book traci sorell to speak

“Traci Sorell is a passionate, funny, and engaging speaker. She doesn’t pull punches about the wrongs she’s trying to right with her books but doesn’t come off as preachy. She saw the lack of native voices in books and decided to become one. And by choosing to write children’s books she proved such books are for everyone. Her book, Contenders, distilled the information to the essentials and informed and entertained readers of all ages.”

— Wilmington Memorial Library, 2023

“We were lucky enough to have Traci Sorell visit our K-8 Tribal School this past year. To say it was remarkable would be an understatement! She spoke to all our kids about her award-winning book and shared teachings about the beautiful Cherokee culture. She also spoke about how important representation in literature is for all students, and how under-represented our Native American students are in contemporary children’s literature. She shared excerpts from her upcoming stories with them and did writing workshop sessions with several of our classes. She even met with smaller groups of students to share her own path to becoming a published author. She helped my students to see that being a writer is a real possibility. Many students today have a hard time figuring out how to become something they cannot see, and Traci helped my students imagine themselves as future authors, showed them a pathway to get there, and provided them with the inspiration they need to share their own stories. Miigwech, wado, thank you, Traci!”

— Susan Solomon, Gifted Education Specialist, JKL Bahweting School, Sault Ste. Marie, MI

“As a writer for young people and a lawyer and Native American policy-maker, Traci is an ideal visitor to any school setting, from elementary schools to universities. Over the course of one day, I observed Traci talk about writing and Cherokee culture with elementary students, and then converse with teachers and university professors about education, writing, Native voices in children’s literature, Cherokee history, and federal policy with equal comfort. Traci has so much to share with children, their teachers, and their parents— about the writing process, the representation of Native Americans in contemporary children’s literature, and more.”

— Dr. Mary Ann Cappiello, Professor, Language and Literacy, Lesley University and former Chair of NCTE’s Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction for Young People, Cambridge, MA

“Traci Sorell is a treasure! My students, many of which are Cherokee citizens, were so excited to explore the Cherokee heritage through the pages of her book. They loved hearing and reading We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga, learning the Cherokee language, and getting a glimpse into the Cherokee culture. Wado, Traci! You are welcome in our library any time!!”

— Christi Horner, Librarian, Glenn C. Moore Elementary School, Nowata, OK

“We appreciated the range of learning styles touched on in the course of your presentation. By incorporating movement, art, literature, emotional intelligence, and an appreciation for diversity, you invited the entire room of young readers to engage with your lovely book.”

— Kit Ballenger, former Program Director, An Open Book Foundation, who coordinated visit to Payne Elementary School in Washington, DC

“During her visit, Traci engaged with children, teachers, teacher candidates, and university faculty in a variety of settings. Each interaction brought delight, challenge, insight, and enriched appreciation of not just Cherokee culture but also the many lovely ways of being in this world. Wado, Traci!”

— Dr. Sue Christian Parsons, Associate Professor and Jacques Munroe Professor of Reading and Literacy, Oklahoma State University