North America over the last few centuries, it was also amazing to listen to the deep connection that the indigenous people still have with the land and how willing they are to pass that knowledge on to others. We have incorporated several things that we learned from this book into our work with community gardens and the way that we tend the native plants in our yard/meadow. The book also sends you away with a sense of hope for the future, despite all of the knowledge and ecosystems that have been lost.

This is a review of only the first chapter of Braiding Sweetgrass for Young Adults. Thank you to NetGalley, Robin Wall Kimmerer, Monique Gray Smith and Zest Books for this advance reader's selection. I love the beauty and warmth of the author's writing when she is talking about plants. She obviously has a great love of the natural world as well as her Indigenous culture. She illustrates what our relationship with the natural world should be, which tragically it is not for most of us. This is a fascinating book for anyone and it is wonderful that the original is being adapted for young people. They will learn a great deal. My only trepidation regarding this book is the reference to the horrific way her grandfather was treated because he was an Indigenous person. I would not fault the author for writing a book about the many ways Indigenous people in our country were mistreated, which is a very mild word for what they have endured. However, I don't think there is a place for that narrative in this particular book. This is about "Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants" and I think it is best served by sticking to that specific theme. Beautiful chapter, though, and I am excited to see the entire book.

After hearing Monique speak about the process of her book, I knew I had to purchase it. I was gravitated by her authenticity, presence, and wisdom. The illustrations are beautiful and deeply appreciate her sharing her culture with the world. I decided to gift the book to a dear friend.