Mia is pulled in two directions. She lives with her mother and step-father and attends a Jewish day school. Her father lives in Oklahoma and is a member of the Muscogee Nation. Recently, a boy at school teased her by saying she is adopted because she doesn't look like her Jewish parents. She corrects him by telling him that she looks like her father who is Native American.
After a dinner when the local Rabbi makes an upsetting comment referring to Native Americans, Mia begins to question her heritage. Since her parents divorced when she was only three years old, she hasn't spent time with her father. She begins to plan a trip to visit him and his new family.
With the help of a friend Mia decides to purchase a bus ticket and sneak away to Oklahoma. She tells her mother she is attending a Jewish weekend field trip, but instead heads off to get some answers from her father.
Mia's visit to Oklahoma is amazing. She begins to understand more about her Muscogee heritage, and she makes plans to learn more. When her secret trip is discovered, she has a lot of explaining to do. Will she be able to explain her reasons for tricking both her parents? Will they understand enough to allow her to keep learning about her Native American background?
Author Emily Bowen Cohen uses her own Jewish/Muscogee background to create Mia's story. Written as a graphic novel, it allows readers to see as well as read about Mia's struggles. TWO TRIBES is perfect for classrooms and libraries looking to share diversity with teen readers.
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