The Barren Grounds by David A. Robertson
CBC Books | | Posted: October 15, 2020 3:30 PM | Last Updated: July 8
Narnia meets traditional Indigenous stories of the sky and constellations in an epic middle grade fantasy series from David Robertson.
Morgan and Eli, two Indigenous children forced away from their families and communities, are brought together in a foster home in Winnipeg. They each feel disconnected, from their culture and each other, and struggle to fit in at school and at their new home — until they find a secret place, walled off in an unfinished attic bedroom.
Morgan and Eli, two Indigenous children forced away from their families and communities, are brought together in a foster home in Winnipeg. They each feel disconnected, from their culture and each other, and struggle to fit in at school and at their new home — until they find a secret place, walled off in an unfinished attic bedroom.
A portal opens to another reality, Askí, bringing them onto frozen, barren grounds, where they meet Ochek (Fisher).
The only hunter supporting his starving community, Misewa, Ochek welcomes the human children, teaching them traditional ways to survive. But as the need for food becomes desperate, they embark on a dangerous mission. Accompanied by Arik, a sassy Squirrel they catch stealing from the trapline, they try to save Misewa before the icy grip of winter freezes everything —including them. (From Puffin Canada)
The Barren Grounds is a finalist for the 2020 Governor General's Literary Prize for young people's literature — text.
David A. Robertson is an author and graphic novelist based in Winnipeg. The multi-talented writer of Swampy Cree heritage has published 25 books across a variety of genres, including the graphic novels Will I See? and Sugar Falls, a Governor General's Literary Award-winning picture book called When We Were Alone, illustrated by Julie Flett and the YA book Strangers and the memoir Black Water.
- The top 20 Canadian books of 2024, so far
- Here are the finalists for the 2020 Governor General's Literary Awards
- Here are the 2021 Silver Birch Fiction Award finalists
- 100 writers in Canada you need to know now
- Why David Alexander Robertson wrote a children's book about residential schools
- Kathleen Winter, Carol Off and Cherie Dimaline among 2017 Governor General's Literary Awards finalists
- 'Write what you're passionate about.' David A. Robertson's advice for his younger self
- The best Canadian YA and middle-grade books of 2020
- How David A. Robertson manages to write as much as he does