Maggie Lou Meets Her Match

A new installment of the Maggie Lou series, Arnolda Dufour Bowes shares Maggie’s struggle with welcoming a new family member to the family in Maggie Lou Meets Her Match.

In this book of three short stories, Maggie Lou welcomes cousin Rosie to the family at the wedding of Rosie’s mother and Uncle Bobby, learns how to ride a horse and competes in the Otipîm’sowak race.

Just like the first book in the series, readers get to hang out with the incomparable Maggie Lou, a strong, loud and bold main character who plows head first through life without fear through three short stories all focused around the joys and challenges of a new family member entering the fold. In this case, enter cousin Rosie, the perfect foil for Maggie Lou. They are very much alike which leads to a very interesting dynamic that is not short on conflict. I love how Arnolda Dufour Bowes creates storylines that are incredibly relatable. Many of us have that sibling cousin that one minute we love and the next minute we can’t stand. I see it play out in my family just about every time there is a family gathering. 

Arnolda Dufour Bowes ensures that her characters are strong and fierce, stories for readers who are told they are too loud and too in your face. The charm of Maggie Lou and her family is that they are so loud, joyful and not afraid to lend a helping hand and celebrate their accomplishments. This story is not a story full of meek, humble characters. Maggie Lou and her entire extended family are proud of who they are, Métis growing up on the prairie.

Karlene Harvey’s illustrations infuse charm and vigor into the story, bringing the full essence of the characters to life for readers.  While there are few illustrations throughout the story, she captures everything that Arnolda Dufour Bowes is trying to convey. The close family bond, the bold, adventurous characters and the joy of growing up.