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theshaggyshepherd's review against another edition
4.0
"We don't use names here. All students are known by numbers."
This book made me want to cry right from the start. I had heard about residential schools before but did not really know anything about them. Gaawin Gindaaswin Ndaawsii / I Am Not A Number by Jenny Kay Dupuis and Kathy Kacer tells the story of a First Nations girl that was taken away from her family along with two of her brothers and forced to go to a residential school for a year. This book tells the story of her awful experiences during that year and how reuniting with her family gave them a new resolve to stand up for themselves. This is a very heartbreaking story that will lead to difficult but important conversations with your children.
I love the fact that the whole book was written in her language first and then translated for us to understand. As an immigrant, I find it very important to know where you come from, your language and your culture so I am glad this book is available to show the importance of every language, not just the "popular" ones.
There is one thing I wish this book included though. Due to it being such a difficult subject, many people may not know how to discuss this with their children so they may be discouraged from buying it and reading it to them. It would be helpful to have some guided questions at the end to help facilitate a meaningful discussion.
This book made me want to cry right from the start. I had heard about residential schools before but did not really know anything about them. Gaawin Gindaaswin Ndaawsii / I Am Not A Number by Jenny Kay Dupuis and Kathy Kacer tells the story of a First Nations girl that was taken away from her family along with two of her brothers and forced to go to a residential school for a year. This book tells the story of her awful experiences during that year and how reuniting with her family gave them a new resolve to stand up for themselves. This is a very heartbreaking story that will lead to difficult but important conversations with your children.
I love the fact that the whole book was written in her language first and then translated for us to understand. As an immigrant, I find it very important to know where you come from, your language and your culture so I am glad this book is available to show the importance of every language, not just the "popular" ones.
There is one thing I wish this book included though. Due to it being such a difficult subject, many people may not know how to discuss this with their children so they may be discouraged from buying it and reading it to them. It would be helpful to have some guided questions at the end to help facilitate a meaningful discussion.
ljrinaldi's review against another edition
4.0
This is the story of a girl, sent to residential schools, who remembered who she was, and was able to keep her language, unlike many other First Nation, Metis and Inuit children.
This book is the retelling of the author's grandmother's story of what life in the residential schools was like. It is important that these stories be told, so that they will not happen again. This book is now available in, Nbisiing, the very language that the residential schools tried to wipe off the face of the children, removing them from their own community. The translators, fact, knew the girl in the story, so it held special meaning to translate this story.
It is a sad, deep story. The pictures are not bright and happy, as this is not a happy story.
Highly recommend this book for children and adults to learn about what happened.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
This book is the retelling of the author's grandmother's story of what life in the residential schools was like. It is important that these stories be told, so that they will not happen again. This book is now available in, Nbisiing, the very language that the residential schools tried to wipe off the face of the children, removing them from their own community. The translators, fact, knew the girl in the story, so it held special meaning to translate this story.
It is a sad, deep story. The pictures are not bright and happy, as this is not a happy story.
Highly recommend this book for children and adults to learn about what happened.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
pipn_t's review
dark
emotional
informative
sad
fast-paced
This book is a short book in both Ojibwe and English about the trauma the author’s grandmother had to live through during her year at residential school. It’s short, but honesty it was still a pretty tough read. It was well told and the pictures really help convey the emotions of what is being said.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Colonisation, Torture, and Racism
bargainandbooks's review against another edition
5.0
A powerful story about Irene Couchie and her brothers who were taken from their home and their family to a residential school. I Am Not A Number shows us a tiny glimpse of what one of the 150,000 First Nations, Métis and Inuit children who over a staggering 100 years endured. Their story shows how traumatic, heartbreaking and dangerous these schools were. It also shows the strength and love of her family.
This absolutely heartbreaking and neglected part of Canadian history is finally being recognized as the horrible act that it was. This book was beautifully illustrated and written. I loved that it was written in English as well as Nbisiing.
This absolutely heartbreaking and neglected part of Canadian history is finally being recognized as the horrible act that it was. This book was beautifully illustrated and written. I loved that it was written in English as well as Nbisiing.
graypeape's review against another edition
5.0
I don't know where to begin. I'd heard vaguely about residential schools before, but I hadn't delved further into the subject. People, including children, need to learn about this. This book tells the story of Jenny Kay Dupuis' grandmother, Irene Couchie Dupuis, or as she was known in the school, #759. Can you imagine that, having even your name taken away from you? The impact of this story will stay with the reader, as it should.
The book is told both in English and in Nbisiing, a dialect of Anishnaabemwin, the language Irene was forbidden to speak at the school. The illustrations are evocative, and perfectly convey the emotion of the text. I urge educators to add this book to their class and school libraries, and I urge parents to read this with your children and discuss it with them. It's important.
#GaawinNiinNdooGindaaswisiiIAmNotANumber #NetGalley
The book is told both in English and in Nbisiing, a dialect of Anishnaabemwin, the language Irene was forbidden to speak at the school. The illustrations are evocative, and perfectly convey the emotion of the text. I urge educators to add this book to their class and school libraries, and I urge parents to read this with your children and discuss it with them. It's important.
#GaawinNiinNdooGindaaswisiiIAmNotANumber #NetGalley
etienne02's review
2.0
2,5/5. Another case of book that seem unsure for who it was written. The format of the book make you think it was intent for young children, but the «hard» subject and the quantity of text make you think otherwise. I like what the book is trying to do, but the unbalanced work made me lose a lot of interest in it unfortunately...
booksrbrainfood's review
5.0
What a remarkable book. The illustrations are beautiful and the story is compelling. I truly had no idea that this is the history of how the First Nations/Inuit/Metis of Canada were treated in the not so-distant past. And to think, the last of these "residential schools" run by so-called Christian Churches just closed at the end of the 20th Century is striking. Here in the USA, I think our schooling on the countries surrounding us is quite limited unfortunately. Other countries seem to have a better understanding of the history or politics of the USA than USA citizens have for any other country, then take a smaller fraction of that vast country that is Canada (we think Toronto/Quebec,etc) and most of us know little at all.
This is an important book for the people that it represents. It is also an important book for all those facing similar situations, separation from family due to refugee status or immigration issues or even the criminal justice system. Anytime children are in a family that they are happy and well-cared for in and then taken from against their will is a tragedy. We are seeing many examples of this scenario around the world and it is scary for those children and sad for the families. We must do better.
Highly recommend.
#GaawinNiinNdooGindaaswisiiIAmNotANumber #NetGalley #SecondStoryPress
This is an important book for the people that it represents. It is also an important book for all those facing similar situations, separation from family due to refugee status or immigration issues or even the criminal justice system. Anytime children are in a family that they are happy and well-cared for in and then taken from against their will is a tragedy. We are seeing many examples of this scenario around the world and it is scary for those children and sad for the families. We must do better.
Highly recommend.
#GaawinNiinNdooGindaaswisiiIAmNotANumber #NetGalley #SecondStoryPress
tabby2920's review
5.0
I am at a loss of words at how amazing this picture book. The more I learn about the Indigenous populations, the more I am heartbroken and fascinated about their pain and their ability to endure after it all. The beautiful artwork was a definite plus. It was both captivating and breathtaking. We need more books like this so all ages can learn more about indigenous populations.
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