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Hearts Unbroken
Hearts Unbroken | Cynthia Leitich Smith
New York Times best-selling author Cynthia Leitich Smith turns to realistic fiction with the thoughtful story of a Native teen navigating the complicated, confusing waters of high school -- and first love. When Louise Wolfe's first real boyfriend mocks and disrespects Native people in front of her, she breaks things off and dumps him over e-mail. It's her senior year, anyway, and she'd rather spend her time with her family and friends and working on the school newspaper. The editors pair her up with Joey Kairouz, the ambitious new photojournalist, and in no time the paper's staff find themselves with a major story to cover: the school musical director's inclusive approach to casting The Wizard of Oz has been provoking backlash in their mostly white, middle-class Kansas town. From the newly formed Parents Against Revisionist Theater to anonymous threats, long-held prejudices are being laid bare and hostilities are spreading against teachers, parents, and students -- especially the cast members at the center of the controversy, including Lou's little brother, who's playing the Tin Man. As tensions mount at school, so does a romance between Lou and Joey -- but as she's learned, "dating while Native" can be difficult. In trying to protect her own heart, will Lou break Joey's?
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Nebklvr
Hearts Unbroken | Cynthia Leitich Smith
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Pickpick

This romance has the hopefulness and witty dialogue but it also squarely faces the racism, sexism, and xenophobia exposed when kids of color get major parts in the local theater production. #skoden

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ShananigansReads
Hearts Unbroken | Cynthia Leitich Smith
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Mehso-so

Second read completed for #JunilantJuly again something I had started previously but this was definitely one of my goals to finish. Feeling accomplished 💪🏾

Andrew65 Great 👏👏👏 2y
15 likes1 comment
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ShananigansReads
Hearts Unbroken | Cynthia Leitich Smith

With the help of an angel on IG I figured out how to have Siri read my kindle (but really any) book to me. I was doing really well moving through this book with that but I feel off the wagon this morning. Hope to get back to it tomorrow cause I‘ve been reading this book for a month. 😬

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megnews
Hearts Unbroken | Cynthia Leitich Smith
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Late to my own party. Looking over my books, I haven‘t read much set in Kansas. I‘ve tagged one in my TBR. I‘ve also never visited Kansas but I did a little research and 2 places I‘d like to visit if I had the opportunity are: Boot Hill, Dodge City and the Mid-America All Indian Center. #TravelTuesday

BkClubCare Went to my HS prom at the MidAmerica Indian Center. 2y
33 likes1 comment
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KrustyKrang
Hearts Unbroken | Cynthia Leitich Smith
This post contains spoilers
show me

CHAPTER ONE IS DONE
FIRST OF ALL, AS A HALF-BLOODED NATIVE AMERICAN SUCH AS MYSELF, I FIND IT VERY OFFENSIVE WHAT CAM'S MOM HAS TO SAY ABOUT THE ENGAGEMENT. JUST BECAUSE SHE'S A NATIVE AMERICAN DOES NOT MEAN SHE SHOULDN'T BE SEEN AS WIFE MATERIAL-RACIST MUCH?

SECOND, CAM IS A JERK. I DO NOT CARE WHAT ANYONE SAYS, HE IS A RACIST BOYFRIEND THAT SHOULD NOT BE DATING LOU. ESPECIALLY WITH THE RACIAL STEREOTYPES HE HAS DEVELOPED ON NATIVES
THE END

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wow_reads
Hearts Unbroken | Cynthia Leitich Smith
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ICYMI: Check out this author profile of Cynthia Leitich Smith by @RebL at https://wowlit.org/blog/2020/03/01/authors-corner-cynthia-leitich-smith/. Which author, illustrator, or translator of global books for young people would you like for us to feature? #YALit

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RebL
Hearts Unbroken | Cynthia Leitich Smith
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Since I'm catching up...

This past spring, I interviewed Cynthia Leitich Smith (https://wowlit.org/blog/2020/03/01/authors-corner-cynthia-leitich-smith/) about her books, her imprint (watch for it in 2021), and education. She is nothing short of amazing--super generous with her smarts. If you are on LinkedIn as a book professional focused on literature for young people, I recommend connecting with her.

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Missusb
Hearts Unbroken | Cynthia Leitich Smith
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UnabridgedPod
Hearts Unbroken | Cynthia Leitich Smith
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Pickpick

Cynthia Leitich Smith's YA novel Hearts Unbroken centers on Louise, a member of the Muscogee Nation, whose family moved to East Hannesburg, Kansas, the year before. After breaking up with her super-wealthy, insensitive boyfriend, Lou begins her senior year ready to make some changes. She joins the school newspaper, determined to highlight the everyday injustices that happen all around her. ⬇️

UnabridgedPod Almost immediately, the journalism staff finds a topic of interest when the director of the school musical decides to use color-blind casting in their production of The Wizard of Oz. Several students of color, including Lou's younger brother Hughie, are cast in major roles, setting off protests from conservative members of the school and community. 4y
UnabridgedPod I read Cynthia Leitich Smith's Hearts Unbroken for the second time for the Unabridged Podcast Buddy Read, and it provided SUCH great discussions. This is a rich text with a large array of social issues for us to consider. Lou takes on bullying and decides to "tackle social, physical, cyber, sexual, and prejudicial bullying" (loc. 945), an assignment that spans the length of the novel. 4y
UnabridgedPod Lou's Native identity also plays a huge part in the novel as she navigates the mindless insensitivity of those around her as they dress like the mascots of their favorite sports teams or engage in careless stereotypes.⠀

This book has SO many strengths and is so rich in helping readers to see the world differently. Lou's story highlights instances of injustice or insensitivity that I think it's often easy to ignore or to become numb to--
4y
See All 6 Comments
UnabridgedPod Hearts Unbroken is a powerful novel that made me consider my worldview with each new scene. It's a fast read and is, I think, a great foundation for discussion with teenagers or adults. 4y
MandaMT I loved this book. Great review!! 4y
UnabridgedPod @MandaMT Thank you!! I really loved it. ❤️ 4y
22 likes6 comments
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MissYaremcio
Hearts Unbroken | Cynthia Leitich Smith
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Pickpick

Hearts Unbroken details the life of an Indigenous youth in high school as she attempts to navigate the world of dating. Her family continuously faces the struggle of being different than the rest of the town, to the point where they are threatened. The Tin Man from the WizardofOz is the recurring motif of the novel and it adds to the themes of appearance versus heart. If you like books that detail realistic highschool events youll like this one.

