Stealing Little Moon: The legacy of the American Indian boarding schools

 

Bibliography

Jones, D. S. (2024). Stealing Little Moon: The legacy of the American Indian boarding schools. Scholastic Focus.

ISBN

978-1338889475

Plot Summary

Stealing Little Moon tells the true story of the author’s Ponca family and four generations who attended the Chilocco Indian Agricultural School. Jone’s grandmother, Little Moon, There Are No Stars Tonight, who was taken from her family when she was four and was forced to attend a federal boarding school designed to erase Native American culture and identity. Through the family stories, historical documents, and survivor accounts, Jones explains the lasting impact boarding schools had on Native communities while also honoring the resilience and strength of those who survived. 

Part American history, part family history, Stealing Little Moon is a powerful look at the miseducation and the mistreatment of Indigenous kids, while celebrating their strength, resiliency, and courage--and the ultimate failure of the United States government to erase them.

Critical Analysis

Stealing Little Moon provides an honest and authentic account of the American Indian boarding school system from the perspective of a Ponca author whose own family experienced it firsthand. Rather than relying on stereotypes, Jones shares real stories that show Native people as resilient, loving, and deeply connected to their families, traditions, and communities. The individuals in the book represent several generations whose lives were forever changed by government policies meant to erase their Native identities. Instead of focusing only on trauma, Jones also highlights the strength, perseverance, and determination of Native people to preserve their culture despite these efforts.

The book is set primarily at the Chilocco Indian Agricultural School in Oklahoma and accurately reflects the historical time period of the late 1800s through the school's closing in 1980. The descriptions of the boarding school, along with photographs and historical records, help readers understand the realities Native children faced after being separated from their families. These settings create a powerful picture of how the boarding school system attempted to replace Native traditions with Euro-American customs.

One of the strongest cultural aspects of the book is its emphasis on preserving their Native identities. Jones discusses Native languages, family relationships, spiritual beliefs, traditions, and tribal pride while explaining how boarding schools worked to erase them. Although there is very little code-switching, Native names, such as "Little Moon There Are No Stars Tonight," are preserved throughout the text, honoring Indigenous languages and identities instead of replacing them with English names. I think this helps readers understand that a person's name is an important part of their culture and identity.

The photographs included throughout the book make the history even more meaningful. Seeing real students, families, and the boarding school helps readers connect with the people behind the stories. Rather than simply reading about history, the photographs remind readers that these events happened to real children and families. The combination of personal stories, historical research, and photographs creates a powerful learning experience that encourages readers to reflect on a difficult chapter in American history while recognizing the resilience of Native communities.

Review Excerpts

• “Stealing Little Moon is both a moving family saga and an expertly told true story that all Americans should know." ―Steve Sheinkin, New York Times bestselling author of Bomb and Undefeated

• "Detailed with emotional sympathy inherent in the retelling from a family's lineage, this narrative nonfiction title pays homage and remembrance to those harmed and intended to be forgotten." -- School Library Journal, starred review

• "A timely, heartbreaking, and ultimately hopeful memoir that powerfully illustrates the resilience and enduring spirit of the Native American people." -- Booklist, starred review

Awards and Recognitions

• BCCB Blue Ribbon Nonfiction Book Award

• Oklahoma Book Award Winner: Young Adult

• Kirkus Reviews Best Middle-Grade Anthologies of 2021

• New York Public Library's Best Books for Kids List selection

• Winner of the Orbis Pictus Award

• A Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year

• A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year

• YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults Finalist (2025)

Connections

• Have discussions on the importance of preserving languages, traditions, and cultural identity.

• Have students interview a family member about traditions or stories that have been passed down through generations and reflect on why preserving family history is important.