REVIEWS
"This is the third in Karen's series of adventures which take young Emerson and his dog Lucky into mysteries full of intrigue, danger and lessons. It lives up to the promise delivered by her first two books. The story feels real, you can almost sense all that is happening is happening around you. I highly recommend, and don't forget to read the first two. You'll be a fan. Cheers, Karen, this is a winner, too".
-Amazon Verified Purchaser |
Book review by Maria A. Hughes, U.S. Review of Books
"'Walk in beauty, Shitsoi,’ he whispered. ‘I know you can.’ His eyes closed." Gratitude turns what one has into enough, and Emerson learns this important lesson in Glinski’s intriguing novel. Emerson, a twelve-year-old, is spending the summer on a Navajo reservation when his grandpa is bitten by a snake. Awaiting news from the hospital doctor, Emerson witnesses a sack being chucked into a trash can. Curious, he goes to investigate. Little does he know that the sack is full of stolen jewelry until it is too late. This event starts him racing from one peril to another. Glinski weaves an exciting adventure interspersed with Navajo history that will hook young readers from the first chapter. From the moment that Emerson picks up the mysterious sack, he is forced to make a difficult decision once he finds out the jewelry is stolen. He imagines a life where he can pawn off the jewelry in exchange for electronics that he doesn’t have. No one would catch him. It sounds easy enough, but he finds out that it really isn’t so easy and that entering the life of a thief has its own dangers and drawbacks. While Emerson’s story is full of danger and suspense with each chapter ending on a cliff-hanger, at its heart is a tale of a boy who makes a selfish decision and who must make a grasp for redemption. Emerson’s character is relatable, not only to young readers but to adults as well. It is the never-ending struggle to appreciate what one has (and the sacrifices made for it) in a culture of consumerism. The author has penned an action-packed tale, chock-full of important life lessons and relatable characters. It is a must-read for those who are fans of adventure, mystery, and Navajo culture. RECOMMENDED by the US Review |
Book Review by Jendi Reiter, North Street Book Prize
A tween boy and his dog rescue Navajo cultural treasures from a gang of thieves in Karen Glinski's lively and well-researched middle-grade novel, Badge of Honor.
In the middle school and early teen years, young people are discovering who they are outside the parent-child context. Relationships with other adult mentors therefore feature frequently in stories for this age group, from traditional orphan adventure stories to boarding-school fantasy novels. In Badge of Honor, 11-year-old protagonist Emerson is spending summer vacation with his Navajo grandfather at sheep camp in New Mexico while his mother is in nursing school and his father is in Afghanistan with the Air Force. This set-up is a gentler way to put the young main character into situations where he has to solve problems for himself, without the trauma of permanent loss.
There's plenty at stake for Emerson from the beginning, though, as Grandpa Charlie is bitten by a rattlesnake and the boy has to drive him from their remote campsite to the hospital. Sleeping over at the nurse's house while his grandfather recovers, Emerson discovers that her son is working with a gang who are stealing jewelry and war medals to fence on the black market. The medals belong to the last surviving Navajo Code Talkers, World War II heroes who created an unbreakable code for the Allies based on their indigenous languages.
Emerson and his brave little dachshund, Lucky, are soon at the center of a dangerous quest to return the treasures to their rightful owners—but Emerson himself is tempted by the loot. His adventure teaches him to appreciate the ethics and rituals of his Navajo heritage.
Glinski understands what appeals to this age group, especially boys. The book has a strong moral framework, but is not preachy. Emerson's journey of maturity arises naturally from the exciting perils he faces along the way. The action was suspenseful but not too scary. Lucky is an endearing character whose bravery and intelligence make up for her small size. The animal-human bond is a great way to delve into a tween's emotional life when relationships with peers and parents have become complicated, awkward, and fast-changing.
The story had some continuity issues, in that characters seemed to be back in action too quickly after serious injuries. I would have liked the glossary to be in front rather than at the end, since the opening scene is heavily loaded with Navajo words that are not yet clear from context.
The cover photo is a colorful southwestern red rock vista with a sheep and dog in the foreground. The simple, focused composition and bright blue sky are appealing. However, I didn't think it did justice to the action-packed story. Young readers browsing the shelves at the bookstore or library might assume it's a quieter, more sentimental tale about animals. Also, the dog is not a dachshund! What would Lucky say to that?
The interior copy was basically typo-free, in a large and easy-to-read typeface. The occasional black-and-white illustrations were a nice touch, but were spaced somewhat randomly, with large stretches of text between them.
Badge of Honor is the third book in a series about Emerson and Lucky, but it can be enjoyed as a stand-alone story. I learned a lot about Navajo culture, and I think it's great for readers of all ages to see traditional indigenous lifeways integrated into modern life. It would be a good pick for school libraries and classroom book clubs.
Read an excerpt from Badge of Honor (PDF)
Email the author to purchase the book!
A tween boy and his dog rescue Navajo cultural treasures from a gang of thieves in Karen Glinski's lively and well-researched middle-grade novel, Badge of Honor.
