When We Were Alone
| Category: | Book |
| Illustrated By: | Flett, Julie |
| By (author): | Robertson, David Alexander |
| Subject: | JUVENILE FICTION / Historical / Canada / General |
| JUVENILE FICTION / People & Places / Canada / Native Canadian | |
| Publisher: | Portage & Main Press |
| Published: | December 2016 |
| Format: | Book-hardcover |
| Pages: | 24 |
| Size: | 7.50in x 8.50in x 0.25in |
- Our Price:
- $ 21.95
- Availability:
- In stock
Additional Notes
| From The Publisher* | When a young girl helps tend to her grandmother's garden, she begins to notice things that make her curious. Why does her grandmother have long, braided hair and beautifully colored clothing? Why does she speak another language and spend so much time with her family? As she asks her grandmother about these things, she is told about life in a residential school a long time ago, where all of these things were taken away. When We Were Alone is a story about a difficult time in history, and, ultimately, one of empowerment and strength. |
| Review Quote* | "When We Were Alone is rare. It is exquisite and stunning, for the power conveyed by the words Robertson wrote, and for the illustrations that Flett created. I highly recommend it." - Debbie Reese, ... |
| Review Quote* | "…Robertson handles a delicate task here admirably well: explaining residential schools, that shameful legacy, and making them understandable to small children. It's a dark history, and the author doesn't disguise that, but he wisely focuses the grandmother's tale on how, season by season, the students use creativity, imagination, and patience to retain their sense of identity. A beautifully quiet, bold strength arises from the continued refrain "When we were alone" and in how the children insisted on being themselves. Flett's gorgeous, skillful illustrations have a flattened, faux naïve feel to them, like construction paper collage, a style that works perfectly with the story. She nicely contrasts the school's dull browns and grays with the riotous colors surrounding Nókom and gets much expression from her simple silhouettes. Spare, poetic, and moving, this Cree heritage story makes a powerful impression." - .. |
| Review Quote* | "Beautiful, painful, and shining with truth and dignity." - Richard Van Camp |
| Biographical Note | David Alexander Robertson is an award-winning graphic novelist and writer who has long been an advocate for educating youth on Indigenous history and contemporary issues. He has created several graphic novels, including his newest series, Tales From Big Spirit, as well as the bestselling 7 Generations series. He was a contributor to the anthology Manitowapow: Aboriginal Writings from the Land of Water (2012) and is currently working on the upcoming novel, The Reckoner. His first novel, The Evolution of Alice, was published in fall 2014. David lives in Winnipeg with his wife and five children, where he works in the field of Indigenous education. Julie Flett is an award-winning Cree-Métis author, illustrator and artist currently living in Vancouver, BC. She received the Christie Harris Illustrated Children's Literature Prize and was nominated for the Governor General's Award for Children's Literature for her book Owls See Clearly at Night (Lii Yiiboo Nayaapiwak lii Swer): A Michif Alphabet (L'alphabet di Michif), and most recently Julie's book Wild Berries/Pakwa che Menisu was chosen as the First Nation Communities READ title selection for 2014-2015. |