She Persisted: Maria Tallchief

September 6, 2021
In six accessible chapters, Day (who is Upper Skagit), deftly parallels the struggles of the Osage Nation with those of Elizabeth Marie Tall Chief (1925–2013), one of the first American ballet stars. Born in Oklahoma to an Osage father and white mother, Maria Tall Chief faced a variety of hurdles after starting to dance at three years old, including having to learn about her heritage in secret, since Native ceremonies and gatherings were outlawed by the U.S. government until 1978. She also faced racist bullying from classmates and, as a professional dancer, was asked to make her name more sound Russian. Tallchief nevertheless rose to dance solos with the Ballet de Monte Carlos, the New York City Ballet, and American Ballet Theatre, becoming a major star with George Balanchine’s Firebird and receiving prestigious recognitions. Flint contributes simple, appealing b&w ink-and-wash spot illustrations throughout this rich, clear picture of how one iconic Native dancer persisted. Back matter includes a How You Can Persist guide and references. Ages 6–9.

October 15, 2021
Maria Tallchief is an American ballet legend, but she came from a humble beginning. Elizabeth "Betty" Marie Tall Chief grew up on the Osage reservation in northeastern Oklahoma at a time when Osage children were told not to speak their language and to forget their tribal customs even as they enjoyed uncommon wealth due to their reservation's rich oil deposits. She and her family attended secret powwows, and the songs' powerful rhythms remained with Betty all her life. After moving to California at 8, she began dance school. Not only was she good at ballet, but she moved ahead academically. But Betty was bullied for her name, so she changed it to one word: Tallchief. Betty "lived and breathed the art of ballet," listening when her mother offered wise words and encouragement to "dance with all your heart....You shouldn't just expect a role to be handed to you." Years later, when she traveled around the world, dancing in famous ballets, she again changed her name from Betty to a variation of her middle name Maria but resisted advice to change her surname, retaining it to honor her family and her Osage identity. Day (Upper Skagit) clearly shows that even as Tallchief became a star in the world of ballet, she never forgot her roots and gives readers necessary history and context to understand their importance. Flint's black-and-white illustrations excel at depictions of Tallchief in motion. Inspiringly shows how Maria Tallchief persisted and made her dreams come true. (author's note, bibliography) (Biography. 6-9)

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October 15, 2021
Grades 2-4 Born in Oklahoma, Elizabeth Marie Tall Chief was proud of her Osage Nation heritage. She took ballet classes from the age of three, and in her teens, studying with an exceptional teacher, she excelled. Once, offended to be chosen for the corps rather than a leading role in a ballet, she put little effort into her part. Her mother lectured her on dancing with all her heart, "even in the corps," in order to earn major roles. Later, the narrative returns to this moment as pivotal in Tallchief's career, which included dancing as a prima ballerina with major companies in the U.S. and abroad. After her retirement from dancing, Tallchief continued her public support of Native American rights. Like other volumes in the She Persisted series, this book has wide-spaced lines of type and illustrations on many of the double-page spreads. Day emphasizes the series' theme in an appended section, "How You Can Persist," suggesting activities from learning about local Native Americans to choreographing a dance. A brief, readable introduction to an important American dancer.

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Starred review from December 17, 2021

Gr 3-6-This chapter book in the "She Persisted" series chronicles the life of America's first prima ballerina Maria Tallchief. Readers are introduced to Elizabeth Marie Tall Chief, an Osage girl from Oklahoma. Day (Upper Skagit from the Pacific Northwest) provides details about the Osage tribe and their history to help readers understand Tallchief's roots. The Indigenous author provides a unique perspective on Tallchief's story by teaching readers about the land and tribal nations of the regions where the dancer lived. As the book progresses, Tallchief and her family move to California, where she changes her last name from Tall Chief to Tallchief. Then at the age of 17, Tallchief moves to New York City, and her name eventually becomes the one readers know best: Maria Tallchief. The book highlights the fact that Tallchief never forgot her Osage heritage. Black and white illustrations, while few, are impactful. The artwork depicts special moments in the subject's life, from dreaming about ballet as a young girl to starring in the New York City's Ballet's opening night of "Firebird," where the crowd cheered and chanted her name. In tandem with the text, the illustrations show Tallchief's growth and transformation from a little girl to a prima ballerina. The text is interesting, straightforward, and easy to read for the intended age group. Back matter includes, along with references, a list of ways readers can persist and help carry on Tallchief's legacy. VERDICT Recommended for all library collections. A great addition to the "She Persisted" series.-Danielle Burbank, Farmington, NM

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