Maggie Lou

In this sequel to Maggie Lou, Firefox, the irrepressible Maggie Lou acquires a new cousin, and a horse - both of whom have minds of their own. When Uncle Bobby gets married, Maggie Lou suddenly finds herself with a new cousin, Rosie. Rosie is the same age as Maggie. She also has a fabulous head of curls, although hers are red. And Rosie knows everything about horses and riding - something Maggie Lou has longed to do. A rivalry sparks between the girls from the start at Uncle Bobby and Aunt Bonnie's wedding, which features an all-you-can-eat dessert table, as well as lots of energetic dancing. On Rosie's horse farm, Maggie experiences her share of humiliations as she learns how to ride on a pony so short that her feet can touch the ground. Eventually the cousins become allies and wreak some hair-raising mischief, including a secret midnight horseback ride. And in the end they are joined by friends and family to train, hilariously, for the famous Otipemisiwak Race - a Métis voyageur relay - carrying on a family tradition. Throughout it all, Maggie remains stubborn and enthusiastic, as she navigates the new challenges of defeat, rivalry and family change. Key Text Features chapters character drawings dialogue glossary illustrations Grooming Cocoa reminds me of brushing my own hair. His tail is like a rat's nest. I work out all the knots and am proud of how sleek his mane and tail look when I'm done. "Looks better." Auntie says. "And I know you did a good job 'cause you're dirtier than your horse!" I look down to see my clothes covered in dust and hair. "You ready?" "I was born ready!" I toss the brushes into the box, excited to jump on my horse. "Put him back in his stall, and I'll be right back." I look at Auntie, confused. How will I learn to ride without my horse? I slowly untie Cocoa, lead him back to his stall and close his gate. NEEEEIGGGHHHHH. I turn and see Auntie leading Wîncis toward me. "You'll learn on Wîncis first." My heart sinks. I stare at the dirty-looking mini horse. Wîncis is a black and white pinto mix of some sort with short, bulky legs. His name means dirty butt in Michif. He practically looks like a donkey. "You're kidding, right, Auntie?" "I never joke about riding." In this sequel to Maggie Lou, Firefox, the irrepressible Maggie Lou acquires a new cousin, and a horse - both of whom have minds of their own. • This standalone sequel to the enthusiastically received Maggie Lou, Firefox, follows a similar three-part structure, but with an even stronger narrative throughline and character development. • The novel features a Métis protagonist who is bright, funny and adventure-seeking. But it also shows a young girl facing challenges, building resilience and strengthening relationships along the way. • Maggie Lou's stories showcase a strong community of women, and a sprawling but tight-knit multigenerational family full of humor and love. • Includes a glossary of Northern Michif words (with pronunciation guide). • Maggie Lou, Firefox was nominated for the Red Cedar Book Award and was included on the ABA Children's Group 2023 Best Books for Young Readers, the Kirkus Best MG Books of the Year 2023 and NPR's Books We Love. It received excellent reviews, including stars from Kirkus and Quill & Quire. • Maggie Lou Firefox has sold approximately 4,500 copies since it was published in 2023. chapters;character drawings;dialogue;glossary;illustrations