This book is a beautiful, #ownvoices middle grade fantasy that follows two indigenous foster children on a magic adventure through an attic door and into a new reality. I loved the prose and how the author mixed in the magic of art with true magic, and the mysticism of indigenous stories throughout the narrative. As someone who loved the Chronicles of Narnia, I was entranced by this story. This is a perfect addition to you or your child’s bookshelf, and I can’t wait to read the next volume!!!

This was a refreshing MG story, delving into difficult topics with a balance of humor and emotions. Paying tribute to Cree storytelling traditions and legends, Robertson introduces Morgan and Eli, two teens living in a foster home, and struggling to form and maintain a personal identity. Morgan’s love of fantasy novels and Eli’s artistic talent lead them into an alternate world, where they help Ochek and Arik to reset the natural order of being. This story takes the difficult topics of living in foster care, and feeling lost in the daily world, and mixed it with Cree stories and humor, to provide a means by which young readers will have opportunities to expand their understanding and empathy. The comparisons to Narnia cannot be overlooked, but this story stands on its own merits, looking at the relationship between humans and nature, and the importance of achieving a balance between what is available and what we truly need to thrive. I look forward to reading more stories in this series.

I am really impressed with this book. I liked the similarity to Narnia but I REALLY enjoyed the author bringing to life indigenous tales. I think there needs to be more stories like this being published and out out into the world. The characters Eli and Morgan were very well done. They were fully fleshed out characters that the reader could relate with. The bond between the foster siblings was heart-warming. This was a great start to a marvelous series, that I am excited to see.

Preamble
I first encountered Robertson’s work about eight years ago, during my undergrad uni days studying children’s literature. Courses with topics such as graphic novels and Indigenous literature highlighted his work.. At that time, Robertson was making an impression in the local comics scene. Since then, he’s reached various ages via various formats, with titles such as the Governor General award-winning picture book When We Were Alone, the young adult speculative fiction trilogy The Reckoner (which serves as the origin story for an upcoming superhero graphic novel), and the recently reissued adult fiction novel The Evolution of Alice.

Also since then, I’ve become a keen reader of middle grade fantasy. With the span of genres Robertson had written in, I hoped it was only a matter of time before he penned a middle grade novel. I definitely took note when he started to mention on Twitter that he was working on something. Now that something is here!

Review ✍🏻
Morgan, Eli, and Cree Culture
Not a standalone, The Barren Grounds is book one of the Misewa Saga. It’s being marketed as “Narnia meets traditional Indigenous stories”. I would call that an apt description. Like the Pevensies, Morgan and Eli’s adventure begins when they find themselves uncomfortably placed in a stranger’s home. Their circumstances, however, differ vastly from the child evacuees of World War II. Morgan has been in foster care her entire life; Eli has recently been removed from his family. The reader experiences the story primarily through Morgan’s eyes, getting to know her better than the initially closed off Eli. Eli was raised in a Cree community. He helps Morgan learn about the culture she’s been cut off from as they journey through Askî. The fantasy narrative offers a unique way to both celebrate Cree culture and stories while also addressing the painful impacts of colonialism.

Journey into Askî
The realm of Askî also shares some obvious similarities with Narnia. The land, populated by what appear to be talking animals, has been transformed into frozen ‘barren grounds’ by an usurper. The story that takes place in this world is, again, unique from the stories you find in Narnia. The Barren Grounds offers a narrative based in traditional Cree stories of the sky and stars, while also (as I noted above) incorporating the contemporary effects of colonialism.

Introducing new characters and a new fantasy world could easily result in a book crammed with information, but Robertson offers a tightly focused story that allows the reader to ease into the world. While it does read almost like a prologue, I appreciate that the story doesn’t immediately run into a grand, dramatic action-adventure narrative. (The story does have tense moments of action but it’s not non-stop.) Instead, it focuses on a particular quest (end the winter before Misewa starves) carried out by a handful of characters who engage with a few others. I had a lot of questions by the end (NOT because of cliffhangers) – but they just left me eager for book two!

The Bottom Line 💭
I’ll certainly be recommending The Barren Grounds as a readalike for Narnia or Riordan Presents, but the book stands well enough on its own without comparison. I applaud Robertson for giving voice, in this introduction to the Misewa Saga, to Cree youth and Cree stories in this much-needed addition to the genre of middle grade fantasy.

This is a great book that discusses indigenous culture, importance of nature, and family relationships. I enjoyed how Morgan and Eli developed their relationship.

Finding a portal into another world is the dream of every kid. For Morgan and Eli, a well-drawn sketch of the Barren Lands transports the two into a parallel world in need of their help. The Barren Lands are in perpetual winter and its walking, talking animals are running out of food. Morgan and Eli stay to help find the Green Time and return the birds who were taken by the last human visitor. The promise of a Narnia-level allegory just did not come through in my opinion. This is most certainly a promising start to a new series. I would love to have Eli's story developed further and perhaps we will see that in Book 2. We also need to find out why Morgan was taken from her mother at the age of 3.