In the middle school and early teen years, young people are discovering who they are outside the parent-child context. Relationships with other adult mentors therefore feature frequently in stories for this age group, from traditional orphan adventure stories to boarding-school fantasy novels. In Badge of Honor, 11-year-old protagonist Emerson is spending summer vacation with his Navajo grandfather at sheep camp in New Mexico while his mother is in nursing school and his father is in Afghanistan with the Air Force. This set-up is a gentler way to put the young main character into situations where he has to solve problems for himself, without the trauma of permanent loss.
There's plenty at stake for Emerson from the beginning, though, as Grandpa Charlie is bitten by a rattlesnake and the boy has to drive him from their remote campsite to the hospital. Sleeping over at the nurse's house while his grandfather recovers, Emerson discovers that her son is working with a gang who are stealing jewelry and war medals to fence on the black market. The medals belong to the last surviving Navajo Code Talkers, World War II heroes who created an unbreakable code for the Allies based on their indigenous languages.
Emerson and his brave little dachshund, Lucky, are soon at the center of a dangerous quest to return the treasures to their rightful owners—but Emerson himself is tempted by the loot. His adventure teaches him to appreciate the ethics and rituals of his Navajo heritage.
Glinski understands what appeals to this age group, especially boys. The book has a strong moral framework, but is not preachy. Emerson's journey of maturity arises naturally from the exciting perils he faces along the way. The action was suspenseful but not too scary. Lucky is an endearing character whose bravery and intelligence make up for her small size. The animal-human bond is a great way to delve into a tween's emotional life when relationships with peers and parents have become complicated, awkward, and fast-changing.
The story had some continuity issues, in that characters seemed to be back in action too quickly after serious injuries. I would have liked the glossary to be in front rather than at the end, since the opening scene is heavily loaded with Navajo words that are not yet clear from context.
The cover photo is a colorful southwestern red rock vista with a sheep and dog in the foreground. The simple, focused composition and bright blue sky are appealing. However, I didn't think it did justice to the action-packed story. Young readers browsing the shelves at the bookstore or library might assume it's a quieter, more sentimental tale about animals. Also, the dog is not a dachshund! What would Lucky say to that?
The interior copy was basically typo-free, in a large and easy-to-read typeface. The occasional black-and-white illustrations were a nice touch, but were spaced somewhat randomly, with large stretches of text between them.
Badge of Honor is the third book in a series about Emerson and Lucky, but it can be enjoyed as a stand-alone story. I learned a lot about Navajo culture, and I think it's great for readers of all ages to see traditional indigenous lifeways integrated into modern life. It would be a good pick for school libraries and classroom book clubs.
Read an excerpt from Badge of Honor (PDF)
Email the author to purchase the book!
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Danger at the Rodeo
"Story hour pick of the month - Read this from the POV of a native New Mexican, a Native American, and a frequent book reader. I found the writing excellent, the characters were real from page one and the story entertained this grandma-aged woman from beginning to end. Loved it and could easily imagine it would have been one of my favorite reads to classrooms of elementary school-aged children during story hour. I highly recommend it to children, to teachers and to parents (and grandparents)." -"Redi-Go"
"Danger at the Rodeo is a wonderful read - chock full of suspense, action, adventure and bighearted characters. I love how the reader gets to learn about Navajo culture and values along with Emerson as he overcomes one obstacle after another." -Eileen Wiard (author)
"Story hour pick of the month - Read this from the POV of a native New Mexican, a Native American, and a frequent book reader. I found the writing excellent, the characters were real from page one and the story entertained this grandma-aged woman from beginning to end. Loved it and could easily imagine it would have been one of my favorite reads to classrooms of elementary school-aged children during story hour. I highly recommend it to children, to teachers and to parents (and grandparents)." -"Redi-Go"
"Danger at the Rodeo is a wonderful read - chock full of suspense, action, adventure and bighearted characters. I love how the reader gets to learn about Navajo culture and values along with Emerson as he overcomes one obstacle after another." -Eileen Wiard (author)
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Stranded at Sheep Camp
"Stranded at Sheep Camp is endearing and universally understandable. For every child who reads it, a parent will be equally absorbed in this story. A must read." Joan Leslie Woodruff (author)
"If you buy one children's book make it this one!" -Annette Morris
"Emerson's courage and humor as he tackles a new way of life, aided by the indomitable Lucky, make Stranded at Sheep Camp a topnotch boy-and-his-dog story." -Laura Sanchez (author)
"Highly recommended. The story transports the reader to a new world -- remote reaches of the Navajo nation in New Mexico" -speakers for backhoe
"Stranded at Sheep Camp is endearing and universally understandable. For every child who reads it, a parent will be equally absorbed in this story. A must read." Joan Leslie Woodruff (author)
"If you buy one children's book make it this one!" -Annette Morris
"Emerson's courage and humor as he tackles a new way of life, aided by the indomitable Lucky, make Stranded at Sheep Camp a topnotch boy-and-his-dog story." -Laura Sanchez (author)
"Highly recommended. The story transports the reader to a new world -- remote reaches of the Navajo nation in New Mexico" -speakers for backhoe