Book Review: The Barren Grounds by David A Robertson (MG)

 The Barren Grounds is set in early November in Winnipeg and is about two Cree foster children--thirteen-year-old Morgan and twelve-year-old Eli.

The Barren Grounds

David A Robertson

Puffin

an imprint of Penguin Random House Canada Young Readers

2020

Morgan has been in a string of seven foster homes since she was about three-years-old. She remembers very little about her life before foster care.

'"All I know is that my mom didn't want me."' (p. 13)

And it has taken an emotional toll on her.

'What's there about me for anybody to like? What do I even like about myself?' (p. 34)

After giving Morgan a gift of moccasins to celebrate her fourth month anniversary of being in his care, her white foster father James tells her:  '"We don't want you to feel disconnected from your culture."'

Morgan:  '"I don't even know my culture."'

Eli:  '"Who you are is still inside you."' (p. 52)

Eli has been living with Morgan, in foster care, for a week. Eli remembers his Cree culture; he still speaks the 'good words'--Swampy Cree. Can Eli lead Morgan back to her culture?

David A Robertson took inspiration from C.S. Lewis' The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe in his exploration of the foster system. The result--an unputdownable book.  

Difficult-to-love Morgan never-the-less wiggled her way into my heart from page one. She's a relatable character who grows through the course of the story. 

Courageous Morgan and compassionate Eli's journey has just begun. The Barren Grounds is the first book in the series. 

Author Pam Withers' interview with David A Robertson

Global Read Aloud 

On This Blog This Week

Wednesday, March 24

Podcast:  Author reading

Let the Sunshine in (poem)

Leanne Dyck

One of my favourite poems. Thank you for suggesting that I record it for this blog.

Sunday, March 28

Short story

Five Dollars (short story)

Leanne Dyck

Readers are a diverse population. What unites us is our love of books. 

Things I listened to last week...

I had fun learning about old Norse literature

and learning about old English literature

George does an entertaining job of capturing rural island life The Accidental Curator

Still listening to... Plan to listen to this week...

Writers Festival Radio:  Ottawa International Writers Festival

and

Penguin Podcast 

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Sharing my Author Journey...

Dispatch, Hatch, Patch--2021 Manuscript Progress Report

Book Review: Red Fox Road (MG) (wilderness adventure) by Frances Greenslade

Red Fox Road asks the question what do you do when someone you love leaves?

Buy this book

Published by Puffin Canada

an imprint of Penguin Random House Canada Young Readers

Published in 2020

In March, to celebrate her thirteenth birthday, Frances Fox's parents--Leonard and Adele--give her a wilderness adventure. One early morning in April, the family leave their home in Pentiction, BC to hike the Grand Canyon in Oregon. These plans are upended when their truck stalls, leaving them stranded.

Leonard is a mail carrier for Canada Post...

'If there was one thing Dad was good at, he always said, it was walking.' (p. 126)

So he sets off to find help, leaving Frances and Adele behind.

This isn't the first time Frances has been left. Her twin sister Phoebe died five and a half years ago. Her beloved grandma died two years ago. Frances's mom, Adele, has been hospitalized more than once due to mental health crises.

 Frances is a survivor. In the opening scene of Red Fox Road, we see Frances in the truck's backseat with a survival guidebook on her lap.

Frances dreams about living in her grandma's cabin on Gem Lake --'like Grandma did, all by herself, all summer long.' (p. 17)

However, Frances soon learns that surviving in the bush requires providing for her basic needs—food, water, shelter—and maintaining a positive attitude. Is Frances up for the challenge?

'My mind...can be my best friend or it can be my worst enemy, Fierce Frances said, "Don't hang out with your worst enemy. Who does that? Hang out with your best friend."' (p.96)

Red Fox Road is a hopeful, thoughtful story with a relatable character. Once you start reading, you'll root for "Fierce" Frances and won't be able to leave her. Once you begin reading Red Fox Road, you'll be transfixed and keep turning the pages until the end.

 

February on this blog...

Book Reviews

Two books about being Muslim in North America...

Sunday, February 7

How It All Blew Up

by Arvin Ahmadi

Sunday, February 21

The Parkour Club

by Pam Withers and Arooj Hayat

A Poem and a Short Story

Sunday, February 14

St. Valentine's Day

The Crush (poem)

by Leanne Dyck

Sunday, February 28

Who's Bigger? (short story)

by Leanne Dyck

Virtual Author Readings

Wednesday, February 3

Something Good to Eat (short story)

inspired by Icelandic folklore

Wednesday, February 10

Island Storyteller on Stage (short story)

inspired by my love of reading my writing to a supportive audience

Wednesday, February 17

Storytime (short story)

to celebrate I Read Canada Day

Wednesday, February 24

Ice Angel (short story)

about meeting a magical child on a dark night

Sharing my author journey...

Sometimes I'm caught up short by a thought. Thought: I really have no idea how to write this scene.