Maine
Great Reads from Great Places
"The First Blade of Sweetgrass" by Suzanne Greenlaw and Gabriel Frey
Age: 6-8 years
Musquon must overcome her impatience while learning to distinguish sweetgrass from other salt marsh grasses. Slowly the spirit and peace of her surroundings speak to her, and she gathers sweetgrass as her ancestors have done for centuries, leaving the first blade she sees to grow for future generations.
Suzanne Greenlaw and Gabriel Frey are a Maine-based husband-and-wife author duo who were inspired to write “The First Blade of Sweetgrass” (Tilbury House) by their family and indigenous cultures. Greenlaw is Maliseet and a citizen of the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians. She works to restore Wabanaki stewardship practices across various land tenure systems throughout Maine. Frey is Passamaquoddy and a citizen of Passamaquoddy at Sipayik. He is an awarded-winning basket maker, artist and cultural knowledge keeper.
Maine Center for the Book
Maine Humanities Council
Learn more about this state's 2021 Great Reads from Great Places book selection in this video.