I'm always looking for more #ownvoices Indigenous literature, especially because so few native voices are published. I'm so excited to have not only a middle grade that focuses on indigenous characters--but a series at that! I cannot wait to put this on suggestions lists for my tweens and look forward to more titles in the series.

I adored this middle grade book by David Alexander Robertson (Norway House Cree Nation). It’s the first book in a series and is being compared to the Chronicles of Narnia. And there are definitely similar elements (portal to another world with talking animals, endless winter, orphaned children, etc.), but I think the story itself had different themes and messages. I love that Robertson made a couple of Narnia jokes in the story, and in a way addressing it. The book follows two young foster children living with non-Native foster parents. Eli has grown up in his community, so he has memories of his language and traditions. Morgan was taken from her mother as a baby, and feels disconnected from her people. It broke my heart that she didn’t feel she was Indigenous enough, especially compared to Eli. And Eli was dealing with the forced removal from his community. It was a good look into how foster care can deeply effect the children in the system. And this is layered with Native children being placed in non-Native households.

I loved seeing how their relationship as siblings developed throughout the book, and the levels of communication that began between Morgan and her foster parents. It was also a story about the reciprocity between humans, animals, and the land. The importance of balance and not taking more than you need. If you’re looking for an adventure with a lot of heart, I recommend The Barren Grounds.

Provided <i>gratis</i> in exchange for honest feedback.

So.... I have mixed feelings about this one.
I loved the setting and I loved the story.
I loved most of the characters.
I was not a fan of the writing style, to include narrative and dialogue. And it was incredibly, badly distracting. "jarringly out of sync," is what I would say.

There were times when the characters' voices or the narrative seemed so with what we'd seen of them/the author thus far and/or what would be expected from a character of that type (e.g., teenage girl in the foster system).

Before the first few chapters were finished I had a few notes:
(1) "Then it dawned on her: the crunching sound had been in time with her heartbeat."
-- Wait, her pulse on her pillow is so loud that it manifests in her dreams? How the fuck does she sleep at night?

(2) There's a whole passage at the beginning about how Morgan wants to "escape" and go to school early. We're talking several pages of her getting dressed and opening the door and sneaking down the hall... but we never got the <i>why</i> of this. <i>Why</i> was she trying to leave/escape? Also, is a door at the top of the stairs a normal thing? Nowhere I've ever lived had stairs and then a door at the top of it.

(3) Morgan writes a poem for a class, but her teacher refuses to grade the assignment, because the teacher thinks Morgan can do better. Okay, so
(a) this isn't college. Teachers grade what you give them and if it's not good enough, they just grade it accordingly, and
(b) that poem was fucking amazing, especially for a high school student.
(c) "But, Morgan,"writing is about heart, and I'm not feeling that here." It is an unrealistic expectation for a high school teacher to believe that all of her students are going to bare their souls in poetry assignments -- and since Morgan is the only one kept back, we assume that <i>n-1</i> students did so. That's... no. Just no.

This is all before location 240/2385 or 10% of the way through -- and they are BY NO MEANS the only three instances that I noted, just the ones that moved me to make a note. So when I say there's a lot, I mean... there's <i>a lot</i>.

So I loved the story. I loved the setting. I liked most of the characters (Morgan was very Book-5-Harry-Potter, so...). But the writing was occasionally hard to deal with.

I did read the book in one setting, in just a couple of hours. I was pulled out of the story by the writing, but I always -- always -- dove right back in. It never occurred to me to stop or DNF this one.

TL; DR: Know that it's got some stutters, but overall, the story is worth dealing with them.

Fantasy meets reality. I love the indigenous voices and perspectives in this novel. Many of the themes, while mature, were dealt with in a very sensitive way making it a perfect fit for classes that want to dive deeper into issues relevant today.

his one is usually sold as an Indigenous Narnia, and is written by Canadian David A. Robertson, whose YA series Strangers I loved. I have been waiting for this MG series to come out for about a year, so I requested an ARC of this first book from NetGalley.

Middle schoolers Morgan and Eli are newly arrived in the same foster home in Winnipeg, they are not related but begin to feel a bond over the fact that they feel disconnected from their culture in spite of their kind foster parents (the story does deal with the fact that not all foster parents for Morgan have been great). Both kids are big fans of fantasy through either their reading, writing or art. When they discover a portal to a fantasy world they are eager to explore.

