This is a very gentle book about a very horrible subject, that of the residential school system where so many children were tortured and died, in both the US and Canada.

It might seem odd that such a horrible history could produce this calm, lovely book, about a native girl, Summer, who is visiting her mother’s Cree side of the family (her father is Apache), for the summer.

As soon as she crosses over into Canada, she starts having dreams of a child called Buffalo Dreamer, but who has been renamed Mary by the residential school where she is imprisoned. Summer doesn’t understand what is happening, as she doesn’t have much history about the schools, other than a lot of elders suffered there. Finally, she begins to tell others about these dreams, and they help her find if Buffalo Dreamer survived, or if she died trying to escape.

And while this doesn't sound as though it is sweet, and gentle, it is. The elders are gentle, and explain that dreams have meaning, and believe her.

This is a quick read, and will be a good book to introduce children to the horrors of the residential school, while also saying that people may carry the trama, but can work to get better with the help of the community.

I liked how while all this was going on there was sweet grass braiding, and fishing, and jingle dress dancing. That life went on, and it was healing.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review. This book is coming out on the 27th of August 2024.