In A Bilagáana Boy Among the Navajo by Jay Jones, we are introduced to eight-year-old Jay who found himself in the middle of a divorce and with both parents wanting custody. We follow his story of how he ended up on a reservation with his mother and stepfather. Jay’s world turned upside down when his mother was caught cheating on his father. In the aftermath of the divorce, his brother was sent to a home for kids with disabilities and he lived with his father for a while. When he was eight, his mother decided he had better live with her and her new husband on the Navajo reservation. Little did Jay know that this was going to alter his life immensely. Jay experienced a culture shock when suddenly he was the only white child surrounded by Indigenous kids while he attended school and lived on the Rez. Despite recalling the next four years as very difficult in dealing with an abusive stepfather, Jay looks back on these years as important in shaping him into the man he has become.

A Bilagáana Boy Among the Navajo is a great read. I can’t imagine what it must have taken to write down the darkest four years of one's life as Jay Jones has done. This book is well written and I felt like I was stepping into Jay's shoes and experiencing Indigenous culture firsthand as a white person. Jay didn’t shy away from describing the far-from-comfortable conditions. I appreciated the details that showed how much this period of his life affected him. I also loved that he included images in the book. This helps draw the reader in even more, showing a young Jay and those around him as well as the places he visited and saw, giving a clearer picture of his life during this period. I enjoyed reading this book and can’t wait to tell others about it.

A Bilagáana Boy Among the Navajo is a gripping memoir by Jay Jones about racism and abuse while living on the Navajo Reservation in the 1960s. Jay's troubles began with his parents' chaotic relationship, which led to their separation and his having to live with his mother and her new man, Will. Jay did not feel welcome in his new home since Will was a strict disciplinarian who gave him enough reasons to contemplate escaping. To make matters worse, his new classmates picked on him since they saw him as an easy mark for avenging the white people's racist acts. Thankfully, Jay did not let these negative experiences stop him from having happy moments as he explored joining a band, playing baseball, riding a mini-cycle, and spending Christmas with Grammie in warm and sunny Florida. 

Jay Jones' vivid descriptions allow us to share in his intriguing, cultural observations. Imagine seeing native festivities involving horse-drawn wagons and men in native dress pounding drums. The story maintains a good pace, captivating readers with a variety of experiences and interests, ranging from schooling and overcoming feelings of being unwelcome at home to enjoying outdoor activities with the Boy Scouts. Prepare to meet many memorable and peculiar characters, including the teacher known as Mr. Sherman, the punisher of disobedient students. Overall, A Bilagáana Boy Among the Navajo is highly entertaining and compelling. It's also a well-narrated memoir that captures the negative effects of racism and the seriousness of broken homes. It had me smiling at a child's adventures, feeling strongly for its protagonist, and thinking deeply about different aspects of society.

A Bilagáana Boy among the Navajo by Jay Jones is a memoir about the author’s life on the Navajo reservation in the 1960s. After his parents' messy divorce and his mother’s mental health relapse, Jay spent some time with his father and his father's side of the family in Washington, but this living situation was short-lived. His mother, who had married the man she had been having an affair with, won custody of Jay, and he had to live with her and his new stepfather on the Navajo Reservation. Initially angry about these changes, Jay soon realized that life in his new environment was bittersweet. He endured bullying from classmates, beatings from his stepfather, and constant demands from his mother to change his surname to that of his stepfather. Despite feeling that his father prioritized his job and new wife over him, Jay resisted the idea of losing his father's name. However, he also found some comfort in a new pet hamster, friends who introduced him to Navajo culture and traditions, and exciting fairs he attended.

A Bilagáana Boy among the Navajo is a captivating story that imparts valuable lessons about the complexities of life and relationships. This book transports readers to the 1960s, offering a view of societal prejudices and the struggle for identity during a time of significant cultural change. Jay Jones' journey is filled with ups and downs that many readers will resonate with. His ability to navigate trauma and adapt to a new environment reveals the resilience needed to forge one's identity amidst adversity. The memoir highlights misconceptions held by the Navajo people regarding whites and challenges the false narrative often associated with Native American cultures. One of the most touching aspects of the story is the treatment of Jay’s mentally disabled brother, Don, by others and the institution where he resides. This portrayal exposes the stark realities and prejudices faced by individuals with disabilities at that time. The author also provides insight into his life after leaving the reservation, underscoring how his experiences shaped his understanding of culture, identity, and community. Overall, this is a compelling read, and I recommend it to anyone interested in personal narratives that explore themes of personal growth, family dynamics, and the intersection of different cultures.