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joyful_patatas's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- 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
I did genuinely enjoy this book even as a middle grade book. This one follows the theme of identity and culture where the adventure lets the main character, Morgan, learns a bit of her Cree heritage in her time in Askí with Ochek, Arik, and Eli. The dialogue and dynamic of the group was great to read and the mentions on the how the two-legged animals view the land and creatures is identical to how the Indigenous communities viewed the world. The villain of the story taking on the role similar to the colonizers was also an interesting take by taking actual history and implementing it in a middle grade book.
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.
The reason I gave it three stars is mainly because I am nit-picky. I did find the villain underwhelming because of the lack of story behind him. Why did he go to Askí? Why did he not leave? Why did he build a cabin in an area where they are no prey? He was only alive for less than 50 pages after meeting him. I know this is a middle grade book, so I know I am being hard, but the wild up after the tribe kept describing how horrible he was made the reveal and confrontation underwhelming.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Animal death, Death, Violence, Blood, and Child abuse
Minor: Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Colonisation, and Racism
rorikae's review
adventurous
challenging
tense
fast-paced
- 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
'The Barren Grounds' by David Alexander Robertson is a heart filled middle grade novel that follows two Indigenous children as they discover a hidden world in their attic.
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Death, Grief, Racism, and Violence
bookishbrittany's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is a MG/YA portal fantasy about a Morgan and Eli, two Cree children who live in Winnipeg and end up in the same foster home where they one day find a doorway to a fantasy world call Misewa that is influenced by the Cree people and their language.
I found the story to have a timeless quality and is a portal fantasy for a new generation. What's even better is this is a Cree story, told by a Cree author and narrated by a Cree actress. Robertson puts so much heart into this story and I found listening to it on audiobook just elevates to a whole other level. Especially when characters are speaking Cree, it is a beautiful language to the ears. The narrator Brefney Caribou-Curtin gives a phenomenal performance to as Morgan, Eli and the secondary characters.
I am really looking forward to the sequel and think all parents should be adding this to their childrens bookshelves.
I found the story to have a timeless quality and is a portal fantasy for a new generation. What's even better is this is a Cree story, told by a Cree author and narrated by a Cree actress. Robertson puts so much heart into this story and I found listening to it on audiobook just elevates to a whole other level. Especially when characters are speaking Cree, it is a beautiful language to the ears. The narrator Brefney Caribou-Curtin gives a phenomenal performance to as Morgan, Eli and the secondary characters.
I am really looking forward to the sequel and think all parents should be adding this to their childrens bookshelves.
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal death, Blood, Child abuse, and Racism
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