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SLibrarian5
Hearts Unbroken | Cynthia Leitich Smith
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My spring wrapup for #booked2019. Only got three prompts done, but I did get through some of my physical TBR! 

1- Vassa in the Night (Night-oriented title)

2- The Sandcastle Empire (cli-fi)

3- Hearts Unbroken (Indigenous Author)

BarbaraTheBibliophage Awesome—thanks for posting! 5y
Cinfhen Echoing @BarbaraTheBibliophage Glad you‘re enjoying🤓 5y
SLibrarian5 @BarbaraTheBibliophage @Cinfhen Thank you! I've definitely been reading outside of my normal genres and authors, which is great. 5y
4 likes3 comments
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SLibrarian5
Hearts Unbroken | Cynthia Leitich Smith
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Mehso-so

Another okay read. I liked the own voices element and the short chapters. But I thought the writing was choppy, there was too much going on with the plot, and Joey, the love interest, left me unimpressed.

#booked2019

#indigenousauthor

Cinfhen At least it wasn‘t a bail 😉 5y
SLibrarian5 @Cinfhen Right? It did hold my interest for the most part. 5y
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MandaMT
Hearts Unbroken | Cynthia Leitich Smith
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Pickpick

Lou is part of the Muskogee Nation. She attends a majority white school where she works on the student newspaper. The biggest story of the semester is the diverse casting choices made for school‘s production of The Wizard of Oz and the pushback from the local community. This book includes some hard truths about L. Frank Baum‘s views on Native Americans, which I was vaguely familiar with, but hadn‘t read excerpts from his editorials.

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Gillyreads
Hearts Unbroken | Cynthia Leitich Smith
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Lots to do today but starting off reading 😊

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Gillyreads
Hearts Unbroken | Cynthia Leitich Smith
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My current reads

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Biensoul
Hearts Unbroken | Cynthia Leitich Smith
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This #YA novel has me hooked right out of the gate!

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Lovesbooks87
Hearts Unbroken | Cynthia Leitich Smith
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Pickpick

So I failed at waiting and reading this book tonight. But I have been waiting to read it for a while so I just jumped in and started it. This book was about Louise who is Native American and she and people in her school had to deal with people disrespecting them because of their ethnicity. I think the author handled the subject matter in an amazing way. I really enjoyed getting to know Louise and seeing how strong she was!
#jolabokaflodswap

ChristieWitch I believe i have an ARC of those book from NetGalley... Lol i should check... 5y
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Lovesbooks87
Hearts Unbroken | Cynthia Leitich Smith
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@JamieArc thank you so much for my book and goodies. I made sure that I finished the book I was reading last night so I could jump right into the book that you picked for me. I hope you have a Merry Christmas! Thank you @MaleficentBookDragon for putting together this amazing swap! 🎄🍫❤️🎄🍫❤️
#jolabokaflodswap

JamieArc Happy reading to you! 5y
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oddandbookish
Hearts Unbroken | Cynthia Leitich Smith
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Mehso-so

Great premise but execution was lackluster. Full review on my blog.

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CoffeeK8
Hearts Unbroken | Cynthia Leitich Smith
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Pickpick

A very sweet romance intertwined with a more serious story about discrimination and oppression. #romantsy

RavenLovelyReads That mug!! 😍😍 5y
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CoffeeK8
Hearts Unbroken | Cynthia Leitich Smith
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A really fun read, love the cover 😍

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CoffeeK8
Hearts Unbroken | Cynthia Leitich Smith
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Tonight‘s plans

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Kristy_K
Hearts Unbroken | Cynthia Leitich Smith
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Panpan

This book touches on such an important matter and underrepresented voice; however, the writing was poor. It read like a laundry list of negative stereotypical things people say about Native Americans. A white character would make a comment, Louise would be upset, and then end scene. Nothing was fleshed out.

I‘ve read so little where the MC is Native American so if anyone has suggestions, let me know!

#netgalley #arc #ya

TheKidUpstairs Fantastic YA dystopia: 6y
TheKidUpstairs Heartbreaking (but beautiful, and important) read: 6y
TheKidUpstairs And another one (also heartbreaking, and beautiful): 6y
TheKidUpstairs ( I'm Canadian, so those are all First Nations, rather than Native American) one of my faves, this one American: 6y
Kristy_K @TheKidUpstairs Thank you! My tbr list just grew. :) I‘ve been wanting to read Louise Erdrich for a while, I didn‘t realize she was First Nations. (edited) 6y
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abbylibrarian
Hearts Unbroken | Cynthia Leitich Smith
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Pickpick

Sooo gooood y‘all. Here‘s a strong Muskogee (Creek) girl navigating high school relationships without compromising herself or her culture. Hand to fans of contemporary teen lit. Y‘all need to meet Louise. Out in October. #yalit

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AndreaLRogers
Hearts Unbroken | Cynthia Leitich Smith
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Muskogee language in this book. Brown girl on the cover. I already love this book.

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