Bayou Suzette by Lois Lensky

Listening Age 6+

This book is from the same author as is Strawberry Girl. It takes place in the bayous of Louisianna in the early 20th century. It is centered on the young daughter of a large, poor family and the Indian girl she tries to sneak into the family. The Indian girl, Marteel, brings out the worst prejudice in young Suzette's family, but time after time, wins them over with her brave rescues of Suzette, and later of her father.

There is a mild amount of cultural superstition with regard to the dead, but nothing that I felt compelled to censor -- we just saw it as a point of discussion. There is also a lot of French/Cajun-accented dialog, and it made the story a bit fatiguing for me to read aloud.

I give this book a grade of "C."