How do you keep flying when grief weighs you down?
“Red Bird Danced” by Dawn Quigley is a middle-grade novel in verse that follows 11-year-old Ariel and 12-year-old Tomah as they navigate grief, identity, and cultural resilience in an American intertribal housing complex. Ariel’s ballet training falters after her Auntie Bineshiinh—a mentor who taught her to “see past what others might see”—goes missing, while reluctant readers will identify with Tomah as he masks his reading struggles with humor. As autumn turns to spring, both find solace in shared stories, birdwatching, and learning the jingle dress dance from Tomah’s grandmother. Quigley, a former educator and author of the award-winning Jo Jo Makoons series, weaves Ojibwe language and urban Indigenous life into this spare yet powerful story of healing.
This book is accessible due to it’s verse format, which breaks complex emotions into digestible chunks. Short lines and ample white space reduce visual overwhelm, while rhythmic patterns aid phonological awareness. Quigley’s direct language balances simplicity with nuance, making heavy topics like grief accessible without trivializing them. As one reviewer noted, the verse is “uncomplicated but impactful,” ideal for building confidence in hesitant readers. Ojibwe terms like Dagwaagin (Autumn) and jingle dress are woven naturally, and the glossary and author’s notes on MMIW (Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women) provide vital context for discussing systemic inequities. Classrooms could use Ariel’s school project on MMIW as a springboard for social justice discussions, while Tomah’s bird observations model observational storytelling.
For educators seeking culturally authentic, accessible literature, “Red Bird Danced” is a gem. Its blend of verse poetry, urban Indigenous representation, and themes of intergenerational healing makes it a bridge between language acquisition and global citizenship—perfect for classrooms prioritizing empathy and diverse voices.
