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The Barren Grounds
- The Misewa Saga, Book 1
- Narrated by: Brefny Caribou
- Length: 7 hrs and 52 mins
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The Barren Grounds
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Summary
Narnia meets traditional Indigenous stories of the sky and constellations in an epic middle-grade fantasy series from award-winning author David Robertson.
Morgan and Eli, two Indigenous children forced away from their families and communities, are brought together in a foster home in Winnipeg, Manitoba. 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.
Critic reviews
2021, Diamond Willow Award: Short-listed
2022, First Nations Communities Read Award: Long-listed
2020, Governor General’s Literary Award - Young People’s Literature - Text: Short-listed
2021, National Chapter IODE Violet Downey Award: Short-listed
2021, Panda Book Award: Nominated
2022, Rocky Mountain Book Award: Nominated,
2021, Silver Birch Award for Fiction: Nominated
2022, Surrey Schools Book of the Year: Nominated,
2021, TD Canadian Children's Literature Award: Short-listed
A 2021 Governor General’s Literary Award for Young People's Literature Nominee
One of Quill & Quire's Best Books of 2020
Recommended by booksellers on NPR's Code Switch
One of CBC Books' Best Middle-Grade and Young Adult Books of 2020
One of Canadian Children's Book News’ Best Books of 2020
A CBC Books Bestseller
"This middle-grade fantasy deftly and compellingly centers Indigenous culture." —STARRED REVIEW, Kirkus Reviews
“[T]he treatment of Cree culture resonates, and the engaging characters and folklore ensure readers will look forward to the next installment.” —Publishers Weekly
“Reminiscent of C.S. Lewis’s Narnia stories, this fantasy is very much its own tale of ruptured Indigenous culture, of environmental reciprocity and care.” —Toronto Star