Two uprooted Cree children find themselves in a dreamlike adventure in this series opener.
The edginess 13-year-old Morgan feels runs deep. As a First Nations kid whose whole life has been lived in one White foster home after another, she feels little reason to get excited about anything. Two months in to her new foster home placement, she inherits a new foster brother, Eli, a young Cree boy who spends his time quietly drawing in his sketchbook. After a blowup with their earnestly well-intentioned White foster parents, Morgan and Eli shelter themselves in the attic, where a drawing in his pad seems to come to life, creating a portal into the wintry Barren Grounds of Misewa, where the passage of time is, Narnia-like, different from in Winnipeg. After Eli disappears into this world, Morgan is determined to go after him to bring him back. When she finds him, they discover that the Misewa community of animal beings needs their help to survive the White Time. Robertson (Norway House Cree Nation) carefully establishes Morgan’s anger and feelings of alienation, her resentment at their foster parents’ clumsy attempts to connect her to her culture culminating when they awkwardly present a gift of moccasins. The shift into a contemporary Indigenous fantasy is seamless; it is in this world that these foster siblings discover hope and meaning that sustains them when they return to Winnipeg. This middle-grade fantasy deftly and compellingly centers Indigenous culture.
When Indigenous foster siblings Morgan and Eli are brought together in an unfinished attic room, a portal opens into a Narnia-like world inspired by traditional stories. There, they meet a hunter supporting his starving community, Misewa, from a long winter, and together with a Squirrel, embark on a dangerous mission to bring the summer back to Misewa.
The Barren Grounds is a moving tribute to traditional Indigenous language, culture, and stories, right up to the touching and beautiful ending. I would recommend this book to most people who like fantasy books because it deftly weaves together traditional fantasy books and Indigenous stories to make an unforgettable reading experience.
this book was an outstanding book and his book really drew my attention because its fantasy and also kinda true i love that they find a hole fantasy world i really enjoyed this book thank you to who ever wort this
I found this book so adventurous! Morgan was such a huge part of this book. Eli was such a timid little boy in the start, and now once Morgan breaks him out of his shell hes such a amazing young boy. Once they make it to the Misewa (ground), they meet a friendly bear and a squirrel which help them find on their adventure. They are both Indigenous young children, its a a mix of both worlds. I would highly recommend this book to younger children about 11-13 year old’s if they are interested in learning about the Indigenous Culture! this is a unforgettable reading experience!