The Barren Grounds: The Misewa Saga, Book One

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, Ask , 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.

Author: David A. Robertson
Publisher: Puffin Books
Published: 09/08/2020
Pages: 256
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.80lbs
Size: 8.30h x 5.40w x 1.00d
ISBN: 9780735266100
Age Range: 10-UP

Accelerated Reader:
Reading Level: 4.6
Point Value: 9
Interest Level: Middle Grade
Quiz #/Name: 511354 / Barren Grounds


Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Reviews 06/15/2020
Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks 09/01/2020
Kirkus Reviews 08/15/2020 pg. 59
Shelf Awareness 09/08/2020
Publishers Weekly 10/05/2020

About the Author
DAVID A. ROBERTSON is the author of numerous books for young readers including When We Were Alone, which won the 2017 Governor General's Literary Award and was nominated for the TD Canadian Children's Literature Award. Strangers, the first book in his Reckoner trilogy, a young adult supernatural mystery, won the 2018 Michael Van Rooy Award for Genre Fiction (Manitoba Book Awards). A sought-after speaker and educator, Dave is a member of the Norway House Cree Nation and currently lives in Winnipeg. For more information, visit his website: www.darobertson.ca and follow him on Twitter: @DaveAlexRoberts