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dandelionsteph's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Moderate: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Abandonment, Murder, Violence, and Death
Morgan believes her mother abandoned her, but we later learn she was apparently taken away from her.carolined314's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Colonisation
Moderate: Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
Minor: Fire/Fire injury
theverycraftyvegan's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The Barren Grounds is an indigenous story about a fantasy world very much like C. S. Lewis’ Narnia, but also completely different. Very well written and I couldn’t put it down. I cannot wait to start the second book in the series; The Great Bear.
Graphic: Abandonment, Animal death, and Death
Moderate: Grief, Violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
dainybernstein's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Death, and Grief
kalira's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
The adventures and dangers the children go through feel very real for being part of a fantastical world, and somehow intertwined not too jarringly with the very disparate arc of Morgan learning so much more about herself and her past, though there are still large missing pieces to that. . .
Graphic: Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Death, and Animal death
Moderate: Colonisation and Cultural appropriation
joyful_patatas's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
In all, I do hope more people, children especially, read this book and find joy in following the adventure of these peculiar, but fun bunch.
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Animal death, Death, Violence, Blood, and Child abuse
Minor: Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Colonisation, and Racism
ladykatka's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
The conflict of the book was also resolved fairly easily as well, which was rather disappointing. Some loose threads still dangle, such as who told Arik where the summer birds were. She was acting very suspicious about it but it was never brought up again. Maybe it will be addressed in the next book, but it was disappointing in this one that the detail was simply forgotten.
I did like the use of Cree throughout the book, huge plus.
Minor: Death
rorikae's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Morgan and Eli are two foster children, living together in a house in Winnipeg with their foster parents. New to the home, they are struggling to connect with one another. One night, they discover a portal in their attic that utilizes one of Eli's drawings to transport them to a snow covered world. Populated by animals, this world was once lush before acts by a selfish human transformed it. Eli and Morgan will have to go on an adventure with Ochek, a Fisher, and Arik, a squirrel, to see if they can transform the world back to what it once was.
'The Barren Grounds' is a heart filled middle grade novel. Robertson creates an intriguing fantastical world that draws on Indigenous stories. Beyond the adventures, the story also delves into what it is like for Indigenous foster children that are paired with white foster parents, including microaggressions and the complicated feelings that come with connection or lack of connection with one's heritage. Morgan and Eli are engaging characters and even though Morgan isn't instantly likable, she is incredibly understandable, which makes it easy to care for her. As she and Eli discover the world in their attic and begin to explore it together, they start to connect with one another.
There are many references to Narnia in this story and though it clearly is an influence, Robertson has created a story that is wholly its own while also playing with familiar tropes. It also has lessons peppered throughout, including humanity's impact on the land when they don't act as proper stewards. It does feel like the start of a series and there is clearly much more for the characters to discover in subsequent books. I'll definitely be following along with the series and I'm intrigued to see what Morgan and Eli get up to next.
Moderate: Animal death, Death, Grief, Racism, and Violence