Thank you to Penguin Random House for a paperback ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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.

Overall Impressions
Two children, Morgan and Eli, wander into a traditional Indigenous story that forces them to conquer a barren, snowy landscape and reconnect with their own culture. This imaginative first book in The Misewa Saga is a wonderful fantasy tale that will immerse the reader in Aski, an alternate reality. While this story was an engaging first book, there were times when it felt like it was setting up the plot for future books a little too much, which could deter some young readers.

Book Themes and Reading Level:
Book Themes: Indigenous culture, foster care, found family, bravery, sacrifice, and the ecological impact of man
Reading Level: 6th-8th Grade

Summary:
Morgan and Eli are foster children that are feeling disconnected from their new home with their foster parents, their indigenous culture, and their new school. When Eli magically opens a portal to a new world with one of his drawings, their entire world changes. As snow blows into their attic, the two children find themselves staring into Aski, an alternate realm ruled by the traditional ideologies of Indigenous culture. Upon entering Aski, they learn there is an eternal winter and set out on a quest to stop the man who caused these problems with the help of two of this reality’s inhabitants Ochek and Arik, both animals that can walk and talk like humans.

Review:
The Barren Grounds paves the way for a series of books that tackle challenging issues within a magical fantasy land. I was blown away with the world-building and character development that occurred within this book. The Barren Grounds is not your average middle-grade read. With how this book finished, there is a wide range of possibilities for Robertson to take Morgan and Eli in their journey through Aski. The only negative thing I can say about this book, which is why I would give it 4.5 stars, is that the first half of the book is a little slow. Robertson took his time in explaining how the world operated and the character’s traits to the reader. While I appreciated the depth as an adult reader, the action in this fantasy tale did not start until halfway through the novel. The slow-moving beginning could deter young readers who are unwilling to read until the adventure begins.

Often, it can be more challenging to relate fantasy novels with educational objectives because the realities of the fantasy worlds do not always match the facts of ours. However, this book offers a lot of pivotal educational points through the lens of fictional characters. One of my favorite points was uncovered as the children learn more about the man who caused the eternal winter, and it became revealed that the man was taking too much from the land and causing it harm. This point can relate to two educational points; the history of colonization and our current ecological situation. A discussion could occur that dealt with European colonization of the Americas, which caused both detrimental harms to Indigenous communities and a different understanding of man’s place within nature. This shift went from one of living with nature to conquering nature. There can also be discussions of the current ecological impact that humanity is having on the world with this conquer nature mentality. While other points could be drawn out, they stuck out to me the most. Overall, The Barren Grounds is an excellent fantastical tale that can also engage students in educational discussions.

*This post will go live on my blog on September 8th.

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!

Beyond the Ice and Snow: A Review of The Barren Grounds
Published by Penguin Random House Canada
Available September 8, 2020
Ages 8-12

Morgan’s latest foster family isn’t so bad, even Eli, the new foster kid is okay. He’s indigenous, like her, but he never raises his voice or gets angry like Morgan. In fact, he hasn’t said much since he arrived at the foster home in Winnipeg, and he stays quiet at their middle school, too. The only thing he does is draw in his giant artist notebook. But at least Eli shows her his drawings—they’re layered and mysterious and incredible. But when one of his drawings opens up a portal in their attic, the children find themselves transported to Misewa. There they meet creatures, like Ochek, a talking fisher, who introduce them to traditional ways to survive. The community of Misewa, Ochek explains, has been locked in a forever winter following an encounter with a duplicitous man. The community is struggling, and soon food supplies will run out. As conditions worsen, the children and Ochek set off to save Misewa from perpetual ice.

Author David A. Robertson connects Morgan, and the reader, with her Cree heritage, blending difficult truths about First Nations history with middle-grade fantasy. Morgan and Eli, like so many other First Nations children, have been separated from their biological parents and placed in the foster care system. Morgan’s struggles and mistrust of her foster parents come with good reason; she’s been neglected and discarded before. Despite this trauma, Morgan is able to connect with Ochek and Eli. And as her trust in them grows, so do her snappy comebacks. Robertson’s depiction of Morgan’s emotional and cultural journey is compelling, with occasional humorous outbursts. Whether it’s her skepticism with new friends or with her white foster mom’s cringeworthy cross-cultural attempts to make her feel at home, Morgan’s reactions are captivating. Readers do not uncover the whole mystery behind Morgan’s and Eli’s backgrounds, but there will be plenty of opportunities to learn more: The Barren Grounds is Book 1 of Robertson’s Misewa Saga.

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