They find a world, Aski, that is on the edge of survival, as the traditional ways of getting food and living off the land are not working any longer. The kids get involved with "two legged animals" Ochek and Arik to try to recover the traditional ways. In doing so, they are able to connect with their Cree heritage. There is lots to discuss regarding colonialism through the fantasy plot in the alternate world of Aski. Unlike some fantasy books that are similar, this is surprisingly short at about 250 pages. I look forward to seeing where this series goes next and I will add it to my library. It can open up a lot of great discussions about colonialism and about the children-in-care/government run foster care system. Robertson wrote, "'Stories always lead people somewhere... to a place, to a memory'" and this story can lead young readers to a place they need to go. 4.5 stars.

A beautiful story that sweeps us into another realm, filled with survival and family ties. A timely and excellent middle grade read.

This book was enjoyable and educational (to me as a white person) in even amounts. The author's use of a character who doesn't know/remember her Indigenous heritage was a great way to inform non-Indigenous readers of what was happening. All the characters were well written, the storyline was engaging (if a bit predictable) and also includes some environmental protection messages as well. A good addition to any collection and also features an #ownvoices author.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book.

This is the type of book I've been waiting to read. It's an ownvoices story by a Canadian Indigenous writer that's inspired by Narnia but based on traditional stories. It's humorous while still dealing with issues such as the foster system, identity, and the consequences of taking something that doesn't belong to you. It's a deep and meaningful story but doesn't come across as overly heavy. Writing this story as a fantasy is a unique way to communicate the racism and colonialism that Indigenous people face in Canada, and I think using it in a classroom would be extremely valuable.

I will definitely be adding this book to my collection, and I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

The author brings together some noble intentions: respect for one's ancestral roots, empathy for kids in foster care, a plea for sustainable use of resources, and gratitude for the bounty of the land. However, it felt as though the characters were used largely as vehicles to deliver these messages; with the exception of Morgan, the protagonist, they did not seem to have inner lives.

This is a well written book that holds your attention. It's a fantasy story that adults will love just as much as kids. I can't wait to read the next book in this series. Thank you Penguin Random House Canada-Puffin Canada via NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

Very interesting and thought provoking, definitely deep enough and engaging enough for adults as well as teens!

One of my favourite storytellers is David A. Robertson. He has an incredible ability to bring the reader right into the world he creates through his writing. I guess that’s the job of the writer, to transport the reader into the story but there are some whose writing has this other quality, you are invested in the characters as if they are your friends. You are invested in the setting and the people who surround those principle characters. David A. Robertson does so with seeming ease. Every one of his stories have taken me away be it to Wounded Sky First Nation or to Misewa. I am there in the town, with the people, rooting for the good guys and despising the bad.

In the new middle grade series The Misewa Saga, this first book, The Barren Grounds, takes the reader through a Narniaesque portal to Misewa. The reader experiences the harsh reality of Misewa through the eyes of Morgan and Eli, two foster children who have been thrust together by the system and living with Katie and James, foster parents who are trying too hard to make them feel at home. Misewa is in a perpetual winter because of harmful things that happened in the past. Morgan and Eli set off on a quest, along with Ochek and Arik, two animals with human characteristics, to bring back the Green Time or summer. In Morgan there is so much anger. She has been in the system for so long she no longer remembers her home or her traditions, she is lost and angry and misplaces that anger at times. In Eli there is sadness. He has only just entered the foster system and clearly remembers where he came from and his traditions. He immediately feels at home in Misewa where Morgan takes some time to remember and begin to heal.

The Barren Grounds is such a fantastic book for those who love fantasy stories as there is so much woven in layers in this book. David A. Robertson weaves the Cree language throughout the story, linking to his heritage and creating a story with elements of his tradition, Indigenous stories of the sky and constellations. Readers will have access to greater knowledge of the past and how choices can have major impacts on the future.

I am so incredibly excited to continue the journey through Misewa and cannot even begin to imagine where Morgan and Eli’s story will take us

A Cree nation story of two native Cree children who are in foster care, Morgan was placed in a foster home as a toddler and Eli who has recently came into the foster system. Morgan is angry and mistrustful, Eli longs for his home and draws to keep his connection to his home. Eli has draw a picture of a Fisher and the children are able to travel into that other world. Will they be able to help solve the problem that man has brought into this Cree world?
#TheBarrenGrounds #NetGalley #ARC

The Barren Grounds belongs in the hands of readers in all places. Highly recommended for classroom and school libraries and shelves at home. I love the way this telling captures attention and shares culture.

I was really hoping for a book about indigenous children learning their cultural identity in a realistic context. This was an interesting fantasy book but i just didn't love it.